BACKGROUND.
Overlooking the town of Olney’s Market Place since the 14th Century, The Cherry Tree was originally a house which has been redeveloped over the years, and was once a residential care home. Taken over by Oakman Inns in 2016, as part of their objective to meet demand for high quality drink/dining venues within market towns, the company invested £2.5 million into developing the Grade II Listed building. CIC were brought in to convert the property and create a contemporary, modern dining setting, while sustaining many of the buildings original features.
KEY INFO.
Location: The Cherry Tree, Olney
Client: Punch Taverns and Oakman Inns
Timescale: 6 months
Value: £1 million
PROJECT IMAGES.
KEY OBJECTIVES.
- Retain the original features of the Grade II listed building
- Create light and airy dining space
- Blend the original period features with modern contemporary dining decor
KEY RESULTS.
- Development was completed within the 6 months time frame
- Site opened to excellent reviews and is exceeding expectations
- Delivered within £1 million budget
THE REFURBISHMENT.
CIC demolished a wing of the original care home which was built in the 1970’s to facilitate the new layout. This enabled them to construct a new 260m, steel framed extension to house the restaurant, creating a light and airy space. Continuing on the theme of maximising natural light, CIC integrated glazed walkways and large patio doors into the property.
CIC carried out extensive re-decoration of the building, and, in a bid to preserve the original aspects of the building, traditional plastering skills were carried out to restore the listed features, such as the cornices and exterior stone wall, which were crumbling, and the lath and plaster ceilings. To infuse a contemporary look, CIC restored the original parquet flooring and wooden panels. The darkness of the wood delivered a warm, rustic, yet elegant feel to the property, which CIC complimented with the use of copper and marble for worktops and bar fittings. In contrast, geometric tiles and bold wallpaper added colour and vibrancy. Appealing to diners, CIC added modern touches and low hanging ceiling lighting for greater ambience.