HOSPITALITY design specialists Jones AD have completed an extensive refurbishment of the Grade II Listed 18th century The White Horse pub in Tilbrook, Huntingdon. The historic premises is a partnership between Charles Wells and co-owners Nick Bonner and Joe Buckley.
The initial project focus was on working with the local parish council and village residents to find a solution to bring the pub back into operation, while retaining and restoring its historic fabric and character. The White Horse has listed status, meaning it was vital for the new design and redevelopment to be sympathetic to the pub’s location, surroundings and heritage.
In addition to a full refurbishment of the pub’s interior, the project includes a new oak-framed and glazed extension to replace an existing dilapidated conservatory. This new extension is a bright, contemporary area with bi-fold doors opening onto a new patio and outside space. As well as providing further capacity for the popular restaurant, this element of the redevelopment doubles as a new area for private events or meetings.
Abi Perry-Jones, Creative Director of the Northamptonshire design firm, said: “We worked closely with the local planning department to ensure that the design and materials used were sympathetic to the history and character of the building. The existing part of the pub is really characterful and cosy with very low ceilings in places, while in contrast, the new oak-framed extension has a great open ceiling structure and the glazing opens out onto the patio with amazing open countryside views.”
Improvements include a new porch with accessible entrance and disabled WC, new lighting throughout and a redesigned and re-furnished interior. A key element of the design is a new extension, with a bespoke locally handcrafted oak frame with glazed bi-folding doors opening onto the new patio space. The exterior has also been renewed, giving The White Horse an improved and more usable garden space, including a quirky converted horsebox trailer to be used as an additional bar or events servery.
The bar area has a casual feel, with new fireplace, wingback chairs and a feature wall which boasts a striking vintage floral wallpaper. This is designed to be an inviting, sociable space, where customers can sit back, relax and enjoy pre- or post-dinner drinks in comfort. Spaces are broken up with illuminated wine stores and screens, while the back bar highlights the increasingly-popular craft beer offering from Charles Wells.
Although there is a light, bright contemporary space at its centre, the Jones AD design retains many of the original cosy corners, characterful features and architectural details. The new colour scheme incorporates fresh blues and burnt orange with metallic copper accents in the light fittings and fixtures. Vintage mismatched lightshades now hang within the open roof structure of the extension, and the new WCs have pretty mismatched tiles and hanging vintage vanity mirrors.
Artwork and interior accessories were chosen to reflect the locality, including a large scale archive map which shows the village of Tilbrook in the 1800s, and prints of nearby Kimbolton Castle where Catherine of Aragon was exiled and eventually died. The White Horse brand identity is echoed throughout, including in a bespoke digitally-printed white horse wallpaper.
Contact Jones Architecture + Design on 01604 211470 or visit www.jones-ad.co.uk