News Archives

After being closed the Snowdrop in Lindfield is now up and running again. The new Business Partners are David and Donna Jarrett and they are working hard to restore the pub into a place that the local community can be proud of.

Donna is local to the area and remembers the pub when it was buzzing with life. “We are very excited to have opened the Snowdrop once more. The locals have been very supportive since we took over the pub.” Explains Donna.

Hall and Woodhouse work hard to ensure that as many pubs as possible are opened and serving the local community. It is great to see the Snowdrop has now achieved that with the help of David and Donna.
 

The Sweet Home Inn in Poole has been awarded winner of the ‘Commercial Frontages Competition’. The award has been given to the pub as part of the annual Poole in Bloom competition.

“We are very pleased to say that we will be giving the Sweet Home Inn an award as Best Small Pub Frontage as the pub has brought pleasure to customers and passers by with their frontage.” Denise Hill, Chair of Poole in Bloom.

Hall and Woodhouse are very proud of the Sweet Home Inn and their achievement. There are many pub businesses in Poole and so to achieve the best frontage is brilliant.
 

The Albion in Wimborne is back in business after being closed for just over 12 months due to a fire sweeping through an empty flat to the pub and surrounding shops. After £600,000 being invested in the property by Hall and Woodhouse, the pub is once more open and serving customers.

“We are delighted to see the Albion open again; it is great to see Sue behind the bar once more. We also made sure we made some much needed improvements to the kitchen, toilets and domestic accommodation, which should ensure Sue a great new start in the pub.” Mark Woodhouse, Hall and Woodhouse Chairman explains.

“It is fantastic to have the pub open! The brewery have been very supportive to us throughout the past year, and now I am able to welcome in all my regular customers back into their local pub!” Sue Chandler explains.

Hall and Woodhouse used many local suppliers to complete the work and Sue held a party for the firemen who helped put the fire out. The Olive Branch in Wimborne which is another Hall and Woodhouse establishment provided a meeting point for all the team involved in the re-building process. The Albion is open all day, every day, serving food and providing entertainment such as karaoke and discos. The pub has a beautiful hidden garden which is secluded from the surrounding roads.
 

Anyone visiting the Swan at Sherborne towards the end of last year could have been forgiven for thinking they had walked into a real den of iniquity. Dark décor, poor lighting, broken furniture and sticky carpets were the result of a business that had completely lost its way and was in desperate need of transformation.

We are pleased to say that this is exactly what has happened in the first half of 2010 and with new operators and a complete makeover the Swan is unrecognisable from the dark days above.

Debbie Mitchell and Kate Cross have taken over the operation as our new Business Partners and have injected drive and enthusiasm in creating a business that has something to offer anyone in Sherborne looking for refreshment in lovely surroundings. Some years ago Debbie used to be a barmaid at the Swan and remembers exactly how it used to look when it was Sherborne’s premier pub and is confident she and Kate can restore the business to its former glories.

We should also mention Graham Jones from Green Line Design who managed to produce a silk purse from a sow’s ear for comparatively little financial investment. Interestingly Graham is also responsible for the magnificent Hall and Woodhouse Bath pub which was being refurbished at the same time as the Swan.

Our best wishes to Kate and Debbie in this exciting new venture.
 

Not bad, getting yourself on the front cover of an important local publication. And that is what James Callery, lessee of The Halfway “Bistro” near Newbury has managed to achieve within 6 months of taking on his first individual venture.

James took the keys for The Halfway in December 2009, intent upon creating his own pub/restaurant and with a hint of “homage” to his favourite film “Casablanca”, complete with baby Grand piano and full time pianist. He had to contend immediately with the challenge of what are widely considered to be the worst winter conditions of snow in many years but with all available willing hands including friends and relatives the re opening was achieved in February.

The new interior décor has been heavily “influenced” by James’ wife Magda, who trained as an interior designer in her native Poland. Magda’s influence has helped transform a somewhat tired main road pub site into a stylish “Bistro & Piano Bar”. A full external redecoration planned for later this year will complete the regeneration of what was starting to be perceived as a failing site and it is hoped that completion will be marked with the award of the “Badger Hallmark” which will recognise the transformation that James, Magda and their team have achieved.

Aspiring Head Chef Adam Hartyn is James’ man in the kitchen and is already developing a strong reputation for the quality and variety of the menu. Hall & Woodhouse Ale is central to the drink offer at The Halfway and consideration is underway for “Gourmet” evenings where the merits of the Badger Premium Bottled Ale range will be ably matched with the menu. More of that anon. For now, well done James and all success to you in the future.