S&NPE looks for tenant for £2.5m pub

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises (S&NPE) is looking for a tenant for an historic inn it's re-building at a cost of £2.5m.

The company has received approval for its planning application to rebuild the historic George Hotel in Hatherleigh, following a devastating fire that destroyed the 15th century thatched coaching inn last Christmas.

The company hopes building work will start in October and that the new inn will be completed during summer 2010. The anticipated cost of the rebuild is around £2.5m.

Over the last six months, S&NPE has worked closely with English Heritage, West Devon Borough Council's planning department and local parish councillors to try to design a new George Hotel that does justice to the original.

The front of the building will be very similar with painted rendered walls and timber windows carefully selected to closely match the previous style.

As before, the building will be predominantly thatched using a local reed and employing traditional methods.

Inside the traditional look will continue using natural materials such as flagstones, cobbles and oak beams in keeping with the old inn.

Richard Jackson, S&NPE project and building manager, said: "We want to create the feeling that the building is old but has recently been restored.

"It is not intended to be a new 'soulless building' but, like all good thatched inns, to have plenty of character and charm."

Once again, the inn will be wrapped around a central open courtyard. To give a cosy, traditional feel, the pub will be separated into a series of nooks and crannies and there will be open fireplaces throughout.

Jackson said the style of the operation will be "relaxed and informal, allowing

customers to eat and drink anywhere."

In a new addition, there will also be a separate area off the ground floor pub for private dining, functions and meetings.

There will be 13 letting rooms, 12 at first floor level and a further wheel chair friendly room on the ground floor.

The recruitment campaign for a new lessee to take on the George is now starting.

Jackson said: "We've already had calls from a number of people, although no final decision will be taken for some months."

Anyone interested should contact S&NPE recruitment manager for the South West, Eve Snook on 07917 751542.