Builders have been busy working to restore New inn and build the fantastic new visitor facilities, so there has been much development since the last blog update.
The roof tiles with personalised messages by members of the public, who helped to sponsor tiles for New Inn, have now all been placed on the roof of the new building which is set to become the cafe.
The cafe building will be in keeping with the architectural style of New Inn. Inside there will be 120 seats, beautiful exposed beam and big glass windows that provide an open and airy atmosphere to relax in. In the warmer weather, visitors will also be able to enjoy a cake and cuppa tea in the outside seating area of the cafe.
Everything is coming together on this project as the car park with 380 spaces is now complete. There will be toilets in a brick building as part of the New Inn, which will be a great improvement from the facilities we currently have at Stowe today. The gift shop and plant sales at New Inn will provide inspiration for gifts as well as locally grown plants to purchase.
In the very near future visitors will be able to walk in the footsteps of the earliest eighteenth century tourist, approaching Stowe from the main avenue that leads to the iconic view of the Corinthian Arch. Upon entering New Inn, visitors will be welcomed by a carefully restored New Inn building with inviting parlour rooms that will have crackling fire, activities for children, areas to sit, artefacts to handle and an atmosphere from another era altogether.
We hope to open New Inn to visitors in the new year sometime, so please visit the Stowe website to discover more:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowegardens
