With the installation of a sliding glass roof, Breezefree has provided 48 square metres of adjustable cover to a hidden gem of a gastropub in Chelsea.
The Fox and Pheasant, which can trace its history back to 1846, had been under threat of demolition by property developers. Fortunately, its continuing future as a pub was secured when the singer-songwriter James Blunt stepped in and acquired the pub. However, the site was in serious need of refurbishment. As part of these works, we were invited to devise a proposal for overhead cover to the rear courtyard.
The finalised design was for an 8m x 6m double pitched Solaglide sliding glass roof. Breezefree engineered, sourced and manufactured the bespoke supporting galvanised steel substructure, with installation carried out by our team who were completely unphazed by the coldest March temperatures in years. The ground works and construction of a frame that required millimetre precision were completed successfully and on time. The Solaglide motorised glazed roof was then fitted to the steel structure with bespoke lead flashings to the perimeter.
Steve Bailey of Atelier iad, the principal contractor for the project, said of Breezefree: “They have proven to be extremely helpful in terms of design and also at the planning stage. The installations were carried out without any problems and we now have a great usable space where the glazed roof can be opened up to enjoy alfresco dining in the centre of London. We have already recommended Breezefree to our other clients.”
The end result is practical overhead cover with eaves-opening sliding glass that allows for adjustable ventilation and sunlight used to maximum advantage during the day, with insulated glass constraining noise levels to the surrounding residential properties. Since installation Steve Bailey’s assessment is that “the product is flexible enough to be used on commercial or residential projects.”
As well as its functional advantages, the roof is aesthetically pleasing, sitting in harmony with the rest of the pub’s refurbishment, which has achieved the ambience of a cozy country pub brought to the heart of London. All of which means that the Fox and Pheasant can proudly boast on its website of being ‘lucky enough to be able to wind back our roof in the conservatory for those long summer lunches.’
