Historic England in the National Pub Design Awards

PLAU is one of our favourite places in the city where we visit when all heading out as a team. Christmas parties, birthday lunches and Friday afternoon hangouts… we’ll be in PLAU. But then it has a special place in our hearts as our connection is weaved into the fabric of the building.

Preston has a varied and extensive history which is just as significant as the major cities in the Northwest. Part of the vision of PLAU was to celebrate this, to bring a piece of Preston back which was on the verge of being lost. This modest building situated at 115 Friargate, dates back to 1668 and certainly has some stories to tell. From illicit distilling of spirits to the start of the Temperance Society, its hidden history is as deeply fascinating in the archives as was our journey through the restoration. The team set out to create a real feeling of a 300 year old Inn, with rambling corridors; small, elegant spaces and a timeless atmosphere. However this isn’t merely a pastiche. Sumptuous fittings and beautiful fixtures abound.  Painstaking preservation of original brickwork, wood panelling and reed ceilings.PLAU also has the vaulted bar, something very unique not just to Preston, but to the UK. In there you lose all sense of time. There is a devious feeling that flows through you as you step down into this subterranean space. The vaults previously housed a Dram shop selling spirits to the transient and the unfortunate of Preston but has been closed for over 150 years and since in-filled with rubble and almost entirely forgotten about. This is also the area where they uncovered the most significant find in the project. A large Sandstone well that pre-dates the building. Experts have dated it’s construction anywhere between 1100 - 1600AD. This significant Medieval structure stands to be Preston’s only surviving intact symbol of this period. 

“The idea of recreating and reimagining a long lost inn was an immediate attraction with this project. From the onset we let the building itself and the history we uncovered lead the design, rather than imposing a scheme. It was a hugely challenging project  - the building being so narrow, with so many level changes - there are 10 sets of steps in total! The restoration took three years and nearly broke us several times. Fortunately we had such an amazing and passionate team. We wanted to create a selection of timeless and elegant spaces crammed into this historic house and through the vision of Rose Peploe from The Artistry House and Rebecca Rowlands think we achieved this.”

- Jeremy Rowlands, Director. 

To read more about PLAU’s history and their journey of restoration visit: plau.co.uk/history