The Opening of The Stag and Huntsman

So there we have it. The great and the good gathered on a beautiful sunny evening to enjoy the hospitality of Hillbrooke Hotels and The Culden Faw Estate at the opening of the newly renovated and extended Stag and Huntsman. And I have to say they did everyone proud with their service and generosity.


Free booze flowed and a steady stream of delicious nibbles appeared from the shiny new kitchen. The recently hired staff 'glided' around in an almost invisible manner making sure glasses were filled and stomachs kept supplied. And against this smooth running backdrop, Mr Schwarzenbach, owner of the Culden Faw Estate and the man behind the not inconsiderable investment in The Stag delivered an amusing and sensitive opening speech.


And the reaction from the assembled villagers seems to have been universally positive. The quality and design of the bedrooms coupled with the sensitive redevelopment of 'old' bar areas such as the 'snug' and the 'public' met with approval from the regulars.  And if the quality of the welcome from newly installed General Manager, Claire Hollis, and her staff is anything to go by, then the new Stag and Huntsman will become quite a draw to both the locals of the Hambleden Valley as well as the walkers and day trippers that so seem to love our beautiful village.


So despite the questions and the scepticism around the intentions of The Estate and the ambitious timescales involved, the renovation must be considered a success. It's perhaps a shame that this chronicle has rankled with certain members of the Estate but looking back at the past six months, I think we can say it's been a fair and honest account of the build process.


A new chapter for The Stag and Huntsman has opened and I will continue to post musings and thoughts on the goings on around the pub for no other reason than I can. The final word however must go to Claire and the staff of the pub. Claire was so proud on Friday night and for very good reason. As the new chapter is written, I sincerely hope that she and all her staff will be central characters in a long and happy story of success.

The Stag and Huntsman on Launch Morning

It's a bit like getting married. Here's a great photo taken by the 'official' channels (read: Hillbrooke PR) of the The Stag and Huntsman in the early morning light. The new 'bride' is waking up to a lovely sunny day. I have to say, it looks absolutely gorgeous. Tonight should be a marvellous event. More photos of the new bride will be posted shortly so extending the analogy further -- the marriage looks made in heaven!

New photos of The Stag and Huntsman

The fine weather arrives and with it, the opening of The Stag and Huntsman. Just two days to go and work is frantic. Certainly a huge amount of effort going in to get things finished. Some good photos here:

Five days to opening - is it ready?

So it's only five days until we see the results of the months of hard work at our favourite watering hole. The village awaits as we count down over the coming week to the opening party scheduled for this coming Friday. But one question is on everyone's lips: "Will it be finished?"

We have to take our hats off the efforts of the Culden Faw Estate and Hillbrooke Hotels to get the works close to completion but the gossip coming from the 'shop floor' is that Friday's opening will be short-lived.  For sure, there will be a fun evening as we poke around the new Stag and enjoy (hopefully) the hospitality of the Estate and Hillbrooke. But judging by the state of the site both inside and out, presenting a finished product is highly unlikely by this coming Friday.

For starters, the garden is still a sea of mud. I presume Hillbrooke must be hoping that the party go'ers don't venture outside unless there is turf to be laid this week. But then if turf is laid, will the management want people walking on it so soon after being laid? I think not.  And will the interior be completed? Judging by comments from some of the chaps on site (all unattributed of course), the work is manic with various trades tripping over each other as they frantically try and work through the lengthy 'to do' list each is presented with.

All that said, I can completely appreciate the desire of Hillbrooke to get The Stag and Huntsman open for Friday's big night and to then have the place trading over the Jubilee Weekend. It's the deadline they have said since the work started and so it's understandable that they are pulling out all the stops to open come what may. But one is left asking: at what cost? The smart money is on the place closing soon after Jubilee to finish the works properly and to bring the whole place up to the standard expected.

But in the meantime, the excitement builds and we look forward to an excellent night this coming Friday. Obviously a full report will be provided!  :)

New Hambleden Sports & Social Club Raises The 'Bar'

Apologies for the untended pun, but the newly revamped Hambleden Sports and Social Club house will, in my opinion raise the 'bar' for drinking in the village. Hats off to the Club Committee for investing in the club and for creating a very appealing location for a drink or two. For the first time, Hambleden residents (so long as they are members of the Sports and Social Club or are signed in by a member) have a real choice of where to drink.

The new decor was unveiled last Friday. With all interior design done by local specialist Jane Sweet, the interior is now both welcoming and functional. Smart carpet matched with, dare I say this, a sophisticated colour scheme combines to create a quite sophisticated ambiance. Quirky touches such as the coat hooks in the entrance hall, a cat mural by the bar and neatly matched photos of sports teams both young and old, add to the refreshed feel of the place. While undoubtedly different to what went before, the new feel will, I am sure, attract a lot of new members to the Sports Club. And that can only be a good thing.

What will be very interesting is the effect it will have on The Stag and Huntsman. One thing is for certain, the price of a round in the Sports and Social Club is significantly cheaper than prices at The Stag of old. And I can't imagine for a moment that prices will be any lower once it re-opens. So now the village has a choice and competition has been introduced. Of course the Stag will profit from passing trade and from the reputation it builds outside the Valley, but the core local clientele now have options. And that I have to say is a good thing.

All I hope is that the new Sports and Social Club will attract new members from the surrounding area and that we'll see an increase in interest in the sports on offer. And with an appealing destination for all teams to decamp to at the end of the match, with luck the Club will see its profits rise and its popularity increase. I would say to anyone with pre-conceived opinions about the Hambleden Sports and Social Club to go and take another look. You'll be very pleasantly surprised!

The Stag and Huntsman Latest Photos + Rumours of Delayed Opening

An amazing Hambleden weekend. Seriously warm and the walkers, cyclists, Duke of Edinburgh types and general tourists are out in force. The shop is doing great business in teas and I reckon the Church should bring forward the start of the Sunday teas. A great weekend to be in the valley.

But judging from the state of the Stag and Huntsman building site, the famous pub won't be serving the needs of the crowd any time soon. Rumours are starting to circulate that the late May completion date might be slipping. I'm sure (hope) Hillbrooke Hotels will quash the gossip but when you look at the site, it's clear there's still a lot of work to do.  Judge for yourself here:

There's a growing sense of excitement about the opening so we are all keeping fingers crossed that The Stag will be open in time for the Jubilee celebrations and for what should be a great summer of fun.

Inside The Stag and Huntsman - First Look

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. 

Claire Hollis to be GM @ The Stag and Huntsman Hambleden

So it's official. Claire Hollis has been appointed as the General Manager of The Stag and Huntsman when it reopens in the May time frame.  I'm sure this news will be greeted with considerable relief by the Village as the pub will once again be run by an individual with deep roots in Hambleden.

It was always going to be so important that The Hillbrooke Hotels Group and the Culden Faw Estate appointed the right General Manager, someone who understands the needs of the local community. And who could be better than Claire. I'm sure Rebellion Brewery's loss is our gain. That said, we'll compensate by drinking more of their excellent beer!

Now let's hope that Hillbrooke Hotels support Claire in what she does and that she has the right people behind her to make this big job a huge personal success for her. But for now, we delight in the thought of her stewardship and look forward to the opening of the new Stag and Huntsman with even more excitement.  Congratulations Claire -- we are all very pleased for you!  Happy days!

The Stag and Huntsman in the Snow

We all have fingers crossed for a fast end to the current cold weather so that work can continue apace at the Stag and Huntsman in Hambleden. Yesterday's minus 10 in the village obviously has had an effect because according to Matt Murton, the next door neighbour to the Stag, a pipe has burst and the cellar is filling fast with water. Hopefully by the time this is written, the Culden Faw Estate 'machine' will have swung into action to remedy the situation.  But for the record, here's the Stag and Huntsman in the February snow.

Hillbrooke Hotel Company to Run The Stag and Huntsman

So the news is out. The era of the local Landlord is over in Hambleden. Urs Shwarzenbach and the Culden Faw Estate have sold out the running of The Stag and Huntsman to a boutique hotel group -- The Hillbrooke Hotel Company. Quite what this will mean to our local pub remains to be seen but judging from Hillbrooke's website, we can expect quirkiness rather than quaintness. Simple and perfectly cooked modern British food. An atmosphere of informality, fun, friendliness and efficiency and an active part in the local community.


