Pub-restaurant development, Windsor

The Oxford Blue pub was originally two game keepers cottages that became a cosy but eventually run down local in Windsor. The pub was bought by a group of investors and we were brought in to help transform it into a contemporary gastro pub with the long-term aim of achieving a Michelin star.

We worked closely with the new investors and their experienced hospitality management team to ensure the building was extended and refurbished to the highest standards, including a half million pound commercial kitchen. 

Project challenges

This commercial project had a multi-million pound budget and at team of 10 stakeholders, including investors, chefs, the management team, specialist contractors and consultants. We manage this team throughout the design and construction phases ensuring a balance between sometimes conflicting requirements. Weekly team meetings were used to address concerns and highlight opportunities and this was a successful way of managing what was a highly complex project.

Another factor that added to the complexity of this project was its location in the Green Belt. Gaining planning permission for anything other than the simplest development in sensitive locations is rarely straight forward. We were able to secure planning for this project based on our condition survey, which highlighted the poor state of the pub, and our relatively modest and appropriate extension plans. 

The end result

After a successful design and build process, it’s truly delightful to see how far the pub has come since it was a tired old local in dire need of love.

The pub has gone from strength to strength and has now been taken over and renamed The Loch and The Tyne, run by Adam Handling. It’s now on the Michelin guide and on Estrella top 50 Gastropubs. Visit www.lochandtyne.com