The award-winning George and Dragon in Holmes Chapel has reopened following a substantial joint investment from Robinsons Brewery in Stockport and licensee Martin Barnes.
The pub, which was closed for three weeks, has been a mainstay in the village of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, since the late 16th century.
The first mention of the inn was made in the Manchester Mercury in October 1752. The George, as locals call it, was ideally placed to host travellers on their journey from London to Liverpool.
The pub flourished for hundreds of years before 1970 when the new George and Dragon was opened on Sadlers Close after the original pub building was demolished as part of the Middlewich and Knutsford Road improvements.
Martin Barnes, Licensee of the George and Dragon, said: “Our pub has a lot of memories for people in the village. When we were getting ready for the refurbishment I completely underestimated the emotional impact of removing all the fixtures and fittings from the pub. There are so many special occasions and memories that we have been fortunate to have hosted in the George and Dragon, from birthdays to retirements, Christenings to funerals, we have even had a marriage proposal in the conservatory. For me, this is why it was so important that we got it right. It’s not for us, it’s for the community.”
Licensee Martin Barnes and Robinsons in-house design team worked closely throughout the refurbishment to ensure that the design didn’t compromise on the atmosphere of the pub.
Martin said: “We didn’t want a refurbishment that took character from the pub. We wanted to make sure that the changes embraced our past whilst looking towards the future.”
The new look George and Dragon’s gallery can be viewed online – it oozes ambience thanks to new softer décor choices. The pub’s exposed timber alongside new seating has created cosy pockets to get lost in conversation whilst black and white historical photos marry the past with the present.
“We are all really pleased with the results” explained Martin. “The old pub was tired but functional and you could argue that it didn’t quite match up to the level of quality that we strive for with our food, drinks and service. The new look George and Dragon now matches the excellent service our customers have come to expect from us.”
Ellis Wardle, Business Development Manager for Robinsons Brewery, said: “The transformation is fantastic and the early feedback from the pub’s regulars has been universally positive. Martin is a brilliant licensee with a world-class team behind him so we know that the new George and Dragon will continue to be a staple in Holmes Chapel for many years to come.”
Martin has written a BLOG following the full refurbishment project and more can be found at their facebook page and by following on twitter.
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