Last Tuesday I was granted 'rare' access to the interior of the Stag and Huntsman courtesy of Hillbrooke Hotels and Lisa Hughes from the Culden Faw Estate. This 'unfettered' access, albeit with Lisa leading me quite briskly around the site provided more than a glimpse into what we can expect when The Stag reopens in late May. And I have to say, it looks encouraging.
This photo shows the Public Bar. Key features will remain including the dart board (no 'knock through' into The Snug as feared). However, the popular bench seat and the corner stool by the bar hatch are going to be lost for a doorway into the new seating area destined for the area that was the garden bar.
The Estate and Hillbrooke are very clear that significant parts of the The Stag will remain authentic to what was there previously. There'll be no poncy floors, many fixtures and fitting will remain, and the fireplaces will still be used. Good news in the Public Bar I would say which is unbeatable on a cold day with the fire in the grate.
The Snug itself will welcome back the Saturday crew and they will not be disappointed. Bar fittings remain as were, even down to the wrought iron glass rack. And shock of shocks, the old heavy red velvet curtains will make a reappearance. Hopefully having been thoroughly washed clean of decades of nicotine staining and god knows what else!
For anyone who has eaten at The Stag, the thought of what might lie ahead in the culinary department will be of some interest. And so the construction of a new kitchen in the block running along side the car park is significant. Not only do we get a new chef with a new menu working in a new kitchen, but the weekend BBQ will be expanded through the bespoke BBQ 'bay' with the addition of a pizza oven. Smart move I reckon and one that will prove popular. Now what we need to see is who will run the kitchen and will the menu live up to what the Estate insists will consist of locally sourced produce at non-gastro pub prices?
And it's in the dining room where we'll see the biggest difference. This photos shows a view looking down past the wall into where the kitchen once stood. And the builders have made some interesting discoveries including an old bread oven which I am sure will become a feature of the room. I don't think anyone would disagree that the old dining room needed some attention and so the new enlarged version should be a welcoming sight.
But it's here that I have a question: How is the food going to get from the kitchen in the new block into the dining room? Will it get carried through the public bar or the via the new room into the lounge bar and into the dining room. Talk about food miles! I hope the serving staff are well trained to navigate the obstacles that the trip from kitchen to table will encounter.....
In summary, I would say that Hilbrooke Hotels and The Culden Faw Estate are spending a huge amount of money and I think its fair to say, time, in getting the new Stag and Huntsman looking fit for purpose. My sense is that it will be much like the old Stag but upgraded to deliver on the potential it has always had. Will it possess the same atmosphere? Will it be given over to smart dining and smart clientele? Only time will tell. I think there is a danger of this but with Claire at the helm and with the support of the regulars, I reckon it will quickly become the pub we want it to be. That's certainly the view from The Estate and I believe from Hillbrooke Hotels.
