Kenilworth finally welcomes Spoons to town after years of waiting for first orders

The Benjamin Satchwell, The Earl of Mercia – and now, The Dictum of Kenilworth: Warwick students have another Spoons to choose from, after the group’s first Kenilworth pub opened last week. 

Called The Dictum of Kenilworth, the pub was officially opened by the Mayor of Kenilworth, Cllr James Kennedy, on 29 July, and has created around 70 new jobs for the town.

Plans to open the pub were originally announced in July 2022, with the pub chain saying it would be investing up to £2 million in the project, a figure that increased as planning and construction went ahead. The development eventually cost £3.2 million.

Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers into The Dictum of Kenilworth, and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to Kenilworth’s social scene

Tom Clarke, Dictum of Kenilworth manager

The pub will be run by Tom Clarke, who was previously the manager of another JD Wetherspoon branch in Coventry, The Spon Gate, which closed its doors to punters in May.

Clarke said: “Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers into The Dictum of Kenilworth, and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to Kenilworth’s social scene.”

Manager Tom Clarke (centre) opens The Dictum of Kenilworth, along with Shift Leader Siobhan Gohil, Area Manager Richard Tandy, Cllr Mark Stevens, and Mayor of Kenilworth, Cllr Alistair Kennedy (L-R) (Image provided: JD Wetherspoon)

At the back of the pub, there is a partly covered 1,300 sq. ft beer garden, that will be open until 9pm every day. The garden features soundproof fencing and glass in an effort to reduce noise pollution for neighbours.

Food will be served all day from when it opens until 11pm, and families with children are welcome to dine until 9pm throughout the week.

The pub claims to “specialise” in traditional ciders and real ales, in addition to craft and world beers, serving a generous range of draught ales and beers, including ales from local and regional brewers.

[I have] waited for this day for a long time [and will now] have more of a reason to travel to and explore Kenilworth

Muskaan Soni, Warwick student

Second-year Warwick student Muskaan Soni told The Boar she has “waited for this day for a long time” and that she will now “have more of a reason to travel to and explore Kenilworth”, something she says she hasn’t done often.

The Dictum of Kenilworth is wheelchair accessible and provides a specially adapted toilet for people with disabilities.

It is located at 18-24 The Square, in a unit previously occupied by a Poundland store.

The pub will be open from 8am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday, and until the later time of midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The modern pub interior in Kenilworth, which welcomed its first punters on 29 July (Image provided: JD Wetherspoon)

Much like other historically inspired Spoons names, The Dictum’s name commemorates the events of 31 October 1266, when the Dictum of Kenilworth was issued in an effort to reconcile the rebels of the Second Barons’ War with the English crown.

Following the baronial triumph at the Battle of Lewes in 1264, Simon de Montfort seized control of the royal government, but his death at the Battle of Evesham in 1265 saw King Henry III restored to power.

Even so, a determined group of rebels continued to resist from the stronghold of Kenilworth Castle, proving difficult to subdue. The Dictum allowed them to buy back the land that was taken from them, essentially pardoning them.