A PUB at the centre of a campaign to bring it back into use has now reopened.
The Grade-I listed Old Hall officially welcomed its first customers last night after the new owners completed a £1 million refurbishment.
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CHEERS: Landlord Chris Button outside the newly-refurbished Old Hall in Sandbach, which has been given a £1 million makeover. Pictures: Wesley Webster
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The Tudor building has been “sympathetically restored” and extended to make the most of the site in Sandbach’s High Street.
The freehouse was bought by Chester-based Brunning and Price in 2009, more than four years after it was closed and first put on the market.
During that time, campaigners rallied to create the Save Our Hall Action Group (SOHAG), to stop the building falling into disrepair. It was placed on English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register. This ensured the then owners made the building water-tight.
New landlord Chris Button has worked for Brunning and Price for three years as a roving manager.
He is now keen to put his own stamp on Old Hall.
Chris, aged 34, who has moved from Nantwich to live at the pub, said: “It will be nice for me to stay in one place.
“The phones have been ringing with people wanting to book.
“The people of Sandbach are excited for the Old Hall to be opening again.”
In total, 40 people now work at Old Hall, with the majority in part-time positions.
The building, which dates from 1656, boasts open fires, oak floorboards and a walled courtyard.
Extra floor space has been added by creating a garden room. There is also a new kitchen.
Francis Hill, the company’s property director, said: “We had to physically jack the building up to replace the sole plate, which supports the structure, and we had to cut out and replace a huge amount of oak which had become rotten. “Replacing the stone roof was an epic challenge. There are tons of stone which had to be moved by hand.”
Jamie Hopkins will take on the role of head chef.
Jamie, who has been cooking for 20 years since leaving school, will be joined in the kitchen by sous chefs Paul Phipps and Lee Whalley.
He said: “It’s modern British pub classics with a twist.
“The response from people around here has been amazing. There’s such a buzz.”
Brunning and Price likes to take on renovation projects, although the Old Hall is the first Grade-I listed building it has tackled.
Duncan Lockhead, communications director, said: “It meant whatever we have done has taken twice as long and cost twice as much.
“Doing the Grade-I was really gratifying, but the building was in a much, much worse state than we anticipated.”
Lisa Jordan, who was the manager of Old Hall before its closure, and an active member of SOHAG, said: “We all knew it was going to be impressive, but I never imagined it could be just as fantastic as it is.”