The Drumming Snipe, Surrey
As is so often the case a poor and unprofitable business retreats into itself and commences a downward spiral until it reaches the point of no return - or almost! A bit of refocus, a name change and a strong design concept by TONIK have helped in re-invigorating the Drumming Snipe into a highly desirable pub and eatery where hospitality is at the heart of the new offer.
“The best part about this place is interacting with the people who live nearby. They love the area they live in and they want new businesses and restaurants to flourish. It feels like the whole community is behind us.”
James Lyon Shaw co owner Brucan
Tonik helped redefine the entrance route into a journey of discovery through the new lynch gate and replanted garden on to a Orangerie and created a mask to neighbouring garages which both protects neighbours from the hustle and bustle of the new garden area and creates a focal point for customers with a grand brick external fireplace.
The whole building given a coat of a fine chalky white paint and the huge ship cabin windows picked out in black to highlight the strong architecture and present a new presence in the streetscape. The car park given a full makeover and the already mature garden clipped, planted and turfed.
Internally parquet flooring covered over for many years was stripped and polished and the bar over clad and painted to within an inch of its life repurposed, brickwork exposed and fireplaces brought back to life.
However this was not simply a case of throwing a load of cash at something in the hope it could turn it around. The project budget was very tight and every effort was made to repurpose where appropriate rather than rip out and renew from both an environmental as well as cost perspective. The concerns of the Drumming Snipe Team ensured as well as retaining bar, floor and timber panelling and fireplaces even the large old Chesterfield window seats were carefully re built keeping wonderfully worn leathers and timber but adding new tweed seat pads and a completely new addition replicating the existing seating was added to balance the room.
Completely redesigned Kitchens including the partial removal of a 4’ x 4’ chimney sat right in the middle of the space ensure the menus created by Head Chef and co owner of the Brucan Group Jamie Dobbin will get all the space they need in preparation before they hit the restaurant, Private Dining Room or Bar top.
We wish them well for the future and look forward to a great pint on a sunny afternoon.
