Star Pubs & Bars to Revamp Windermere Hotel and Pub

A prominent Windermere hotel and bar, The Grey Walls is earmarked for a major £750,000 investment to reopen it after a two-year closure.

Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars intends to totally overhaul The Grey Walls on Elleray Rd, taking it to a new level subject to recruiting a new licensee.

The extensive plans would transform the tired premises into a premium local with a reputation for great food and ales and all-day coffee.  It will also have 10 ensuite letting bedrooms and a newly refurbished two-bedroom manager’s flat alongside extensive staff accommodation and parking.

The proposed works would involve a top-to-toe redecoration of the pub giving it a more modern country look and feel and creating seating for over 200. 

Inside, upgrades will include new lighting, flagstones and hand sawn wide timber floorboards, a new bar with overhead gantry, retro style leather armchairs and rustic wooden tables and chairs. An open through fire with woodburner will demark the pub’s two trading areas and create a greater sense of space.  

Outside, the pub façade will be redecorated in more contemporary black and grey colours with new signage and lighting completing the look.  The front of the pub will also benefit from a new alfresco café style eating and dining area.  The large beer garden at the rear of the pub will also be upgraded with new timber furniture and planting and festoon lighting adding to the ambience. Other changes will include a new commercial kitchen and upgrade of the customer toilets, a new hotel reception area, renovation of the cellar and installation of the latest dispense technology which improves the quality and consistency of draft beer and cider. The Smart Dispense System’s unique cooling technology and line insulation from keg to tap is 20% more energy efficient than standard systems, keeping cider and beer colder.

Says Star Pubs & Bars Area Manager, Rick Rose-Coulthard: “The Grey Walls is in a fabulous location in the centre of beautiful Windermere in the Lake District National Park, one of the UK’s leading tourist destinations.  It is situated just 200 meters from Windermere train station, so is ideal both for local and tourist trade.  Unlike many other hospitality venues in the area, it also has parking and staff accommodation.

“There is a great opportunity for the right operator to capitalise on the current lack of premium, destination food-led pubs in the area. They will need to have run a good food pub before and preferably have hotel experience.  The layout of the pub will also allow the new operators to hold functions and events.   

Anyone interested in finding out more about leasing The Grey Wall can see further details at shorturl.at/APQUV or call 08085 94 95 96.