A popular public house in Parkstone has been given a £1.8million makeover featuring self-serve beer tables and an open kitchen as part of an ongoing programme of re-investment into the estate.
The Grasshopper in Bournemouth Road, Poole, one of the oldest pubs owned by Hall & Woodhouse, has been transformed into a versatile café, bar and dining room suitable for all occasions. Dating back to the 19th Century, the pub was originally called ‘The Half Way House Hotel’ due to its location between Bournemouth and Poole. It has since been brought up-to-date with many new features, including innovative self-serve beer taps which create a whole new hospitality experience as guests can now pull their own pints at the table.
Work took place over four months to install a new bar with an engraved, raised copper beer engine, Colourful Coffee station, smoothie and fresh orange juice bar and al fresco terrace dining areas. The Grasshopper now boasts an open kitchen, refined dining room, informal pantry area, relaxing common room, while the team accommodation has also been refurbished.
Guests are also given an insight into the history of Hall & Woodhouse as parts of the original Victorian Brewery have been incorporated into the design of The Grasshopper. The lobby floor of the pub features the Brewery’s old mash tun plates which conceal a time capsule set on completion of the project. Meanwhile the bar contains a fireplace made from the original copper that boiled the beer in 1901. The walls, which were constructed using barrel staves and reclaimed panelling, have been decorated with pressure gauges, old bottles, family heirlooms, and a mix of heritage and contemporary artwork.
Anthony Woodhouse, Managing Director of Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We are extremely proud of The Grasshopper pub, which is at the heart of the community in Parkstone. It is one of our flagship pubs and The Grasshopper is trading beyond expectations, which shows that it has been well received by our locals. We thought that the time was right to give it a new lease of life for our guests’ continued enjoyment.
“There are so many focal points and special touches in The Grasshopper that we know our guests will enjoy discovering on each visit. Whether it’s meeting friends for drinks, having dinner with your family, or celebrating a special occasion, we hope that guests will have fond memories of The Grasshopper and will be proud of how it continues to re-invent itself as time moves on when they come back to see us.”
Hall & Woodhouse’s aim has always been to ensure that whatever the occasion, every team member will do whatever they can to ensure that a visit to one of its public houses is the highlight of every guest’s day.
The Grasshopper is open from 9am to 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 10.30pm on Sunday. Please visit thegrasshopperparkstone.co.uk for more information.