Because I have been getting a bit of varying feedback from a few customers who are not actually shareholders (like me), I thought I would talk about the external renovations to the pub here, and not on Facebook, because I detest Facebook.
Anyway, years ago, I badgered Ian Wood (the previous owner) to let me make him a proper, actual swinging bell-shaped sign to replace the original, and between me and Caspar Taylor, one was made and hung almost a year ago which looks like real bronze, but is in fact GRP with bronze powder, and can be picked up with one arm, but not actually rung. It is currently in my workshop and will be reinstated just before the scaffold is struck.
The new sign on the gable-end seems to be a little contentious, with one person calling it 'hideous' and everyone else saying - as an initial reaction - that it looks 'modern'. Apparently, a few people have described it as looking a bit 'bistro', but not to me personally.
Well, it might use modern materials (an aluminium composite sheet with vinyl backing and lettering), but the concept is very Victorian, as is the font used.
I designed this sign using a tiny snippet of some year-old flyers produced by the person who used to create all the graphics for events at The Bell, and my idea was that the outside sign would reflect the feel and look of the Victorian-style graphics which were being produced at the time, especially with the large posters which will shortly be placed on a purpose-made board outside the front door, which is also very Victorian in feel and colour. Call it uniform 'branding' if you like, but it is certainly not modern. I am hoping that the original graphic artist can be brought back to produce the brilliant posters etc.
So the combination of an actual 'bell' on the front, complimented by the words 'The Bell' on the side, is what I had in mind, it being unnecessary to paint any words on an object which obviously is what it appears to be - medieval technology. I have already bought the LED illumination for both, and these will be fitted this week.
Although I had originally formulated all the prices for the exterior works (trying to get the best possible prices for the best possible work, using the best possible materials), my insurance just wasn't up to safely covering all the various sub-contractors, so my good friend Sally of Sally Strachey Historic Conservation took on the the whole job as main contractor, and not only that, but took on all the prices at original cost.
I have to admit to choosing all the colours for the exterior paintwork - with the help of Matthew White, who painted the facade around 20 years ago - and I can justify them as well for you, if you like. Let's face it, trying to get a committee of about 540 people to choose between one tint and another, would take a bit more time than we have got, and so you just have to trust my infallible taste! The red for the woodwork is based on an old Victorian recipe, and the paint has been sourced from Farrow and Ball, just over the road.
You cannot please everyone I know, but I really think the vast majority of both customers and shareholders will be pleased with the finished result.
Scaffolding should be down in a couple of weeks - well in time for Christmas.
