The former Mermaid pub on Tucker Street, Wells, will be reopening soon as The Sheep & Penguin under its new ownership, after an alcohol licence was granted by Somerset Council and as renovations near completion. Here, Jan Forster, Food and Beverage Manager, explains what customers can expect.
MANY will have noticed things going on behind the shuttered doors and boarded up windows of what was The Mermaid for some time now, with stark changes being made to the exterior in the last month or so. What was once a locals pub with a bit of a reputation will be reopening as The Sheep & Penguin; a pub, restaurant and hotel with the intention of doing things a little differently. With the food and drink scene in Wells becoming ever more eclectic, the stage is set for another new and exciting venture. The building itself has undergone a complete top to bottom renovation and now boasts seven luxurious bedrooms across the top two floors, as well as a completely redesigned kitchen and dining area, not to mention the erection of four mews houses at the rear.
Rather than offer a menu of ‘pub classics’ and the usual selection of drinks, the food and beverage team have chosen to focus on quality over quantity with a bit of a fun twist. Locally made beer, cider and even wine, classic and modern tropical cocktails and a whole shelf dedicated to rum.
The food menu will focus on punchy small and sharing plates with an emphasis on flavour and creativity rather than be variations on things we already know. We’ll even be opening for brunch, both to cater to our rooms and to give us a chance to experiment with something different. If you’ve ever wanted chicken and waffles with a pint (or vice versa), this is the place to be.
It is important to us that going out feels like an occasion, so we are hoping to be able to offer our guests and patrons a chance to experience something memorable that they couldn’t necessarily recreate at home. While we don’t have an opening date set just yet, we are getting very close.
We’re currently hiring for both front and back of house roles, so if you’re interested in being a part of our new venture, or even if you just have some questions, please get in touch with me by email at hello@thesheepandpenguin.co.uk