Revamp for Porton's Old Railway Hotel during coronavirus pandemic
The 100-year-old building is being brought back to life
Set to open in June, in line with Government restrictions, an empty Porton pub has had a complete makeover.
The former Porton Hotel, now The Old Railway Hotel, is undergoing restoration work to bring it back back to life.
Keith Hartland set up a Community Consortium after he heard that the building was going up for sale - shortly after a sign appeared outside saying 'development potential'.
He took the chance to message various friends and family to ask them if they were interested in buying The Porton Hotel from Enterprise Inns.
It being Christmas and in a global pandemic, they thought he was joking. But, as a financial planner, they knew Keith was good with numbers. So, four other locals got on board with the idea and the five of them invested in the pub.
A bid was then put in and secured - they found out the other seven bidders were going to knock it down and redevelop the whole site.
"We started looking at it seriously at the beginning of January, by 12th February we had bought it and it was completed.
"The Consortium was born out of the pandemic, we decided it was a minimal risk as we got the building valued and even if it didn't work out and we sold it, we would probably get our money back. It was a calculated risk but everyone did ask us, why are you doing this during a pandemic, you must be insane, I think it is either the best or the worst time."
FILLED WITH HISTORY
The group are keen to get the pub open on June 21st for two reasons. The first is to reverse the flow of money but also because it will be 100 years since the building burnt down in 1921.
"It burnt down after the Spanish flu pandemic, we don't know why, but then 100 years after it burnt down, it was refurbed and reopened again."
Keith said it was built in the late 1890's for the station which shut in the 60's.
"We're also renaming it to The Old Railway Hotel, it was a bit of an unintentional master stroke because people say you shouldn't rename a pub because it is always known for that. The pub was ok in the 70's but 20 years ago it had a bad rep so by renaming it you reinvent it."
HOW WILL IT LOOK?
The pub was expected to be open on Monday 17th May but a lot of work needed to be done to the building to make it safe.
"It is getting rewired and re-plumbed. In terms of how it will look, we've added a bar back in, there was only ever one in the last 20 years but prior to that there were two so we have put two back in.
"We've opened it up so you can see the other bar, we've sort of gone back to how it was, we put a porch on the side so there is now two entrances. Three rooms have been added because there was live in accommodation so there was five but now we've got eight.
"The barn also had to come down and we got some great comments because you could see the pub for the first time in years as it was always hidden."
BRINGING THE COMMUNITY BACK TOGETHER
The group of developers want the newly refurbished pub to have a community vibe about the place.
They have already got the local parish council wanting to come for tea and cake and cyclists are going to take the opportunity to use it as a stop off this summer.
"A cycling group contacted us saying they want us to open at 10:30 on a Sunday so they can all have a refreshment.
"We're just trying to get it as a bit of a hub as the building is at the centre of the village, we can't wait to bring it back to it's former glory and make it a social spot for the community."