It all sounds too good to be true. Judging by the other properties under the management of this group, we can certainly expect standards to be raised but at what cost The promise of the Estate not to turn The Stag and Huntsman into a gastro pub looks to ring true to a certain extent when you look at the menus of sister establishments. Lunch menus that include beef burger for £12.00. Sausage and mash for £12.50. Puddings all at £6.00. Dinner menus with starters from £6 and mains all around £18.  Admittedly, these prices aren't far short of the old Stag and Huntsman menu and I guess if the quality improves, then The Culden Faw Estate can expect to see customers attracted away from the Frog, The Chequers and The Bull and Butcher.


One big plus point that will surely bring in the ramblers are the sandwiches, something that was a rather bizarre omission from the old menu under the previous regime. And if the afternoon menu features in The Culden Faw Estate's plans, then many will be happy. 


Alex Dick has been quoted in The Henley Standard saying "we believe the partnership will provide the pub and its visitors with everything that is so good in a traditional village pub." Let's just hope The Culdern Faw Estate and the Hillbrooke Hotel Company remember that The Stag and Huntsman is also a local's pub frequented by a wide mix of villagers on a regular basis. We look forward to a locals welcome and we'll let Mr Christoph Brooke, Managing Director know if we don't (his email and mobile number can be found on The Hillbrooke Hotels website).

Blockwork Goes Up @ The Stag and Huntsman

It's been a stunning few days in the Hambleden Valley with clear blue winter skies, heavy white frosts and perfect still air. The walkers have been out in droves and the village has been a bustle of activity. All in all a perfect weekend for a beer and a roast lunch at The Stag and Huntsman.

But obviously it is not to be this winter. Visitors to Hambleden continue to be greeted by the renovations and by a web of scaffolding. The building site at the back, guarded as it is by sturdy metal railings, is a picture of industry. Mud, machinery and part built walls now welcome those who find their way into the car park. Those who make a regular pilgrimage to the Hambleden Valley cannot but fail to be impressed by the progress being made. In the last few days, the blockwork to the new extension has really begun to take shape. The photos on the left show just how the pub's entertainment venue, kitchen, store room and manager's flat will look once completed.

The sad thing about looking at this structure as it rises from the ground is the amount of garden it looks likely to swallow up. For Friday night garden regulars, the atmosphere of this most favourite of family evenings looks set to change for ever more. With luck and hopefully with some foresight by the Culden Faw Estate, the garden will retain sufficient space to allow us all to enjoy the last of the summer sun and from which our children can make their excited excursions onto the Dean. 

The saving grace however might be the fact that the garden is also beloved by the walkers who swarm like 'be-sticked' ants along the footpaths and bridleways, guided by dog eared books and in some modern cases, handheld GPS units. The worry however is that the Estate might wish to discourage their patronage given as they are to drinking halves of orange squash and bringing their own sandwiches!


Only time will tell. But as the days count down to the predicted opening of The Stag and Huntsman, all who frequent it, be they be Hambleden regulars or visitors to our beautiful valley wait with eager anticipation. All we need to do now is to see what the builders are doing on the inside!

Christmas without The Stag and Huntsman, Hambleden

So the Christmas season is upon us and for the first time in more than 400 years, Hambleden’s residents are having to live without the Stag and Huntsman. Christmas at the Stag has always been something special as the village regularly retires to its friendly bars after the traditional events in the lead up to the festivities. I predict that attendance at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve will be down on last year and that those who do attend will not sing with such gusto as a direct result of the Stag’s closure. Who’d have thought the church would be an indirect ‘victim’ of the closure!?  :)

I’m not alone in already looking forward to next year and the return of the Stag and Huntsman from May onwards. Work is certainly progressing well with the footings now in on the squaring off of the lounge with the public bar. The new roof is taking shape and the walls are going up on the large new extension down the side of the garden. As for the inside, I’ve not seen in there yet but some investigative snooping will take place shortly so watch this space for a report and perhaps some photos from my hidden camera. 

