A SNEAK peak of plans to revamp an historic coaching inn were unveiled to the public last week.
Oakman Inns held a special exhibition over four days to showcase its vision for The Rose.
Formerly a Café Rouge and a Berni Inn, the site has been empty for over a year.
Oakman is hoping that if its plans are passed by the council’s planning committee, it will be open in time for Christmas this year.
Situated in Market Place, the Rose will be a mixture of showcasing the heritage aspects of the building with modern spaces that will have been sympathetically installed.
Proposals include restoring fireplaces in the pub area; stripping away some of the unattractive, more recent internal additions to reveal the historic fabric; and incorporating a café and restaurant with a theatre-style kitchen and pizza oven overlooking the courtyard.
Malcolm Schooling, Oakman’s property director, was looking forward to the challenges of reviving the building which dates back to the 17th century and had been hit by fires in 1946, 1969 and in the 1980s, destroying much of the original interior.
He said: “With the glass area in the courtyard, people will be able to look up and see the original space. We’re trying to make it visually accessible.
“And the interior starts as traditional, but as you go through the building it gets more contemporary.”
He stressed that the emphasis was on stripping away the “rubbish” and replacing it with some “more sympathetic” to the buildings.
“The contemporary aspects will provide a nice contrast,” he added, saying he was striving to get a balancing act between the Grade II listed building and demands of modern living.
The bar area would be similar to other pubs within the 25-strong chain where there are big areas of open space, while being a blend of the old and the news.
“It will be used for people who want coffee, a pint or a family meal, we have to adapt to each of these [needs],” he said.
Oakman Inns, Founder and CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, added: “I absolutely love this property and believe our plans will re-establish The Rose at the centre of Wokingham’s community.”
Peter Must from The Wokingham Society had praise for the plans.
He said: “Our Executive Committee very much welcome Oakman’s intention to call this important old building The Rose, and we really appreciate the company’s efforts to consult the local community about its plans to renovate it.
“We look forward to seeing the detailed plans that have been submitted to the Borough Council and we will want to share our thoughts with Oakman Inns, whom we thank for keeping on touch with us on this matter.”
