The Hall & Woodhouse in Swindon wins big for its stunning new build design

The Hall & Woodhouse, a new build pub in the town centre of Swindon, has taken home the ‘New Build Award’ in CAMRA’s prestigious Pub Design Awards.

The awards, held in conjunction with Historic England, celebrate exceptional pubs across the country that have undergone conversion or conservation work, or are newly built. 

Built as part of the Wichelstowe housing expansion, the Hall & Woodhouse occupies a prominent canal side site in the town centre and is an important asset for the emerging community. 

Glazed drinking and dining areas extend along the canal frontage in the manner of a terrace of traditional boathouses, with gabled roofs opening onto the water’s edge, forming an extensive area of covered outdoor space. The taller accommodation block references traditional canal side warehouses. 

The form of the building also looks to reflect the architectural heritage of industrial Swindon, evoking imagery of the open trussed roofs of the train sheds and warehouses that are such an iconic feature of the town. The internals are a juxtaposition of industrial structure and soft furnishings, with walls adorned with local, boatbuilding, family and brewing heritage images. 

Andrew Davison, chair of CAMRA’s Pub Design Award judging panel, said: “The New Build Award is only awarded rarely, so it is a testament to the quality of the Hall & Woodhouse Wichelstowe that it has won! Mackenzie Wheeler Architects, the designers of the building, have drawn inspiration from the location, with a range of gabled roofs at the water’s edge evoking the canal side sheds which housed many a traditional boat-building and repairing business, and a taller accommodation block referencing historic canal side warehouses. 

“The commitment Hall & Woodhouse make to individual, location-specific design is praiseworthy.” 

In line with current social distancing measures, the pubs will be recognised at an event hosted in CAMRA’s new virtual pub, the Red (On) Lion by judges at 7pm on 7th May. To join the event and congratulate the pub owners and designers, simply visit https://theredonlion.co.uk/bar/join/Pub-Design-Awards to book a place (spaces limited to the first 50 participants). 

Locals can digitally ‘visit’ the pubs by browsing the CAMRA library of the winners, available to view on Dropbox. 

These awards are celebrated as CAMRA is underway with its #PullingTogether campaign, highlighting the initiatives pubs and breweries are using to keep themselves afloat during the coronavirus lockdown. Learn more at camra.org.uk/pullingtogether