As 2011 closes, we continue to watch developments closely. The vibe around the place is becoming increasingly positive with many friends passing on comments from the wider community that expectations are high for the new Stag and Huntsman. Excitement therefore mounts; it’s just a shame that we have to live through this Christmas season without our local friendly pub. I for one am missing it this year. Bring on 2012.

Exclusive! Opening Date for The Stag and Huntsman, Hambleden

So according to official sources at The Culden Faw Estate, the Stag and Huntsman will reopen for business over the weekend of May Bank Holiday, 2012. What's more, there is a strong commitment from the Estate to preserve the character of the pub right down to reusing some of the old furniture in the areas not affected by the build.

And according to the same source, the quality of the food will be much improved although the menu will not read like a gastro pub. This will be music to many people's ears as the big fear is that The Stag and Huntsman goes the way of so many local pubs and becomes a glorified restaurant.

All in all a very encouraging picture of a pub that, with luck, will open bigger and better than before. And if the menu caters for local tastes and those of the hundreds of walkers that frequent its garden and bars, then the Culden Faw Estate will be onto a winner.  And with the build ahead of schedule thanks to the wonderful Autumn weather, it seems it will not be long until we return to The Stag and Huntsman and the pub we know and love!

Nuclear Bunker & Indoor Pool @ The Stag and Huntsman?

The hole in what was the garden of The Stag and Huntsman is sparking a lot of debate by all accounts. According to one of the hard working builders (on-site on a Saturday), rumours abound as to the purpose of the near 20 foot deep excavation. Nucelar bunker for the village? Fitness pool for the farm boys?  Both have been put forward as suggestions.

While both have their benefits, the answer is perhaps unsurprising. The new cellar, for that is what it will be (no s**t Sherlock) will contain a plant room and a bank full of fridges and freezers for what we presume will be the new gastro element of the pub.

What is certain is that the builders are getting a move on. Work seems to be taking place seven days a week which suggest The Culden Faw Estate wants to meet the six month build window they have been talking about. And rather encouragingly, word from the builders suggests that the character of The Stag and Huntsman is going to be retained. But judging by the work going on, we'll see some dramatic changes over the next few weeks running toward Christmas.

Who is Robin Hartley?

So the builders behind the renovation of The Stag and Huntsman, Hambleden are Robin Hartley & Company, a local Henley builder by all accounts.

For obvious reasons, it would be good to see examples of their work and to see the quality of the end product they build. So it's rather strange that they don't seem to have website. I would have though that any builder commissioned to renovate a building with such history, character and reputation would be able to show a strong track record.

I guess this is another example of the trust we are all placing in The Culden Faw Estate and Mr Schwarzenbach's advisers and staff. With luck, Robin Hartley and Company will build to a design that will win awards and win over the doubters such as yours truly. But the fact that they seem to not be of any great repute judging by their online profile, is going to be of concern.  Again, only time will tell.

The Stag and Huntsman Digs Deep

There's no sign of a let up in the digging around the back of The Stag and Huntsman. Check out the hole as it stands this weekend. Has to be +20ft in depth.  All we can say is that it's a good job the water table is so low otherwise the contractors would have a major pumping job on their hands

Also of interest is the façade of the old drinks store / laundry alongside the lane. Does this mean the new Stag and Huntsman will look as it did before - at least from the front? This begs the question of what else the National Trust and the planners have requested are preserved. Just a shame the atmosphere cannot be placed under a preservation order.

The Builders Move Into The Stag and Huntsman Hambleden

So it's a couple of weeks now since the pub was drunk dry and the builders have been busy. In fairness to the Culden Faw Estate, they haven't hung around. The place has been abuzz with the sound of diggers, builders, demolition and site clearance. And by all accounts, there were some dark secrets lurking in the kitchen - secrets you really wouldn't want to think too much about! 

 

So as the Stag and Huntsman was cleared, many of us have been wondering what became of some of our much loved artefacts from the various bars? For example, the Tug of War trophy so proudly won at the last Hambleden Fete; the Tommy Helmet that sat with proud of place in the Public Bar; and the dart board which in days gone by was the scene of such competition. Several regulars spoke of taking a screw driver to time honoured signs such as the 'Public Bar' sign on the door.  What became of all of these things will hopefully become clear when the Stag and Huntsman reopens.

