A beloved pub in Hampshire is under renovation by new owners in a two-week project that will allow the pub to run a dynamic menu.
The Hunters Inn has been closed since September 29, but since getting the keys on October 4, the new management have renovated both the front and back of house.
Pub manager Ben Robbins, 40, explained: “When we got the keys, we realised the kitchen wasn’t up to standard to what we wanted to do in terms of kit and layout. We’ve spent two weeks gutting the kitchen getting it ready to go.
“The customer facing area looked good and we’ve put our own spin on it, so once renovations are done, probably on Monday, we’ll have five days with training sessions to get it up to speed.”
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New owners Taste The World are in charge at The Dolphin in Hursley but have now decided to move their operation to The Hunters, in Romsey, instead.
The pub management firm already run six venues in England and while some pubs are struggling to recover from the cost of living crisis, Taste The World are now adding The Hunters and The Old George in Fair Oak to their portfolio.
Ben believes that incorporating feedback into the pub project is the only way to stay alive as a modern pub.
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“I think that’s what you have to do nowadays,” Ben said.
“It’s written in the press how hard it is in hospitality right now, with the cost of living crisis, but if you can make sure you don’t stay stagnant, you’ve got a much better chance in the current predicament.”
The Hunters Inn will offer a “rotating” menu that works from feedback from pubgoers and residents.
Ben said: “The way we work is that we don’t like having a static menu.”
“We will rotate our menu around once a week, even if it’s just one dish that changed.
“For example, we posted our menu to Facebook [on October 15] and immediately added a chicken burger and tweaked the vegetarian options we offer.”
The Hunters Inn will reopen Friday, October 25.
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