Firstly, an update on our “ad-hoc moat” we seem to have cultivated outside the pub.  At last, a number of events moved us towards resolving the core problem positively.  There was an unfortunate water leak in Roxwell recently but this coincided with outstanding visits from ES Water, the Highways agency and the council. 

Thank you to those who live on the corner alerting us to action we were able to dispatch a few of the committee (well done to Ian Wren and Emma Drakeford) to ensure our moat issues weren’t ignored. 

Finally it was revealed that a mass of tree roots (see pic) was the cause and it was removed. 

Fingers crossed, this means we won’t have a re-appearance of the flood we have endured on and off for the last few months.

Secondly, we are seeing other transformations outside the pub; new doors, windows and paintwork in progress.  It certainly looks much fresher as a result.  But we still have a lot of work to do indoors.  The first stage to rewire the pub is almost finished and we have replaced the boiler which was over 25 years old. 

We have also completed an alteration to the layout, building a doorway into what was the resident lounge for use by the public in future and renamed “the Alcove”.  We are really excited about this.

  We are about halfway through the building works – plasterers will start work shortly – but it currently looks more like a building site inside (which shows the main bar area, not the alcove!).

The garden has been going from strength to strength – and with the turf down (thank you to Northwood Chelmsford Estate and Letting Agents for your donation, which covered the cost of installing this) and the gate and fence up we will soon be able to hold pop-up events there. 

We are also planning an evening in the Memorial Hall on Saturday 5th October to celebrate the history of the pub – so please save the date with this in mind and watch this space for news!

We held another successful gin distillery tour and tasting last month with Essex Spirits Co – your editor went to this and can confirm all the drinks they do are excellent.  This gave our fundraising a boost alongside our plants campaign to fill the garden with bloom!