Local developer Mark Swindle has an eye for potential when it comes to property and didn’t waste time snapping up the lease at Punch pub The Plough, Alnwick (as it was formerly known).

Mark, who has worked on a number of development projects in the Alnwick area, explains: “I could always see the potential in the Plough. My dad always ran pubs, I was brought up in the trade so whilst my expertise is property, my passion is for pubs and the hospitality industry.”

Driving Quality

Mark took over the lease in December 2006 and invited award-winning chef, John Blackmore to join the business and develop the food side.  “John, who has cooked for the Queen and Tony Blair, is renowned as a specialist food operator so it was fantastic to be able bring him on board to develop the menu” explains Mark.

With the vision and the expertise in place, the Plough was ready to be transformed. Punch’s regional operations director Chris Welham for Scotland and the North comments: “The Plough is set in a dramatic Victorian building. Whilst 10 years or so ago it had a good local following, in recent years the place had become run down and tired looking.  There was scope to really transform the place and open it up to a whole new market.”

Chris continues: “The plan was to re-design the upper floor to create a high class, stylish dining area. The ground floor also needed to reflect the premium dining offer as well as serving as a reception for the hotel and retaining a ‘locals’ tap bar which has always had a strong following.”
 
Punch invested £217K in to this first phase of the project on the refurbishment of the licensed areas with Mark and John investing a further £70Kon fixtures and fittings and an additional 100K on the refurbishment of the hotel rooms and kitchen.

Mark had a firm vision for the project and worked closely with Punch and design company Fusion.  He explains: “I wanted to bring a boutique hotel feel to the pub, similar to Hotel Du Vin. We focused on simplicity, quality and contemporary styling with leather, wood and glass finishes providing the perfect setting in which to enjoy our superb meals and drinks!”

Externally, Mark and the team have also added a large terraced area with Jumbrellas and topiary borders. 

Dramatic results

“We re-named the pub ‘Blackmore's of Alnwick’ in fitting with the new styling and superb menu offering created by John” explains Mark. “We re-opened after the development work in mid December last year and could not believe the turnaround in trade!”

Re-opened just in time for Christmas, Blackmores of Alnwick is thriving. On the drinks side, in the previous year, the pub got through a total of 120 barrels. Following the development project, they are now going through 70 barrels every 4 weeks!”

The food side is the focus with Blackmore’s restaurant offering local produce wherever possible with fresh fish from Craster, Glendale Beef and game from the Northumberland Estates.  The Restaurant and Bistro have been a welcome addition to Alnwick with nine hundred to a thousand meals a week being served!

And Mark and the team aren’t stopping there - refurbishment work continues at the hotel.  He explains: “We are currently working on two exciting new projects.  The barn at the rear of the building is being redeveloped and will be used as a function venue for weddings, parties and corporate events with a capacity for 250 people.  We have also set up an outside event division in partnership with Alnwick Marquees enabling us to cater for events of all sizes.”

“We continue injecting energy in to the place and it is going from strength to strength!” he adds.