When The Local Really Means Local

Two Buckingham locals have returned to their hometown to open historic community pub, The Grand Junction

When Stevie Watts was just 17, she followed in her sister’s footsteps and took a weekend job at her local pub at ‘13’ in Buckingham’s High Street. Some years later, this same community pub has reverted to its former name, The Grand Junction, with a planned re-opening in mid-April, under Stevie’s supervision as its new General Manager.

Known by various names over the years, most recently as ‘13’, the Grand Junction at 13 High Street was acquired by Oakman Group Plc in 2019. For the last six months it has been undergoing a major refurbishment, restoration and redesign.

Stevie said: “It’s strange to think I started my hospitality experience cleaning glasses at this pub and now and I’m returning as its General Manager. It’s really taking me down memory lane: I worked here for a year and lived upstairs - and it was then that I decided to follow a career in hospitality. This will be my third opening for Oakman Group and I’m so happy that they’ve given me this opportunity to return to where I grew up and started my career in hospitality.”

Stevie has been running The Cherry Tree in Olney for the Oakman Group since it first opened four years ago. Her Head Chef will be Tom Oxley who grew up in Buckingham and, until recently, was Head Chef at The Akeman Inn in Kingswood, one of the Grand Junction’s sister pubs.

Both Stevie and Tom started their training under their mentor and well-known Buckingham local, Jean Rush, who recently retired from running Buckingham’s Villiers Hotel after 33 years. Stevie said: “We both worked at the Villiers at different times and as my first proper boss, Jean was a huge influence and support in my career.”

Jean is thrilled to hear that her protégés will be re-opening The Grand Junction’s doors after Easter for its new owners, Oakman Group. She said: “I am so proud of them both and all that they have achieved with their careers and honoured to have played a small part to help and guide Stevie at the beginning of her hospitality career and to see her climb the ladder and flourish since. Tom is a very talented chef with a real passion for cooking and producing the most delicious food.  It is very exciting to see them both coming back to work in their hometown, in senior roles, where their hospitality journey started.  Buckingham is in for a real treat with these two at the helm.”

Open all day from breakfast until late, The Grand Junction’s restaurant will seat up to 90 guests and there will be plenty of room to enjoy coffee or a drink in the cosy bar in front of the open fire or in the pretty courtyard garden. Head Chef, Tom Oxley said: “I’m really looking forward to returning to Buckingham. We will be serving a Mediterranean-style menu together with traditional home comforts and our authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza – all prepared in our signature theatre-style open kitchen using fresh, seasonal and sustainable ingredients.”

With two months until opening, Stevie is looking for 40 people to support her and Tom as part of the management, chef, restaurant and bar teams. She will be hosting three recruitment days at Buckingham Community Centre in Cornwalls Meadow on Tuesday 15th February (2pm to 8pm); Tuesday 22nd February (9am to 5pm) and Wednesday 2nd March (midday to 8pm).

Stevie explained: “Buckingham is such a vibrant town, and we are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals who either already have a passion for hospitality or are looking for a new challenge with a more flexible work/life balance. We are so fortunate at Oakman as the company really supports each team member in their career development. Our award-winning training includes an Online Academy, Apprenticeships at all levels, a Fast Track management programme plus our recently launched residential two-week Chef Academy for new chefs. Those interested in joining us should apply via www.oakmaninnsrecruitment.co.uk. I know there’s a raft of talent in and around Buckingham and I can’t wait to follow Jean’s example and inspire my new team, nurture their development, and instil a good work ethic and community values.”