Mon 24th Sep 2012 - Breaking News Brakspear to team up with top chef Claude Bosi: Brakspear will become the owner of one of London’s top food pubs following the acquisition of the freehold of The Malt House, an iconic Fulham site. The pub has been let to Jolly Fine Restaurants Ltd, owners of the twice Michelin-starred Hibiscus restaurant and the Fox & Grapes gastropub in Wimbledon. The Malt House, just off Fulham Road, is a large corner site, dating back to 1729. It is set to receive a £750,000 refurbishment, funded jointly by Brakspear and Jolly Fine Restaurants, which is owned by Claude Bosi. Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, said: “The Malt House is a landmark west London site with enormous potential. By partnering with one of the most talented and well-known restaurateurs in the business, we are confident of turning it into an outstanding food pub with letting bedrooms.” He added: “Despite the challenges faced by our industry, there are still plenty of diners in London seeking out innovative, quality food. The Malt House is in a prime location to capture these customers and we are looking forward to opening our doors to them.” The Malt House is now shut for refurbishment, reopening within several months with an estimated 100 covers and six new letting bedrooms. Brakspear purchased The Malt House from Spirit. It is the company’s sixth acquisition in the last two months, following a string of purchases in the southern Home Counties and the Cotswolds. The Brakspear estate now numbers 147 pubs.