Local pub goes back to its Victorian roots

A pub in Leamington re-opened last Monday after a £100,000 refurbishment. The Somerville Arms in Campion Terrace, north Leamington, underwent seven weeks of building work by its owner Everards to restore its original Victorian features. The pub is one of the regular haunts of the University of Warwick’s Real Ale society.

The refurbishment included replacing the pub’s lino floor with traditional oak boards, as well as installing a wood top bar, wall panelling, and fireplaces. Paul Blatchly, the licensee, who runs the pub with his wife Kay, said: “I’m just over the moon, really, I couldn’t have asked for more. It [the refurbishment] has gone from putting real oak floorboards in to changing the curtains, everything. It’s beautiful. If I’d had a checklist, it couldn’t have gone better. It’s great to see it back to its Victorian original character, which is how it should be.”

“I’ve been here for eight years. Everards took over a year ago and, in that time, more interest and investment has been shown that ever before.” He estimates that over £100,000 was spent on the refurbishment. “It’s a phenomenal sum to spend on a back-street pub but they were willing to do that because they love it. We’re one of the only proper Victorian pubs around.”

The restoration was paid for by the owners, Everards, who bought the pub last year. The Everards estate consists of 170 pubs within a 70 mile radius of its Leicestershire brewery. On its website, Everards describes the Somerville Arms as “a thriving traditional local, renowned for its range of seven cask conditioned, hand pulled real ales.”

Scott King, a PhD Physics student who was last year’s Social Secretary for the university’s Real Ale society, added, “It’s quite a nice pub, quite old-fashioned, in a very nice area of north Leamington.”

The society visits pubs based on word of mouth reviews and CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) recommendations. The CAMRA Heart of Warwickshire branch website endorses the Somerville Arms as a “friendly Victorian local with a busy bar at the front and a cosy lounge at the back. Good humour, great atmosphere.”

Asked about the Real Ale connection, Mr. Blatchly said, “We’ve noticed. They usually come in around a couple of times a year. They’re a great crowd to have here.”