VISITORS ASSURED OF A WARM WELCOME

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32666, 23 July 1971, Page 6

VISITORS ASSURED OF A WARM WELCOME

The sudden demolition of the “old Woodend pub” earlier this month was a surprise to many who travel along the Main North Road. Comparatively few had been aware of the building activity going on behind the historic two-storey landmark, which for many was synonymous with “Woodend.”

The low clean lines of the new concrete block Royal Hotel are a sharp contrast to the old square building. Although the new building will not be fully seen to its best advantage until some associated earthworks and landscaping are completed, visitors are assured of a warm welcome in these spacious, temperature controlled centrally heated premises. When completed the buildings and site developments, but excluding the furnishings, will have cost in excess of $150,000. The new 7500 sq. ft building completes a rebuilding programme begun Six years ago. Late in 1965 a new house and guest block was built immediately behind the old hotel. Built on motel style the units in the new accommodation wing were self-contained except for cooking facilities. This allowed the old hotel to be gutted out to provide extra bar and lounge space as a temporary measure until the recently completed wing was built. .

Fronting the hotel is the weather protected drivethrough access to the bottle store and one of the bar entrances, with glazing on the side away from the building giving added weather protection from the sou-west weather. Bar areas The two bar areas have extensive glazing to the north beneath a covered patio and looking out to an area that will be planted in

lawn and shrubs to become the beer garden for which the hotel has been noted. Double doors link the 2500 sq. ft lounge bar and the smaller bar of 1600 sq. ft. Large walk-in cool rooms . have been provided not only for draught beer but to en- • sure that ample stocks of chilled bottled ales and wines will always be readily available to meet both the usual hotel demand and wholescale bottle sales for bulk orders.

A kitchen has been provided to cater for social functions for which the lounge will be available. A room has been installed for flagon washing and filling, while a "glass laundry.” equipped with five Barmaster and dishwashing machines, is situated between the two bars to facilitate the washing of glasses and jugs. Other facilities include an office and a staff room. interior of building Inside, the severity of concrete block has been - softened by the warmth of rough sawn timber panelling. Added interest has been created by varying the ceiling heights, with extensive use being made of clerestory windows for < natural overhead lighting, i The ceilings have been j faced with textured panels I of pressed wood shavings and cement, which have

excellent acoustic pro- J perties. At present the rooms are j kept pleasantly cosy with ducted warmed air being circulated from an oil fired I central heating system. In j the summer the same sys- i

tern can be used to circulate fresh air through the building. Stale air is extracted through relatively inconspicuous long slot-like gaps in the ceilings. Trees retained During the construction, every effort was made to retain as many as possible of the old trees and ether

site works to complete the project include the landscaping of lawns, gardens, and shrubberies with a lawn beer garden, equipped with tables, sunshades, and seats as an outdoor extension to the bars in the milder weather. This phaseof the work involves also the completion of off-street parking areas almost right around the hotel site to accommodate several hundred cars.

A feature of the lounge is that in addition to individual leather upholstered chairs around smaller tables considerable use has been made of settees drawn up in a rectangle for seating around longer tables. The decor has been given an added touch of colour by side drapes with an unusual design on the northern windows and by paintings which are being displayed for sale by an artist.