IT is little surprise The Old Thatch at Stapehill has been voted by you as this week’s Pub of the Week with a landlord who puts the heart into community and as much love into this historic hostelry.
During the course of the coronavirus pandemic, landlord Nicholas Penstana organised 30 free meals to vulnerable people who were self-isolating and rolled out their popular Sunday roasts as takeaways and collections. The response was overwhelming with the pub dishing up 2,000 suppers.

Bournemouth Echo:

Nick said: "Initially, when the pandemic hit we, like others in the industry were worried about the impact this could have on our business but, more importantly, we were concerned for our community. What kind of support was needed? And, given our unique position in the community, what support could we provide?"

It is the community spirit which prompted voters to nominate The Old Thatch for Bournemouth Echo's Pub of the Week.

If you would like to vote for your favourite local, fill out our super-easy form here

Bournemouth Echo:
“We ran a ‘virtual pub’ during lockdown, with fun and interactive competitions including The Great Thatch Bake Off. We wanted to use this platform to keep spirits high. We had 16 competitors and over 4,000 votes and our final four took their cakes to care homes and ambulance stations. Our winner, Phoebe Stanbrook, is making cakes for us and has even started her own cake business!”

Bournemouth Echo:
Since the restrictions have been eased, the team has worked tirelessly to ensure government guidelines are adhered to and customers and staff are safe. The tables are spaced out and orders are available using a new app.
Hand sanitizers are standard and a one-way system has been put in place. Diners are encouraged to eat outside in the pretty pub garden.

Bournemouth Echo:
Nick said: “We have built a stage to host live music outside in the garden and have started to plan socially distanced live music events. We will also be hosting our quizzes out here and potentially outside film evenings for locals to enjoy a classic film in the garden.”
Nick renovated this family-run pub when he took over in 2018. Originally built in 1747, the building served as the gatehouse to the Uddens Estate. The manor house burnt down many years ago and the remnants were finally demolished in 1955.

However, not everything was destroyed by the fire, a large ornate carved mahogany door was saved and installed in the pub.

It is rumoured this door may have been an association with a ghost of an old lady, who has been seen in her rocking chair at table 27. She has reputedly caused two previous landlords considerable anxiety, one fleeing from the pub in terror and the other one falling down the stairs.

Nick laughed: "Needless to say, you will not find a table 27 today! What you will find is a picturesque pub, which has been carefully restored with genuine oak beams, flagstone flooring and old rugs." 

“Hospitality is in our family DNA,” said Nick, whose family also run The Greyhound in Corfe Castle and The Wishing Well tea rooms in Upwey.

“I spent time working as a footman at the Goring Hotel in London, looking after many celebrities and members of the Royal Family. After graduating I toured South East Asia to gain experience in regional cuisine and on my return took over The Old Thatch.

Bournemouth Echo:
“The two most important things to me is my fantastic team and our amazing locals. My team have been with me from the moment we opened and are still doing an incredible job. There is no Thatch without our phenomenal team, both back and front of house.
“Our locals have been incredibly supportive in every way possible from the moment we took the Thatch on. Now we call everyone who comes to the thatch part of the Thatch Family.”