Each month we feature a business operating within the SW1 area. Please click on the links below to see past features and please contact us should you wish your business to be featured in the future.
Contact Rozanne Shipman, Stakeholder Engagement Officer by email: Rozanne Shipman
December 2010
: Cubitt House
The Thomas Cubitt at 44 Elizabeth Street is where it all began for business partners Barry Hirst and Stefan Turnbull, who now manage four establishments under the Cubitt House brand. The Victoria BID’s Nina Provençal takes a closer look at this successful group of public houses, based in Belgravia and talks to Barry Hirst at The Pantechnicon about their achievements so far and their plans for the future.
NP: I’d like you to give me an overview of the Cubitt House stable?
BH: The Thomas Cubitt was our first baby. Stefan and myself were primarily developing property at that time and decided to take on the place as a fun project. Originally called the Joiners Arms, it was pretty run down. After some research into the area and discovering the historical connection with Thomas Cubitt, the architect responsible for most of Belgravia it seemed a perfect name for us to use to reinvent the pub. The gloomy interior has been replaced by a light and airy ground floor dining room and bar for drinks. We serve quality English food, and there is a quieter, fine dining room on the first floor. It has been open now for five years.
The Pantechnicon Public House and Dining Room at 10 Motcomb Street, Belgravia has a maturer character with a relaxed bar area on the ground floor, a dining room on the first floor and a private dining room on the second floor, for private events. Leather chairs and open fires give the feel of a private club. The Orange Public House and Hotel at 37 Pimlico Road is more rustic and relaxed with a wood fire pizza oven and four beautifully presented hotel rooms. There are various private rooms available, ideal for family parties, weddings and corporate events.
Do you have any plans for expansion or further acquisitions?
Yes, we are due to open our new restaurant in December, The Grazing Goat in Marylebone. We are really excited to add another venue outside of our core area. It will have a similar feel to the Thomas Cubitt. We have given the old building a new lease of life and the menu will be grill and game based, with 8 hotel rooms above.Do you have any famous clientele?
Yes all the time, particularly at The Pantechnicon, high profile clients like this spot to hide away, but I’m not naming any names!How have things changed for you since the completion of the street upgrade by Westminster City Council and Grosvenor to Elizabeth Street?
It’s early days yet. It has definitely brightened up the atmosphere for the Thomas Cubitt. There are still some things to work out with Westminster City Council with regards to promoting a more European al fresco feel, so we will see how this pans out.
How do you get involved in your local community?
We do all sorts of community-based things. We take part in street parties in Motcomb and Elizabeth Street and Pimlico Road. We held a charity quiz auction at The Orange to raise funds for the Haiti Appeal. We are currently taking part in ‘Movember’, a charity event that celebrates the hairy upper lip. Some of our staff are growing moustaches to raise money for prostate cancer, so the moustached look is not typical of our male staff! A team at Cubitt House also recently completed the Henley Half Marathon. We raised money for Beating Bowel Cancer, a UK charity dedicated to saving lives from bowel cancer. Everyone put in an amazing performance!
What is the secret to your success?
We have been very fortunate to build what we regard as a ‘family’ business and have built our success on our talented, loyal and hardworking staff. The other key ingredient are our customers, many live or work locally and without them we wouldn’t have a business. Our challenge is to keep them coming back by striving to improve and by refreshing aspects of our operation continually.
FOR MORE ABOUT CUBITT HOUSE
Or take a look at one of our past features below
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