The renovation
We got the keys at the beginning of August 2022 and couldn’t wait to get started. It turned out we hadn’t left it a moment too late.
While the Horse was closed
While the building stood empty, it had started to deteriorate very quickly, with water and storm damage, internal flooding and severe damp.
As far as we know, the last serious refit was in 1971, when an architect and his wife, Mr and Mrs Ramsden, bought the freehold, refitted the interior and built the front extension with the large windows. We knew very little of the pub would meet modern requirements, so it was a chance to upgrade, future-proof and make it how we all wanted it.
The landlady has a good knowledge of hospitality and the landlord is a draughtsman and designer, so we planned, drew and designed the new pub ourselves. We modelled it in 3D for fly-throughs and virtual walk-arounds, and explored ideas until we settled on version 27.
Breaking out
Step one: poke it about, stress-test it, break it out where needed, and keep going until there was nothing left but a bare building. Nearly all the plaster failed, a lot of the electrics didn’t cut the mustard, and much of the plumbing had been put out to pasture long ago. Ceilings collapsed, lintels fell, the bar floor was rotten as a pear and a few doors fell off.
We spent two weeks breaking out and one week drawing, planning and pricing, which left twelve weeks until opening.
Starting all over again
The refit began with new wiring throughout, a chance to move light fittings and switches and add new circuits where we needed them. Then our least favourite job: plastering. Our friend Peter did the largest areas and Russ followed round doing the smaller bits. We repositioned sinks, ran new supplies and removed a lot of old lead pipe.
Meanwhile Jason’s team rebuilt the chimney, studying old photos and counting the full and half bricks. It wasn’t a rebuild, it was a restoration. Then came the fun part: building the new bar, decorating, and laying a new floor.
First pints: 21 November 2022
Our greatest thanks go to our regulars and new visitors, because this was possible because of you.
Warm thanks to Adam, Andrew, Simon and the many other villagers who put a shoulder to the wheel, and to Ian, a previous landlord, whose knowledge of the building was invaluable. Thanks also to Accurate Roofing, Pukka Plastering, D.P. Goodwin, S.J. Feist and Maintenance Free Products.