As you all know, we closed for a couple of days this week to make good some problems with the Regency fabric of our building.
In the bar room, a new window - a perfect replica of the original - had been hand-made by Pat McHale and was being installed by Bob, the brother of ex-staff member, Lucas.
In our front room, Sandor and his team got rid of the crumbling plasterwork, and replaced it, skimming it smooth and painting it with Jill's chosen colour. Sandor then addressed the wooden floor, which was now beyond repair, laying a new floor of light oak. The front room is now a brighter, crisper room - enhanced by Jill's hanging lights.
Meanwhile, Geof was scrubbing clean the entrance hall, removing a century or more of tobacco smoke, and painting the kitchen ceiling. And the team of volunteers - owners, staff and customers - were sorting ancient store cupboards, racing to the tip with all sorts of old rubbish, and organizing anything that moved and loads of stuff that didn't and hadn't for generations.
We opened again at 5pm on Wednesday, and the few of us still on our feet opened a bottle or two as we eavesdropped on customers' comments. The reaction seems good, and the chefs have benefited from their couple of days off.
Worth doing, we think.
Jill, Rachel, Ollie, Max and Michelle. Beth was singing, Alice was writing essays, and Jess was ... who knows? when the picture was taken. Photo by Geoff Mayor.
Generations of tobacco smoke are removed by Geof.
The mirror goes up again. Rachel is pretty sure it's not going to work! And she was right, too. But we got there in the end.
We open in two hours ...
Jill and Max would like to thank Geof, Pat McHale and his guys, Sandor Hodi and his team, Stephan the electrician, and - most of all - the volunteers: Ollie, Rachel, Beth, Jess, Alice and of course the wonderful Michelle, representing the customers. Thanks guys. You were brilliant, each one of you.
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