Tea & Coffee focus: Changes at the Devonshire

COFFEE TO go is part of the revamped offer at the Devonshire in Balham, South London.

Owner Young's has invested more than £650,000 in refurbishing the pub, one of the oldest in the area, to create an all-day offer.

The locality has a mix of commuters and young professionals, as well as shoppers, creating a need for a different kind of community local.

The pub opens from 9am to 11pm, with a 'chameleon' offer which includes breakfast, mid-morning coffee, lunch and dinner.

The premises is now divided into three distinct areas. The front café bar is purely for drinkers and features a sofa area. It serves Costa coffee to drink in the pub or take away, while local businesses have been targeted with take-out and express lunch menus which offer a faster service.

There is a casual dining area where customers can order food at the bar, as well as a more formal dining room at the rear of the pub. A new, open kitchen allows customers to see their food being prepared.

The contemporary look includes wooden floors, modern chandeliers and wallpaper to create a home-from-home feel.

The bar menu celebrates traditional pub favourites including a home-made pie of the day and new twists such as hot rib-eye beef and horseradish in ciabatta. There are also healthier options and lighter bites including a flat mushroom and halloumi burger.

The dining room menu includes more substantial dishes such as duck breast with rosti potato, braised savoy cabbage and a port jus, and slow-roasted pork belly with creamy mashed potatoes, spinach and red wine jus.

Barrie Thomas, manager of the Devonshire, says: "Our regulars love the new contemporary interior, and we are also attracting a new customer set who feel they are discovering a new gem in the neighbourhood.

"Takings have gone through the roof since the refurbishment. The Costa coffee offering is also going down a treat, both with mums meeting up for coffee, and customers looking for a quick coffee to go."

The garden has been redesigned and features heated and covered areas for year-round use. A seasonal barbecue will be available in the warmer months with a separate menu enabling customers to order from outside.

Young's retail director Patrick Dardis says: "Our refurbished pubs have all been designed to keep their individuality while creating an aspirational venue with first-class food and drink. In all our refurbishments we are careful to retain the pub's character and in the case of the Devonshire we have preserved features such as the pub's Victorian decorated glass and wood screens."