THEHERNE

Dear Saffron, I am writing in regard to our post of October 11th, and to apologise for your bad experiences. I can only say that i agree with you, things have not been what they should've been and we have already taken a number of steps to get things on track, i am sure your bad experience wasn't within the last 3 weeks. The first steps taken really focus in on the staff, we have employed a superb new GM or and equally superb new head chef, they have both acheived great things in their recentb positions and we have invested in them coming on board. I have myself moved into the premises to personally oversee a number of improvements, these are to be across the board, service, product offering, food quality, menus, the whole shebang. We are going about things in a planned and thought out manner, our mandate is to make progess every day. You may have noticed on our social media, Twt: @TheHerne FB: The Herne, various new messages coming out regarding weekly specials and new menus, as i say we are being measured about this and until certain physical changes are made we cant unveil our full plans, rest assured i'm sure you'll be excited about them. In terms of the play area, yes we are planning to move this to the rear of the garden, the reason being that we want to utilise the Barn as additional play space, similarly to The Florence in Herne Hill, it will be fitted with a new floor, soft play items, a big screen etc.. Our reasoning for the move is that the existing siting uses 35% of the garden space, we simply need more qualiatative trading space, this area will be refurbished and hard paved for more events space direct table service in time for next summer. The play area itself is to be more forestry themed than at present, they'll be mini log tables and benches, bark pits, clambering logs and willow tunnels / wigwams. The Barn when not privately booked becomes utilised for those wishing to sit inside and play, 99% of parents sit outside when their children are, so the location of the space shouldn't be an issue, we genuinely are trying to please everybody. As a parent of 5 children, of varying ages, i understand the challenges of socialising and relaxing, whilst caring for your children, i also am very understanding of those wishing to relax who may not have children, creating a free flowing dedicated zone than can be utilised in all weathers i hope will keep all happy. We are here to give as much as an open door on our thoughts and best meant ideas, i hope in time they succceeed in looking after all of the local community and their desires for The Herne. Best wishes, Cymon Eckel

Hi All, We just wanted to let you know that phase 1 of The Herne Tavern refurb is now nearly complete and we will be re-opening tomorrow at 4pm after a hard week of improvements. Lots has been done to add to the work we've been slowly doing over the last few months and we are pretty happy with the outcome. It's all very exciting and we are very much looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible over the next few weeks.

Hi All, We just wanted to let you know that phase 1 of The Herne Tavern refurb is now nearly complete and we will be re-opening tomorrow at 4pm after a hard week of improvements. Lots has been done to add to the work we've been slowly doing over the last few months and we are pretty happy with the outcome. It's all very exciting and we are very much looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible over the next few weeks.

Dear all, I am the new owner of The Herne, our completion is imminent. Myself and my partner have between us 4 children with a 5th on the way, we get Kids & we get Pubs. We have been in music, bars, Pubs & clubs since 86, we love The Herne, the area and are really very excited about the future of the pub under our guardianship. We have two other pubs both of which are Grade ii listed properties ( The Griffin, Shoreditch & THe Half Moon, Herne Hill), our company " The Britannia Pub Company" does what it says on the tin, we are about great British Pubs and their heritage & authenticity, yes we will contemporise the service, the offering, the ambience but we are about keeping the soul of a place. Our plans are still being refined, but in brief, yes we are removing the climbing frame, yes we are extensively renovating the whole garden but this wont happen in one stroke as previously planned due to the legals dragging. The garden will be kid friendly, family freindly, couples & singletons freindly, we want the whole community to enjoy the garden. Our theme is loosely based on a village green, with the humps being removed and one big flat lawn replacing them, allowing people to bring blankets and relax, not upright on Bistro chairs, there will be timber booths, there will be a rustic kids area, by this i mean a much more naturalistic feel, it will be retained by slepers, be made up of a bark floor and big fixed logs that enable a free'er sense of play, discovery and creativity by children. The children will not be penned in, in my view such existing notices such as " dont climb the fence" are not neccesary if theres no fence. I took this route with a previous pub in East London called The Britannia, that also had a very large garden, i employed the bark & tree pit idea and it worked. The kids climbed, dug around and had fun, there was no conflict between the kids about who's turn it is on the slide or swings because theres no rules attached to its free structure. This is already too long, but i hope you understand, we're here for everybody and take responsibility for everybodies enjoyment in that garden, young, old, single, maried, in love, reading, nannying, watching. Love from Jade & Cymon