Northern pubco The Inn Collection Group has reopened one of the oldest pubs in the Lake District following the completion of the first phase of a full-scale refurbishment.
A former coaching inn, the 17th century The Pheasant Inn in Bassenthwaite reopened following a meticulous six-month refurbishment to re-purpose its dining areas along with a revamp of 20 bedrooms by the multi-award winning operator.
The inn’s original listed bar, with its red velvet banquettes, oak-panelled walls and eclectic collection of curios remains the same, preserving The Pheasant Inn’s venerable heritage as one of Cumbria’s oldest hostelries.
Managing director Sean Donkin said: “The Pheasant has evolved in response to travellers’ needs over the centuries. We’re proud that The Inn Collection Group has been able to contribute to the history of one of the Lake District’s best-loved sites through this careful and rewarding refurbishment.
“The reopening of The Pheasant marks the completion of our first phase to renovate this unique site to enhance its offering for customers while ensuring its provenance and heritage are preserved for future generations of people to eat, drink, sleep and explore from.
“The Pheasant is a shining example of what we love to do as a company, which is investing in exceptional sites like this and unlocking their full potential.
“The mark of a successful restoration project like this is the reaction from its regulars – we have customers who have been coming here for 40 years who are overjoyed by what we’ve done. That, to me, is terrific.”
In line with The Inn Collection Group’s pubs with rooms model, home-cooked pub fare is at the heart of the inn’s offering with food served daily from 7.30am through to 9pm. A wide range of beverages includes local real ales from Cumbrian Ales and the inn’s bespoke house Pheasant Ale brewed by Tirril Brewery.
Cutting the ribbon to officially reopen The Pheasant was head housekeeper and grandmother-of-four Gillian Gaston, who has worked at inn for 25 years.
Gillian, 66, of Great Clifton, said: “It was an honour to be asked to do this. The whole inn is just beautiful. They have done such a good job. I think we were all a little apprehensive as it is such an institution, but it looks wonderful. It’s lovely to be back and I can’t wait to welcome people again – the regulars who have been coming for years and to seeing new faces after the pandemic.”
She added: “The Pheasant is unique. There’s nowhere else quite like it. I’ve made such good friends here over the years – there are customers who still send me Christmas cards each year – I don’t think you would get that in many places. It’s a lovely team here. We all enjoy working together and take so much pride in the place – it is a very special inn that has been made even more so.”
Husband and wife team Chris and Debra Adamson are general managers at The Pheasant Inn.
Chris said: “It’s great to see friendly faces – people who have been here previously and new faces who are stepping inside for first time and seeing their reaction. Understandably there was some apprehension about the place being changed, but the way it has been so sympathetically renovated and refurbished makes it look as if it has been like this the entire time.”
Debra added: “It’s lovely to be open again to get all the team back in and all our regulars – they love the place. We are so happy to be getting back to business and seeing this amazing place as it should be – full of people enjoying their food, their drink and enjoying the company and seeing our team happy in our lovely new inn. It’s The Pheasant everyone knows and loves – just even better.
“We have our sights set on a magical Christmas and we’re going all out with some wonderful festive celebrations to celebrate the new Pheasant Inn’s first Christmas with our customers and team.”
A second phase of redevelopment is underway to repurpose a cottage within the grounds to provide a further seven rooms including new family-friendly accommodation to create a 27-room site in total.
Alongside The Pheasant, the Alchemy-backed The Inn Collection Group’s Lake District family of inns includes seven further sites in Ambleside, Grasmere, Coniston and Bowness-on-Windermere.
Outside Cumbria, the 25-site group owns pubs with rooms in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Lancashire with further acquisitions on the horizon as it continues to widen its customer base and group presence across the north of England.”
· The Pheasant is open daily from 7.30am and is walkers, cyclists, family and dog friendly. For more information visit www.inncollectiongroup.com
