Former slaughterhouse ‘cuts through’ the competition

Guernsey’s Slaughterhouse is the joint winner of CAMRA’s Pub Design Award for Conversion to Pub Use

 For more information contact press@camra.org.uk or call 01727 337 863

The conversion of a former slaughterhouse to a high-quality harbourside pub has been celebrated for its tasteful conversion to pub use in CAMRA’s Pub Design Award.

Originally built in 1887, the Slaughterhouse is a protected building occupying a prominent position on the town seafront. It served Guernsey for over 125 years as a slaughterhouse until 2013 when it was snapped up by R.W. Randall Ltd who owns a series of hotels, pubs and other businesses throughout Guernsey, and who recently celebrated their 150 year anniversary.

The Slaughterhouse reopened in mid-2017 with the help of local architects Tyrrell Dowinton Associates. The finished design artfully retains the historic features of the Victorian slaughterhouse and visitors can even see the yard where the animals were tethered. Within the main building, a gallery allows customers the view at close quarters the dramatic roof structure built by town shipwrights and can look down on the serving areas. It is also the winner of the Heritage Award at the 2018 Guernsey Design Awards.

CAMRA is celebrating the achievement just days before the launch of its Summer of Pub campaign, which aims to promote pub-going over the warmer months and celebrate the contribution of the great British pub to our heritage.

Andrew Davison, chair of CAMRA’s judging panel said: “The Slaughterhouse’s unique and distinctive design has made it an iconic landmark. Right by the harbour in St Peter’s Port, customers can gaze out to sea from the gallery and the raised outdoor area. It is clear that quality materials and finishes have been used throughout, bringing new life and purpose to a landmark historic building. It is a worthy winner of CAMRA’s Pub Design Award.”

Managing Director Ian Rogers said: “The Slaughterhouse is a historically important and iconic building located on the St Peter Port harbourside. We are so pleased that we have won this prestigious CAMRA pub design award that recognises our conversion of this spectacular semi-circular Victorian building with a vaulted ceiling into a magnificent public house and eatery.”

A presentation event for the pub will be taking place at the Coopers Tavern in Burton-on-Trent, which won the Historic England Conservation Award and will host the ceremony this year. The event is open to the press and will take place on 23 May at 12 noon.

Images of the pub are available here

The Pub Design Awards, run in conjunction with Historic England, recognise the very best in British pub architecture and design. This year’s winners include:

• The Pilot Boat in Lyme Regis for a refurbishment project described as a ‘labour of love’ by Palmers Brewery which brought the tired and dated seaside inn into the modern era
• The Royal Pavilion in Ramsgate for the conversion of a dilapidated pavilion to a bustling seaside pub by Wetherspoons
• The Slaughterhouse in Guernsey for the inspired conversion of a historic slaughterhouse into a unique and distinctive pub in the hub of St Peter’s Port by R W Randall
• The Coopers Tavern in Burton-on-Trent for Joules’ Brewery’s tasteful conservation of the historic tap house dating back to the 1800s
• The Cardigan Arms in Leeds which was saved from closure by Kirstall Brewery, which turned around the pub’s fortunes

Pubs that were highly commended include:

• The Sekforde Arms, London for its restoration after nearly 200 years of serving pints
• The Butcher’s Hook, Thornbury which was left empty and derelict before significant investment brought the former butcher shop back to life
• The Draughtsman Alehouse, Doncaster which was transformed from a disused storage area into a bustling micropub on platform 3b of Doncaster rail station