Little Angel becomes third pub for Ted Docherty

July 28, 2025

Ted Docherty outside The Little Angel, his third Brakspear pub

Long-standing business owner Ted Docherty has taken on The Little Angel, close to the banks of The Thames in Henley. It becomes his third Brakspear pub, alongside The Crown in Playhatch and The White Hart at Nettlebed.

Ted started his hospitality career running bars in his native South Africa before moving to the UK, taking on The Crown in 2008 and The White Hart three years later, and building both pubs into thriving, food-led businesses.

Ted said:

“I love hospitality, but it has plenty of challenges!  You need to love it and see it as a lifestyle, not a job.

“It’s important to always listen to the consumer – that’s free feedback that can help you to improve your offer. If you’d told me five years ago I’d be promoting low and no alcohol drinks I would have thought you were mad. Now we have a low and no section on our wine list, to meet growing demand.”

The Little Angel, a Grade II listed building, was renovated earlier this year, with a new layout that moved the bar to the back of the building, removing a ‘pinch point’ that stopped the flow of customers through the pub. The kitchen was also renovated with new equipment and is now run by Silviu Man, who was sous chef at The Crown for 10 years. The menu offers South African food like bobotie – a spiced mince dish – alongside British pub classics.