The Steam Packet and The Roebuck Get New Owner
Two Chiswick pubs acquired by Cheshire based chain
The Steam Packet (left) and The Roebuck (right)
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January 9, 2026
Urban Pubs & Bars has acquired five new London venues, including two well-known Chiswick pubs — The Steam Packet and The Roebuck — as part of a major expansion that will bring the group’s estate to 65 sites across the capital. The deal completes on 19 January.
The Steam Packet and The Roebuck were previously owned by Brunning & Price, the Cheshire-based pub operator known for running large, food-led pubs across the UK. Brunning & Price had itself acquired both pubs in 2020 after the collapse of their former operator, Food & Fuel, which went into administration during the early months of the pandemic.
Under the new deal, Urban Pubs & Bars has purchased a package of four Brunning & Price venues — The Steam Packet (Chiswick), The Roebuck (Chiswick), The Queens (Crouch End) and Coco Momo (Kensington) — alongside The Prince Regent in Herne Hill, which was acquired separately.
Chris Hill, managing director of Urban Pubs & Bars, said the new additions reflect strong demand across the group’s estate and confidence in the London market. “Well-run, well-positioned businesses are thriving in the capital,” he said. “These latest acquisitions are exactly the kind of sites we look for, and we’re excited about the opportunities they present as we continue to grow our London estate”.
The acquisitions follow a period of sustained expansion for Urban Pubs & Bars, which has opened or acquired multiple venues over the past year and recently purchased the Albion & East bar group. With the latest additions, the company now operates 65 pubs, bars and restaurants, generating annual sales of more than £100 million.
Both The Steam Packet and The Roebuck are popular neighbourhood pubs in Chiswick. The Steam Packet, located on Strand-on-the-Green, is known for its riverside setting, while The Roebuck on Chiswick High Road has long been a local favourite. Urban Pubs & Bars has not yet announced any changes to the operation or branding of the newly acquired sites.
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