A local pub dating back to the 1600s has been rescued from decline and fully refurbished into a striking boutique hotel by Warrington-based Innex Design.
The Black Swan in Rixton, Warrington, Cheshire, is a landmark building on the Land’s End to John O Groat’s cycle route. It had been a hub for the local community for centuries, but over the last decade had fallen into decline and was facing closure by Punch Taverns before being sold to North Cheshire Developments (NCD).
NCD hired Innex Design to restore and refurbish the bar area four years ago, and based on the success of this, invited the company back last year, to discuss how to turn the venue into the hub of the community it once was.
The resulting £1.5m project is now complete, and the pub officially relaunched over May’s Easter weekend. As well as a warm and welcoming pub for locals, The Black Swan now includes a striking function room with newly-fitted kitchens for events.
The pub also boasts a duck pond and garden, which is ideally tailored to families thanks to its play area and five-a-side pitch. Furthermore, the pub offers a sweet shop for children, and will be used as a base for a local farmers’ market, a cinema night and pantomimes.
The Black Swan also serves as a 3820ft² hotel with 14 bedrooms, enabling it to welcome guests from local and afar. The ensuite bedrooms have been tastefully created by Innex Design using authentic materials and sympathetic decor. Local artist, Dave Tudor, has provided paintings depicting Cheshire farms for every room name, all of which are uniquely decorated.
Landlord, Stuart Wraith, praises NCD’s commitment to the local community in investing in The Black Swan. The community has also been involved in the project, and a time capsule – in which local businesses and schools have submitted contents – will be placed in the ground at the entrance of the newly-restored pub.
“We’ve been working with the owners of The Black Swan for some years now, and this has been a real passion project for us all,” Chris Catelani at Innex Design comments. “We created a three-phase development plan to first refurbish the existing premises, then we added the new kitchen and function room, and finally we have now completed all the new bedrooms. The investment will be a real boost to the local community, which risked losing The Black Swan altogether.”
Landlord Stuart adds: “The completed Black Swan now works as many modern pubs should. Innex Design has ensured that it retains all of its character, while serving several different community groups at the same time. It provides drinking time, meals, community events, outdoor areas for children – even a postal service! We think we’ve helped to create a heartwarming restoration, and are thrilled with the finished work.”
