Transforming a derelict village pub to create a modern restaurant destination

Set in a conservation area and involving a Grade II listed building, the project to restore and remodel a derelict pub and hotel at the centre of Stonor Village in Oxfordshire has created a wonderful new restaurant complex with a retail space, cafe, conference area and village pub.

Achieving the technically complicated project goals, which combines new with old, while balancing the requirements of conservation and planning officers, needed the team to take a collaborative and sensitive approach at all times.

A key requirement was to preserve the historic parts of the building and to re-use materials where appropriate, at the same time bringing it totally up to date. More recent parts were carefully demolished to make way for a contemporary two storey extension combining green oak and structural glazing with a Bauder green roof system.

Extensive landscaping and external works, together with rainwater harvesting and the installation of a drainage field, completed the scheme.

Challenges & Solutions

With a short construction programme, careful pre-planning was needed to establish realistic project schedules and to optimise each sequence of work to minimise delays .

Maintaining the goodwill of the community was an additional client goal throughout the project. Managing construction traffic and a clear focus on minimising noise and disruption were crucial.

"Combining new with old, this project presented multiple technical challenges with a range of sustainable features all set in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The team did a great job to achieve client goals while minimising disruption to the village community.”
John Youle, Construction Director