Milton’s Plum Pudding is a proper village pub. Under its ownership of Jez and Mandy Hill, the former Admiral Benbow continues to grow as a hub for the village. The Plum Pudding is enjoying an increasing reputation for excellent food that is served in a welcoming atmosphere. It is drawing in repeat customers from across the vale.
To accommodate the increased demand, Jez and Mandy needed an extra room. Initially, their thoughts centred on the idea of adding a simple lean-to conservatory to the rear of the pub. Following a visit to Admiral’s show-site at Chilton, Jez and Mandy preferred the idea of an orangery – this would make for a distinguished extension.
Together with the Hills and their architect, we drew up plans. Here is the result:
The extension not only harmonises with its surroundings, it adds interest and functionality. Key to this design is its flexibility. Aluminium framed bi-folding doors and bi-folding windows seal tight against winter storms yet allow for this new room to be opened to the outdoors in summer. Anthracite grey was chosen as the colour for the Smart Systems aluminium bi-folding doors and windows. This hardware is complemented by an oak foiled lantern style roof. The combination represents not only a link between the pub and its immediate surroundings; it reflects a link between past and present.
Builder Lee Myers oversaw the project, from concept to completion. Lee constructed new brickwork in the Sussex bond style, to match the Plum Pudding’s existing brickwork. Sussex bond features three stretcher bricks for every header brick, resulting in a pattern of subtle crosses. Sussex bond has traditionally been used for long stretches of masonry such as garden walls, and is a suitable load-bearing alternative to the more common stretcher bond style.
The internal wood cladding, the skirting boards and the structural timberwork, were constructed by experienced carpenter Albert. Most impressively, all the high-quality plasterwork was completed by Jez Hill himself. We’ve been pulling Jez’s leg by suggesting that he might spend less time pulling pints and, instead, come and do some plastering for us.
If you would like to sample the Plum Pudding’s renowned menu for yourself, the Plum Pudding can be found
here.