January complications forces Wimborne pub to close

The Barley Mow, located in Wimborne, was forced to shut down across January due to various implications. 

The pub underwent its first refurbishment in 15 years. It saw a major redecoration, including a new colour scheme and a redesign of the layout of the building.  

Tim Allen and Shannon Brown, the owners of The Barley Mow, were surprised by the scale of work that had to be done. 

Allen said, “Originally, it was supposed to be a bit of a repaint and some fresh fabrics, but over time the list grew larger.”

 “It is an exciting time for the Barley Mow, being the first refurbishment after various owners have been looking after the pub before us.” He added. 

January is usually a quieter month for The Barley Mow, which is why the decision was made to start refurbishments.  

Brown said: “A lot of our regulars are away at the moment, some people are out on holiday. The road has also been closed for a week, so it made sense for us to start the reconstruction this month.” 

Despite the makeover, bad weather has also proven to hurt the business around this time.  

Brown said, “Given it has been closed for refurbishment, the recent storm [Chandra] has not really affected the pub. In bad weather, however, we do see a lot of bookings and tables cancelled.” 

Both Allen and Brown are hoping to reopen The Barley Mow next Friday. “Fingers crossed, it’s going to be very tight.” Said Allen. 

Brown hinted at a Valentine’s theme for its scheduled opening. Two new chefs are joining the team, alongside a new menu. They will also look into implementing live music to celebrate its return.