The Cheshire Cheese pub situated in the heart of Hyde has re-opened following a substantial joint investment of over £100k from Robinsons Brewery and 25-year-old licensee, Ursula Higham. The pub has undergone a full internal and external refurbishment which aims to bring people together and restore the pub to the heart of the community.
Ursula Higham took over the pub on the 17th January this year. At 25 years old, she is one of Robinsons’ youngest licensees. Ursula commented on the refurbishment of her first ever pub: “The transformation within the ‘Cheese’ is outstanding. There’s not one customer that has come in that doesn’t absolutely love it. I can now welcome every single customer into my home and business with such pride. The reopening weekender event we put on was a massive success – we had bouncy castles, stalls and rides for all to enjoy. We now have a lot of new faces visiting us who keep coming back. I honestly can’t thank Leah, Ark Construction, staff, customers and Robinsons enough for doing such an amazing job and offering me lots of support as I’m starting out on my journey as a licensee in this industry.”
The community favourite boasts a fresh, up-to-date look and feel following new signage, furniture and decoration throughout. Internally, the bar now has prominence as you enter the pub, proudly displaying world spirits and new wines alongside an extensive cask and draught beer range, with new brands ready for summer including Veltins Pilsner and Strongbow Dark Fruits. Herringbone timber cladding has been applied to renovate the original retained bar (pictured below), with the area also exhibiting a new black-tiled back fitting contributing to the rustic finish.
Alan Chapman, Business Development Manager at Robinsons Brewery, said: “The pub was in need of a push in the right direction. We knew it had heaps of potential, especially with it sitting in such a central location in Hyde. The full refurbishment really has given the pub a new lease of life. It now welcomes customers from all walks of life in a comfortable environment and brings everybody together in the community; as a pub should. The pub has always existed as an entertainment heavy pub, but we wanted to make it more welcoming to those who just fancy a quiet pint too. With the separation of rooms throughout the open area, we have achieved exactly this.”
Cosy fires in the pub’s brand new carpeted snug room provides the ideal space to lounge and enjoy a pint, while a large pull-down screen is primed and ready to show the ups and downs of the sporting seasons. At the back of the pub, you can find a lively pool room retaining the local community feel, offering classic pub games such as darts and dominos, and karaoke for those who enjoy a hearty sing-a-long after a few pints (or not!).
An eclectic mix of one-off pieces of furniture now add a splash of character to the Cheshire Cheese, along with black faux leather seating and black low-level panelling fixed all around the pub.
Atmospheric lighting further adds to the ambience throughout, with a mixture of ribbed glass pendants and retro enamel fitted pendants decorating the premises. Feature screens have also been fitted between rooms with different glazing such as clear and ribbed glass, to form distinct areas in the largely open plan pub, so that customers can enjoy sports and entertainment while others can relax and unwind in a more comfortable setting.
