Pub Refurbishments Bring Modern Accommodation Options
Country Pubs | Dog Friendly | Pub Accommodation | Staycation | Uk Pubs | Uncategorized | Posted 2024.06.20
The last four years have been incredibly challenging for businesses worldwide, with the hospitality sector facing unprecedented difficulties. Long-term closures and pandemic restrictions, followed by price rises due to the cost-of-living crisis, have significantly impacted pubs across the UK.
Despite these hurdles, many independent pubs and pub groups have persevered, finding innovative ways to attract new customers while ensuring loyal locals continue to support these historic venues. One such innovation involves not only refurbishing pubs to meet ever-increasing customer expectations but also updating or adding bedrooms to generate new income streams.
Stay in a Pub, a collection of over 1500 boutique pubs, traditional coaching inns, and quality affordable pub accommodation through the UK, recently undertook a survey of 3,500 people to find out why they chose to stay in a pub. 60% said ‘good value for money’ was the main factor, while 47% said it was the ‘character of the buildings’ and 44% said it was about the ‘atmosphere’.
Sophie Braybrooke, CEO of Stay in a Pub, said: “We know that quality, price, service and atmosphere make up the foundations of value for money in customers eyes. When it comes to these factors, the key is going the extra mile to make guests’ stay a memorable one.
“With the average value of a booking going up 4% year-on-year, we know that people are prepared to pay that bit more if they perceive that pubs are delivering on the quality of their offering. Despite the fact pubs are feeling pain in areas such as rising operational costs and the recruitment and retention of staff, they are responding to consumer needs with 62% of pubs planning to complete refurbishments within the year.”
Stay in a Pub has seen a variety of its member pubs undergoing refurbishment projects over the past year, all of which aim to restore the historic charm of the pubs whilst engaging local communities and finding sustainable solutions.
Here’s what five pubs across the country have done to revitalise their establishments.
Ley Arms, Exeter
This 12th century thatched pub is tucked away in the stunning Kenn Valley, a short drive south of Exeter. In early 2024, the pub underwent major refurbishments throughout, including demolishing the old function room to create space for the addition of seven bedroom suites. Taking inspiration from the Ley family who owned the estate, the rooms are named after the five daughters, known as the Devon beauties, as well as their mother and grandmother.
The independently run pub was committed to involving the local community in the refurbishments by working with local bricklayers, workmen, upholsterers, and even regulars who helped choose fabrics for reupholstered furniture.
The Ashford Arms, Derbyshire
Having been closed for four years following difficulties as a result of the pandemic, The Ashford Arms in Ashford-in-the-Water reopened in early March following £1.6m of extensive refurbishments. Longbow Bars & Restaurants took over the lease in 2023 and has brought the pub back to life with refurbishments throughout, including its seven bedrooms and two suites.
With the pub first built in the 1700s, the renovations have ensured to retain some of its distinctive features, including the symmetrical limestone exterior. The bedrooms have the characteristic slanted ceilings, original beams and sash windows in addition to the classic Victorian décor. The suites both feature freestanding baths in the bedrooms and all the rooms boast en-suite shower rooms. In keeping with nods to the local area, the rooms are all named after village associations, including Sheepwash after a famous bridge in Ashford, and Aisseford which is an old name for Ashford.
Bears Head, Sandbach
Once a popular posting house on the London to Liverpool turnpike, The Bears Head in Sandbach is a traditional pub dating back to 1624. Steeped in history having served its local community for over 400 years, this grade II listed pub has recently had £605,000 worth of refurbishments throughout.
The beautiful black-and-white timber structure was suffering with an infestation of furniture beetle (woodworm) which required three months of specialist historic building repairs. In addition to the work on the exterior, the interior saw complete transformation throughout, including refurbishments of the 25 en-suite bedrooms and the addition of a sophisticated dining room. The pub reopened to the public in November 2023 and pays homage its traditional routes and picturesque location.
The Weeping Willow, Suffolk
Run by Chestnut Group, The Weeping Willow is a 16th century country pub located in Barrow in Suffolk, which has recently been beautifully restored throughout. Prior to the restoration, the pub was a food and beverage establishment only, however it now features seven cosy lodges installed in a stunning meadow tucked away behind the pub and garden. The lodges are a range of sizes featuring cosy beds, en-suite bathrooms and dedicated parking spaces for each. Some of the lodges even have their own wood fired hot tubs for added relaxation.
With nature being the main inspiration for the lodges, they have all been constructed with sustainability in mind, built from natural materials that reflect the rural setting whilst also encouraging biodiversity. The steel frames and timber panelling reduce the amount of carbon embedded in the building’s materials by over 70%, whilst also requiring less heating and cooling inside the lodges, further reducing the carbon footprint.
Bedford Arms, Chilterns
Once owned by the Duke of Bedford, Bedford Arms is located in the heart of the Chilterns on the boarder of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire and features 15 beautifully decorated rooms. The pub reopened in November 2023 following a three-month refurbishment project and is the first of Young’s pubs with rooms to source all its electricity sustainably. The pub group took great care to keep the charm and heritage of the 15th century pub, whilst upgrading its resources with its own sub-station to power all heating, hot water and kitchen appliances.
Young’s have seen 33 of its pubs undergo refurbishments over the past year, 8 of which were investments into pubs with rooms. The teams work hard to sensitively restore each pub back to its former glory whilst celebrating each site’s history and heritage. Young’s have seen an uptake in customers since reopening each newly decorated pub, with the refurbishments creating an elevated guest experience for locals, as well as attracting new guests to explore the pubs for the first time.