But as you can see from the photos, our beloved pub has taken a battering in the past two weeks. The 'quaint'  outside men's toilet is no more. The garden bar has been assigned to history. The digging has begun on the new extension in the garden. Who knows what skeletons might be uncovered but we all hope that the fact that the builders have got a move on might mean that the six month build schedule is met and that we have a pub back in the village before too long. 

No Banter @ Rugby World Cup

What a difference four years makes. Back in 2007 The Stag was the focal point of our support for England's bid to retain the Rugby World Cup. Our passion for the game was heightened by the fact that the Raging Bull - Mr Phil Vickery - was a resident in the village at that time. Phil was a frequent visitor to The Stag and liked nothing more than a pint or two and a game of darts. Having our resident hero leading England only served to bring the tournament closer to Hambleden and made games viewed in the Public Bar even more tense. For those of us who witnessed South Africa lift the cup in Paris that year, our disappointment was certainly pretty intense as we felt for Phil as well as for the whole England team. But overall, The Stag was for those four or five weeks, the focal point of our support for England and once again brought everyone together.

So here we are in 2011. And this weekend as England scraped past Argentina with a sole try from Ben Youngs, we watched in isolation away from the banter and spirit of The Stag. We have to ask why the Culden Faw Estate chose to close the pub just at the start of the Rugby World Cup. Surely the next four weeks would have been highly profitable if they had been sensible and put on breakfasts and screenings (as Andy Stokes did during a memorable Lions Tour back in 2001). But then I guess they don't breed die hard rugby fans in Switzerland where Estate owner Mr Schwarzenbach comes from.

Drink The Stag Dry - No Last Night Blues

So last night was the night. After a suitably stormy day in the village, the evening sun shone for the swansong of the Stag and Huntsman as we know it. An excellent turn out witnessed the loyal staff receive gifts from the Culden Faw Estate for their valued service (so valued in fact that everyone of them was made redundant....). With a buffet served in the dining room and the best staffed bar for some years, the regulars of Hambleden bade farewell to The Stag for the time being.

Talking to friends around the pub, the general sentiment is one of trepidation and sadness. Trepidation at what might emerge from the rubble of the rebuild and sadness at the loss of old friend. That said, the community holds out hope that the new Stag will retain some of its much loved character and that the developers and interior designers manage to understand the customer base that will frequent it day in and day out. It's not about well heeled shooting types looking for a gastro boutique at which to soak their aches in mock Victorian roll top baths. The Stag is a locals pub that serves a diverse community with good beer and (hopefully) honest decent food!

So farewell to The Stag. Watch this space for reports on the build and for the gossip and feedback from those close to this process.....

The Stag and Huntsman Hambleden

This blog will be a chronicle for the major changes about to start at The Stag and Huntsman pub in Hambleden, Oxfordshire. This much loved local hostelry is at the heart of the village and has been for generations. A traditional, unspoilt  local boozer, it attracts a loyal following from the Hambleden Valley and provides a focal point for friends across all generations and walks of life to meet, engage in healthy banter and to enjoy the company and community we are so fortunate to have around us.

Sadly, the pub is about to close (this Sunday, September 4th September) for at least 6-months of major renovations and building work. This is under the orders of new owner, Swiss Financier Urs Schwarzenbach who bought the village from the much respected and sorely missed Henry Smith three or four years ago.  Mr Schwarzenbach has spent a small fortune bringing the fabric of the village up to date and now it is the turn of our beloved pub.

As a regular of the Pub and resident of the Village, I am concerned at what will result. Like most others, we understand that The Stag needs updating -- let's face it, it is a bit frayed around the edges. But for many of us, that's the appeal. But business is business and it's clear the The Stag could be doing better. So as Mr Schwarzenbach embarks on this project, we hold our collective breaths in the hope that his plans do not rip the heart out of The Stag and that the final build keeps the character and atmosphere that has made The Stag such a special place for me and many of my friends here in Hambleden.

Mr Schwarzenbach -- we watch with keen interest and this blog will be an honest, fair and constructive mouthpiece for the mood of the village as the development takes shape. Watch this space for progress.  And do follow updates on Twitter using @StagandHuntsman.