The Strawberry Thief

Arkell's newest pub and biggest building project so far....

Set to open in summer 2022.

Strawberry Thief is the name that renowned textile designer & author William Morris gave one of his most popular designs, after he found thrushes stealing fruit in the kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor, near Lechlade.

The William Morris theme runs through Tadpole Garden Village with street names and the primary school named after him.

LATEST NEWS

03 November 2021

Roof steels up. Trusses next.

18 October 2021

Progress from above!

06 October 2021

Cracking on while the sun's out. Stonework coming on nicely.

23 September 2021

First tarmac down and main entrance steel work all complete.

08 September 2021

We're flat out! First tarmac coming soon.

23 August 2021

Stage One steels are in!

25 July 2021

Coming on very nicely!

15 July 2021

Block work started. Drainage nearly complete.

04 July 2021

Drainage started

01 July 2021

Foundations complete

22 June 2021

Groundwork continues

Start of Foul Drainage & setting out gridlines for block work.

13 June 2021

Concrete pour

Kitchen foundations are in!

10 June 2021

One week on

Groundwork have been progressing with the first part of the foundations now ready for concrete.

03 June 2021

Work starts on new Tadpole Garden Village neighbourhood pub

Arkell’s Brewery celebrated breaking ground today at the site of their new pub in Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon, and unveiled the name ‘The Strawberry Thief’.

George Arkell, Managing Director at Arkell’s Brewery, was joined by Craig Morton of Edmont, and local MP, Justin Tomlinson, to mark this exciting moment at the Tadpole village pub site. Justin Tomlinson turned the first sod to officially start the work for Arkell’s new £4 million pub which is due to open in 2022.

Looking forward: (from left) George Arkell, Justin Tomlinson MP and Craig Morton

Justin Tomlinson commented: “Having represented this field for 21 years as both councillor and MP, I’m absolutely thrilled that I was able to put the spade in the ground to start the build of this fantastic new community facility. The growing Tadpole Farm and neighbouring communities are very excited to see these works begin, so it is with huge thanks, yet again, to the Arkell’s family for backing and investing in Swindon. I have no doubt this new pub will be a huge success.”

George Arkell said: “We’re really excited to finally be starting this project and it’s wonderful to have our MP along to formally commence the work. It has been a long and very challenging year for us all and it is fabulous for us to be able to look forwards not backwards. The Strawberry Thief is the biggest project we have undertaken in years. The Tadpole community have been really supportive and encouraging as it has taken a long time to actually start construction on site. We are immensely proud to be investing in Swindon; it’s our home town and we can’t wait to see the build take shape and evolve into a fantastic neighbourhood pub.”

Unveiling the name ‘The Strawberry Thief’, George Arkell explained how it was a nod to a William Morris textile design from 1883, which features the thrushes that Morris found stealing fruit in his kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire.

The William Morris theme runs through Tadpole Garden Village with street names and the school named after the famous British textile designer.

Inspirational: William Morris's Strawberry Thief design

The pub has been designed by Clark & Maslin, an Architectural Practice based in Malmesbury, and Concorde BGW Group.

Ian Maslin from Clark and Maslin said: “enormous thought and effort has gone into the design, layout and fenestration so the building compliments the existing setting of the Tadpole village. Natural materials have been used throughout to provide a sustainable building that will stand the testament of time. We hope the pub will achieve a balance between being a destination pub and neighbourhood pub; it will feature open fires, a welcoming bar and a fantastic garden overlooking the village green and cricket pitch. The project has been a long time coming with the interruption of the pandemic but it’s great news that work has finally commenced on this very exciting project.”

Edmont Ltd, who are another local Swindon firm, will be responsible for the construction. Edmont are a highly experienced contractor with over 50 years’ experience in construction, fit-out, joinery and M&E, and a longstanding partner of Arkell’s having worked together on a number of projects throughout the years.

Craig Morton, Managing Director at Edmont Ltd, said of the project, “On behalf of myself and the Board at Edmont, we are delighted to continue our longstanding working relationship with Arkell’s following our appointment as main contractor on this project. This will be the fourth new build public house Edmont have undertaken for Arkell’s and we are proud to be involved in creating exciting new spaces for the local community. We look forward to working with Arkell’s to make this project a success.”

Artist's Impressions
(subject to change)

18 May 2021

Arkell’s appoint local contractor for fantastic new neighbourhood pub

Arkell’s Brewery has moved a step closer to starting work on the construction of the neighbourhood pub in Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon, having officially appointed Edmont Ltd as its main contractor.

Edmont Ltd, who are another local Swindon firm, will be responsible for the construction of the multi-million-pound build project. Edmont are a highly experienced contractor with over 50 years’ experience in construction, fit-out, joinery and M&E, and a longstanding partner of Arkell’s having worked together on a number of projects throughout the years.

Craig Morton, Managing Director at Edmont Ltd, said of the project, “On behalf of myself and the Board at Edmont, we are delighted to continue our longstanding working relationship with Arkell’s following our appointment as main contractor on this project. This will be the fourth new build public house Edmont have undertaken for Arkell’s and we are proud to be involved in creating exciting new spaces for the local community. We look forward to working with Arkell’s to make this project a success.”

Foundation works are planned to begin on site in early June, with the official ‘Breaking Ground’ ceremony scheduled to be on Thursday, 03 June 2021.

George Arkell, Managing Director of Arkell’s, said, “The appointment of Edmont is an important step forward in this project and with the easing of lockdown restrictions this week we are now confident to progress and invest in a new pub for Swindon. It has been a long time coming and we are really excited to start the ball rolling on this fantastic pub for the Tadpole neighbourhood.”

Pub-building partnership: (from left) Craig Morton, Edmont Ltd. & George Arkell, Arkell's Brewery