A place in the country

Ronan Sweeney’s Balloo Inns group considers the creation of quality country venues to be among its primary objectives. And with the unveiling of its latest creation – the wonderfully countrified Poacher’s Pocket at Lisbane, near Comber – it has set a solid benchmark for this type of rural hospitality development.

The premises was formerly known as Lisbarnett House. Balloo Inns – which also owns Balloo House at Killinchy and the Parson’s Nose in Hillsborough – took the property on in 2012 and brought Lisburn-based Paul Haffey Design on board in September of that year to help develop a new identity for the venue.

The proposals which emerged involved a radical overhaul of the aging restaurant and pub and following a 16-week programme of refurbishment and extension, the doors were recently opened on a thoroughly new-look eatery that includes a cosy public bar and an adjoining farm shop where all the fresh produce, meat and herbs that are used in the kitchens next door are on sale.

Inside the building, a 30-ft long extension at the rear has added a generous amount of additional interior space and allowed for a much larger restaurant area than had been the case in the old venue. Within that remodelled space, new ceilings and walls along with floors of reclaimed York stone give the place an entirely fresh ambience. A feature fireplace has been added at its centre and local art – including some intriguing wickerwork – tie in well with the restaurant’s image as a relaxing rural retreat.

A higher ceiling in this area and plenty of windows create a bright and airy atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxed dining. Oak and salvaged wood has been used throughout to emphasise the rustic character of the venue and three comfortable feature booths in the centre of the area are perfect for those who enjoy a little more privacy.

In the new entrance lobby , a green oak frame has been used to provide a wider entrance-way that’s more in keeping with the venue’s rural theme. Salvaged York stone flooring and a rough sand-and-cement finish on the walls add to the impact of a heavy feature table and bar counter, both of which add to the feeling of rustic simplicity that permeates the restuarant.

The small public bar at the front of the premises, which is much frequented by a local clientele, has been retained. An adjacent Victorian-style room was brought back into the bar area and a new back counter was added, giving the bar a fresh and functional appearance without removing any of the cosy familiarity that is so prized by its established customer base.

“There’s a real sense of the country about everything here,” says designer, Paul Haffey. “From the moment you arrive, you’ll have that feeling about the place…the feedback we’ve been getting so far has been excellent from everyone that’s come to see the place.

“We believe that there is still massive scope all over the north for this type of quality, country pub experience. There are still very few destination country pub restaurants like The Poacher’s Pocket, From the moment you get here, this is an experience, there’s a real feeling that this is something special and we know that people are going to love what they find…”