A leading North West brewery and pub retailer is putting the finishing touches to its newest premium pub and dining destination outlet. Signage has been installed at The Harry Beswick in Heswall, on the Wirral, and new recruits are undergoing onsite training as the £3.6M new pub restaurant prepares to open its doors to the public in a few weeks.
The opening of The Harry Beswick has created 55 full and part-time jobs in the Heswall area, ranging from management and front of house team to chefs, bar supervisors and cleaning staff.
Roy Wilson was appointed as general manager during the renovation of the building, which had been unoccupied for almost a decade, following the closure of Heswall police station in 2014. Roy has a decade of experience with Hydes at some of its most successful premium dining pubs, having previously managed The Hornsmill in Helsby, near Chester for over five years and The Jolly Thresher in Lymm.
Salford-based Hydes brewery acquired the landmark building on Telegraph Road last year. The project has seen the conversion of the town’s former police station into a premium dining and drinking establishment which Hydes named in honour of the original architect of the building.
Born in Chester in 1856, Harry Beswick was county architect for Chester from 1895 until 1926, responsible for designing over 40 buildings including numerous police stations and school buildings.
The £1.3million acquisition is Hydes’ first property acquisition in over five years. Over the past few months, the historic building which dates back to 1911 has been transformed, with Hydes investing over £2.3million in its restoration and refurbishment.
A recruitment drive in the local area resulted in hundreds of applications for available roles at the pub. Employees are currently undergoing a comprehensive training programme which includes a site visit to Hydes brewery in Salford.
Hydes operates nearly 50 pubs ranging from Lancaster in the North to Stoke-on Trent in the Midlands and across to North Wales, including a wide selection of premium dining destination outlets and traditional community pubs. Hydes currently operates one other establishment on the Wirral, the Boat House in nearby Neston.
Managing director of Hydes, Adam Mayers, said: “We’re very excited about the opening of The Harry Beswick. The building looks breathtaking, retaining a great deal of heritage and character from its former life. We have also assembled an experienced and very talented team to ensure that the opening is a resounding success.
“This considerable investment is part of an ongoing programme of planned investments, redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a quality, memorable experience is a top priority, and we’re delighted to be opening such a stunning venue in Heswall.”
General manager Roy Wilson added: “We have worked hard to make sure The Harry Beswick will deliver a great experience for customers with a quality, contemporary new design scheme and feel combined with a premium dining and drinking experience and Hydes’ standards of customer service. There’s a real buzz about the opening. We can’t wait to welcome everyone and see them enjoy what we’ve created here.”
The acquisition forms part of an ongoing multi-million investment programme across the Hydes’ estate over the next few years. Last year, Hydes committed over £4.5m to refurbishments of pubs and it intends to increase that investment this year and next.