Hydes has acquired premises in Heswall, on the Wirral, Merseyside, where it is set to open a new pub restaurant that will create at least 35 jobs.
An artist’s impression of how The Harry Beswick will look
The building, on Telegraph Road, is the town’s former police station. Once converted, it will be named The Harry Beswick, in honour of its original architect.
Born in Chester in 1856, Harry Beswick was county architect for Chester from 1895 until 1926, responsible for designing more 40 buildings, including numerous police stations and schools.
The £1.3m acquisition is Hydes’ first property acquisition in more than five years. The building has been empty for several years and over the next few months will be transformed into a premium pub dining venue. Hydes intends to invest more than £2.3m in the restoration and refurbishment. The new venue will open in late 2023 with a 35-strong team of fully-trained staff.
Heswall police station was built in 1911 from red brick with sandstone. It has regional detailing, including the county flag of Cheshire corn sheafs at the centre of the County Constabulary plaque.
The transformation of the building will be carried out by WHB Construction and designed by DV8 Architects. The iconic building will undergo a sympathetic and complementary renovation programme, retaining many of the original features, with design enhancements and touches reflecting the station’s history.
Part of the renovations will be to extend the building to create new dining zones, including outside dining, with the addition of a welcoming sun-facing terrace and the provision of car parking.
Hydes operates nearly 50 pubs, 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, craft style bars and traditional community pubs. Hydes currently operates one other establishment on the Wirral, the Boat House in nearby Neston.
Hydes’ managing director, Adam Mayers
“The Harry Beswick is a great location in a stunningly designed building boasting real history and character,” said Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes Brewery. “Heswall is a thriving area, and launching the Harry Beswick opens us up to new audiences.
“We are working hard to make sure The Harry Beswick will deliver a great experience for customers in the area with a quality, contemporary new design scheme and feel, combined with a premium dining and drinking experience, and Hydes’ standards of customer service.”
Adam added: “It’s great to see, after years of closure, the building being developed, fully retaining its heritage and history, which is very important to us and our customers. As one of our premium pub dining pubs we’re confident that customers will love the Harry Beswick and also see it as a lasting honour to one of the area’s famous local residents.
“Hydes remains totally committed to all of the pubs across its estate and this latest investment is part of an ongoing programme of planned investment, redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a quality, memorable experience is a top priority, and we’re delighted to have secured such a stunning presence in Heswall.”
Last year, Hydes committed more than £4.5m to refurbishment of pubs across its estate, and it intends to increase that investment substantially throughout 2023.
Hydes, which has its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies, and other brewers throughout the UK. It has a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 venues across the North West of England and North Wales.
