Hydes invests £3.6m to turn police station into pub
The Salford-based brewery will transform the town’s former police station into a premium dining and drinking establishment that will be named The Harry Beswick in honour of the building’s original architect.
The £1.3m acquisition of the building is Hydes’ first property acquisition in more than five years.
Hydes Brewery managing director Adam Mayers said: “The Harry Beswick is a great location in a stunningly designed building boasting real history and character. 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.”
Hydes intends to invest more than £2.3m in the restoration and refurb of the site, which had been empty for several years prior.
It will open in late 2023 with a 35-strong team of fully trained staff.
Original features
Heswall police station was originally built in 1911 from red brick with sandstone and 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 renovation will aim to retain many of the pub’s original features, with design choices 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 terrace and the provision of car parking.
Reflecting history
Mayers continued: “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.”
The acquisition forms part of an ongoing multi-million investment programme across the Hydes’ estate over the next few years.
Last year, Hydes committed over £4.5m to refurbishments of pubs across its estate and it intends to increase that investment substantially throughout 2023.
