Estate agency, done differently in Marple and District

Author Topic: The Devvy  (Read 31806 times)

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Barbara

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #45 on: June 06, 2017, 10:04:53 PM »
Oh Brian's pea and ham soup, and the mussels!!!  Makes my mouth water just remembering them.

Dave

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #44 on: June 06, 2017, 03:23:01 PM »
You can do amazing pub food and still do steaks, pies and fish and chips! 

Indeed - and at least one local pub (the Hare and Hounds at Mill Brow) is a good example of that.  A really imaginative menu - but it still has steaks and fish 'n' chips on it.

I've lived around here long enough to remember when the late Brian Harrison cooked at the Devvy, back in the 80s and early 90s, and a bit later, when Robert Cloughley cooked at the Oddfellows. As I recall, they both had interesting menus, specialising in fish recipes (not just fish 'n' chips), and people came from miles around to eat at both pubs.  Robbie's appear to have invested serious money in the Devvy.  It's now quite a big pub, and they will need to fill it if it is to be profitable.

andrewbowden

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #43 on: June 06, 2017, 09:41:15 AM »
One of my favourite pubs ever, was one I lived near between 2000 and 2003.  It was a cracking pub anyway, but the food was excellent.  The menu changed daily and had some great stuff on it.  It was the first place I ever ate pigeon, and the risottos were to die for.  But every day, without fail, they had rump and sirloin steak on the menu, coupled with proper chips cut and fried on the premises. 

The landlady's brother was a butcher, so that's where they got the meat from.  And it was absolutely suburb.  Most expensive pub steaks in the area but they were worth every penny.  Another pub down the road refurbished and decided they would like a bit of the food business.  So they priced their steaks at the same price.  Just one problem.  The ingredients did not match the price point.  The steaks were awful quality and the chips came out of a bag.  Not surprisingly, they didn't boost their food trade much.

Incidentally the pub company who were running the Devonshire before refurbishment were an interim management company called Ignition Pub Management.  I looked them up after visiting the Devvy and seeing a strange name on my credit card company afterwards.

Turns out they run pubs on a temporary basis.  But if they find a pub they like and believe has potential, they have another division called Inblenook that runs pubs on a long term basis.  They go for it big-style, and food appears to be a key part of their offering. 

I just looked at the menus for a couple of their pubs.  Both were different, but both had fish and chips and pies on them  :)

Condate

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #42 on: June 06, 2017, 08:43:34 AM »
You can do amazing pub food and still do steaks, pies and fish and chips!  You just do really good ones, rather than stuff that's come in frozen.

Yes indeed you can. Often, the difference between a poor pub and a really good one is not the difference in the menu, but the difference in the quality of the food. I've had some excellent pies and steaks and fish & chips etc in pubs and unfortunately, some very poor examples too. For me, a really good pub will have really good pies and steaks and fish & chips and gammon and chips and sausage and all day breakfast etc.

Looking forward now to a visit to Mellor to check it out!

Ditto

andrewbowden

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #41 on: June 05, 2017, 10:39:48 PM »
Yes, a lot will depend on the quality of the menu. I hope it includes steaks, pies and fish & chips!

You can do amazing pub food and still do steaks, pies and fish and chips!  You just do really good ones, rather than stuff that's come in frozen.

Looking forward now to a visit to Mellor to check it out!

Condate

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #40 on: June 05, 2017, 07:33:16 PM »
Much will depend on the quality of the menu. It needs to be something more imaginative than steaks, pies, fish 'n' chips, and a roast on Sundays.

Yes, a lot will depend on the quality of the menu. I hope it includes steaks, pies and fish & chips!

Dave

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #39 on: June 05, 2017, 05:03:33 PM »
As we all know, the Devonshire Arms in Mellor has been closed for refurbishment since January this year.  Passers-by will have noticed that the work now appears to be nearing completion, and the news is that it will re-open this Friday, 9 June. 

I've had a quick look inside, and it is completely unrecognisable, and much bigger.  Robbie's seem to have invested heavily in this project - let's hope it pays off for them, and for all of us. It's a landmark pub, and we need it to thrive.

Much will depend on the quality of the menu. It needs to be something more imaginative than steaks, pies, fish 'n' chips, and a roast on Sundays.

Dave

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #38 on: February 21, 2017, 10:01:32 AM »
Me too - thanks Mark!

barndoor

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #37 on: February 20, 2017, 09:32:36 PM »
Works for me!

admin

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #36 on: February 20, 2017, 06:50:15 PM »
Thanks barndoor. Yes, there seems to be a problem with my link. However, I get the same problem with both of yours! Strange...

Dave, I encountered a technical error for some reason when I clicked the link, so I found the 'existing' and 'proposed' pages after a hunt around the planning.stockport.gov.uk site.

Looks like there are problems with both those links for others (other than the person who did the search at the time I think).

Does this work any better: http://planning.stockport.gov.uk/PlanningData-live/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=OJPRWBPJKU800
Mark Whittaker
The Marple Website

Dave

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #35 on: February 20, 2017, 06:14:20 PM »
Thanks barndoor. Yes, there seems to be a problem with my link. However, I get the same problem with both of yours! Strange...

I'll try again:  http://planning.stockport.gov.uk/PlanningData-live/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage

As you say, it's going to be a lot bigger.  I think the orangery is a posh word for a conservatory!

For me, the critical factor is the food. If they get a decent chef and offer an imaginative menu, they will get customers. If not, I fear they won't. 

barndoor

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #34 on: February 20, 2017, 04:28:46 PM »
Dave, I encountered a technical error for some reason when I clicked the link, so I found the 'existing' and 'proposed' pages after a hunt around the planning.stockport.gov.uk site.

Here are the existing plans: http://tinyurl.com/devvy-existing

...and here are the proposed ones: http://tinyurl.com/devvy-proposed

Spoiler alert, they're knocking down the wall between the lounge opposite the bar and the adjoining room - so no great surprise there. What is of interest is the curved bar being replaced with a straight one; and the location of this new bar pushed back in the direction of Church Road by about 8-10 feet, which will create a much larger bar lounge area than is currently the case. I'm also intrigued by the room described as the 'Orangery'.


Dave

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #33 on: February 19, 2017, 05:03:19 PM »
Robinsons have now published a planning application for the proposed extension and refurbishment of the Devonshire Arms.

http://planning.stockport.gov.uk/PlanningData-live/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage


Dave

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #32 on: January 09, 2017, 03:16:10 PM »
Update: after several months delay, the Devvy has now closed for a major internal makeover. I believe it is due to re-open in May, by which time it will be quite different.

It's good news that at a time when other Robbies pubs are closing, this one is receiving serious investment, which suggests a measure of confidence in it on the part of the brewery.   

Dave

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Re: The Devvy
« Reply #31 on: March 06, 2016, 03:37:42 PM »
That makes sense.  I believe the plan is to knock through the main bar into that little room that's behind it.  Seems like a good idea, but that wall could well be holding the building up!