The Refurbishment

New main fuse board installed on 1st floor so that we can bring the wiring into the 21st century

Identify and recover dead electrical circuits, ceiling partially removed in first floor

Site preparation by builders including clearance of old partitions and rest of first floor ceiling, three lorry loads of debris removed from site.

Chippy started building new ceiling, and plasterboard the cook line rear wall in preparation for canopy installation

The canopy is up and motor housing is ready on the second floor, main kitchen ceiling is lined, walls finished and they're starting on the wash up area.

Electricians are up to full voltage and are running cables everywhere, The builders are clearing the old floor in the area which will form our wash up area, but they had to be reminded by Craig that we do still have customers in the restaurant underneath.

The good the bad and the **** part one! Thought everything was going along too nicely, Sparkies have managed to change over to the new fuse board, except it was an overnight job which lead to a few fun and games the next day, Chippy has been busy making a new ceiling for the wash up, sorting floor joists and starting the 2nd floor facilities. Just one problem 2nd floor needs some new support joists when we cut through the wall for the fire exit, hopefully our structural engineer will give us the answers next week. Now we will be closed for one week longer than expected.

Restaurant is now closed, kitchen and downstairs area gutted, kitchen altrorock floor has been laid, new kitchen equipment arrived and extraction motor installed. Emergency lighting and fire alarm systems being put in. Full marks to the builders for exceeding the permitted noise levels due to heavy lifting gear being used for putting kitchen equipment on the first floor. Lots of acro props up while an old internal cob wall is removed, splendid amounts of dust everywhere and all over the neighbourhood. Apologies to our surrounding friends just contact Dave for jet wash car cleaning!

Due to delays relating to structure works on the first floor, the second floor toilet and staff facilities are nearly finished, the plant room is ready and we have a store room. The old kitchen area and toilet block have been ripped out, in preparation for our new toilet/ disabled /baby changing facilities and extended restaurant floor area

Emergency cabling completed for lights and alarms, and new internal staircase as been fitted, fitting out stud work for new customer toilet block and back areas constructed. New phone system installed allowing all areas to be connected and eight separate phone lines had to be laid to cover anything from broadband computer connections to fax lines and credit card machines. External painting for Nik and Tom, but leaving the bright new gloss work to the official painter, staff are starting to refamiliarise themselves with the premises and begin the long arduous task of scrubbing down builders dirt and general grime from the past five years.

There's a rumour going around that we may not reopen this week on Thursday 8th July, but the builders are going for it. They are working until 3am most days building a temporary corridor outside the kitchen until the new joists arrive for strengthening the second floor, putting up plaster board (1 hour fire resistance), skimming walls, tiling, toilet fittings, laying temporary flooring until altro / slate floors come available, even the sparkies are beginning to work later ish, and Transco have found two gangs to come and lay a new gas main and meter, but then during the checks we have a major gas leak and start ripping out all the internal joints and connections, cutting lots of holes in the ceiling to replace or resolder the entire pipe line and only after 8 hours did Paul then discover the leak is actually on the meter itself, this thus leads us to having to delay our opening by one night but gave the kitchen more time to prep up. Down in the restaurant they are slowly pushing the builders back and putting all the stock back into place, but there is still the daily chore of having to dust all surfaces which will go on for the next four weeks. Friday the 9th we reopen for dinner and have 51 covers in, not bad for a soft opening. Builders retire from site to Kazbah, Dave don't forget the jaffa cakes!

All that needs to be completed is alarms, emergency lighting, general electrics, finish 1st floor wash-up, install external staircases, a spot of painting everywhere altro rock safety flooring for all back areas

Finally had delivery of the slate for the new back area, Put in new windows and skylight and were able to finish the rest of the floors through out the restaurant. Tables are dipped and oiled any dodgy chairs thrown out, don't worry bar stools are now in the Old Ale House. New separate wash up area for the kitchen completed, along with storage areas for dry goods and sundries. External flat roof works, retiling and general resealing against the elements. Fire escape routes connected and lot of paint splashed everywhere, I don't think that not one member of staff has managed not to be covered in something, Bloody Builders!

We must be nearly completed now. Back to the top floor, fire lining and plastering the various rooms, stores etc. More paint splashed around but a grand job is done by Chris, with eighties boy Pat Sharpe steeple jacking out of the front window to cover the last of the old Butchers Bistro blue. Bar works in full swing whilst still open including self levelling scree the floor, removing the last acro pole, putting in another support wall, put some mains into back room and squeeze guts alley cupboard. Bar and restaurant cosmetic works.

The end is near! Final snags with the wiring being sorted, air in duct connected and boxed in, Flat roof painted with silver sealant, which just leaves me to paint one back corridor and its all over and then at last I can go back to a little hobby of mine in the kitchen......... Now Dave and I are talking about the building down at ...........................