The first Pub & Kitchen site for Greene King
Located between Manchester and the Peak District National Park, The Governors House is a village gem that offers great accommodation with a warm and welcoming pub, that serves an assortment of great drinks and traditional menu classics.
Whether it’s a refreshing drink with friends, or a celebratory meal with family, the new Neighbourhood Pub & Kitchen concept at the Governors House is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy any occasion.
THE BRIEF
Due to the popularity of this well-established community pub in the heart of Cheadle Hulme, and the continued loyalty of customers, both local and those using the site as a base to explore Manchester and surrounding areas, Greene King were keen to invest in the site and give customers a new and improved guest experience.
The brief was to create a pub that catered for both drinkers and diners with clear and distinctly individual areas. It was essential that although these areas had defined identities within the main body of the pub, the transition between these spaces needed to be seamless. The bar area needed to encapsulate a traditional yet aspirational journey and feel with an emphasis on providing a good mix of seating styles. A warm colour use, bold pattern, dark timbers, and concealed accent lighting were important factors in creating the right aesthetic and ambience through the day and into the evening. In contrast to this, the dining areas needed to be much more airy and provide a really fresh social space with a softer look and feel. The use of slightly lighter colours, fully upholstered furniture, planting and decorative light fittings were essential elements that needed to be combined to create a naturally inviting dining environment.
The bedrooms were also in need of refurbishment and needed to display a new sense of character and identity that displayed the same aesthetics as the pub interior spaces.
THE DESIGN
Upon entering, customers are instantly drawn into the space by following a feature tiled floor which envelopes the bar servery at the heart of the interior. A feature tree with lighting creates an ambient canopy above the entrance and really adds to the sense of arrival into the pub. The bar and drinking areas combine dark timber tones, rich warm colour, aged leather and patterned fabric, exposed brick and a carefully considered decorative lighting scheme to create a welcoming and relaxing drinking environment. A series of carriage type seating booths and banquette seating, mixed with fully upholstered wing chairs and high stools give the bar area a really plush and comfortable vibe.
Located opposite the bar seating area sits the open and refreshingly light dining space. The use of neutral paint colours, check fabric with aged leather and soft velvets, warm timbers, large scale wallpaper and a multitude of decorative light fittings create a bright and inviting space. The layout and use of varying shapes and sized tables allows the dining area to fully accommodate for any size group, whether it be couples or a large party the Pub and Kitchen dining area is the perfect setting to enjoy one of the classic menu items on offer.
A beautifully crafted external seating space is accessed beyond the dining area and provides the venue with a great environment to sit out for both drinks and food. A timber pergola structure with foliage, heating and decorative lighting creates a suburban garden feel which is lively and fresh. All bedrooms have been thoughtfully designed with mod-cons to ensure all guests feel right at home. Whether it is a twin room or a double, each room is a comfortable and relaxing retreat complimented by soft and cosy décor. And most importantly a plush bed topped with quality linens and plump pillows.
