Swindon & Wiltshire News
Arkell’s Strawberry Thief pub wins Pub Design Award
Arkell’s Strawberry Thief pub in Swindon has been awarded the New Build Award in CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards.
The pub was opened last summer as the first new Arkell’s pub in 20 years. It was built to serve the community of the new Tadpole Garden Village.
Now it has been named the best new-build pub by the Campaign for Real Ale for its ambitious and innovative design.
The modern pub took two-and-a-half years to build and cost over £5 million. The pub has over 400 covers inside & out, making it one of Arkell’s biggest pubs, and looks out over green space and lakes.
George Arkell, managing director of Arkell’s Brewery, said: “We are thrilled that The Arkell’s Strawberry Thief pub has won the New Build Award from CAMRA.
“Our incredible team, including Clark & Maslin, Edmont Complete Solutions, and Concorde BGW Group, have done a fantastic job helping us create a fabulous community pub.
“Wherever possible, we tried to use local suppliers on the project. Our goal from the outset was to create a contemporary pub that the local community could be proud of, with a fantastic bar at its heart serving all our beers.”
Ian Maslin from Clark and Maslin, the architectural practice based in Malmesbury said “enormous thought and effort has gone into the design, layout and fenestration so the building compliments the existing setting of Tadpole Garden Village.
“Natural materials have been used throughout to provide a sustainable building that will stand the testament of time. We hope the pub will achieve a balance between being a destination pub and neighbourhood pub; it features vaulted ceilings, open fires, a welcoming bar, panoramic views and a fantastic garden overlooking the village green”.
CAMRA’s awards director Laura Emson, said: “We hope beer lovers across the country will seek out these examples of excellence and plan visits to them whether they are local or just visiting.
“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the pub industry, so let’s all support our locals this year and raise a glass to these shining examples in pub excellence.”
