In memory of Philip Barnard, FFSC Life Member and lifetime supporter of the Club, who sadly passed away on 12th August 2024, his widow Sheila is paying for the Club’s entrance hall and Bar areas to be refurbished.
This is a significant project for which Sheila engaged the services of the industry experienced interior designer Melissa Billen to identify how best these areas could be modernised without losing the very essence of a waterside sailing club.
Budgets were severely limited after the December 2013 tidal surge flooded the clubhouse, so the General Committee welcomed Sheila’s generous offer to further build upon the foundations laid at that time. The primary objectives being to provide a flexible and attractive interior to attract a greater level of use by the membership whilst also providing a credible events venue for this very necessary income producing side of the Club.
To achieve this, the entrance doors and hall are to be refreshed with new lighting and flooring, the bar is to have new shutters, oak bar top, enhanced display shelves to the rear wall and enhanced lighting, and the members area will finally see replacement of the Townsend Thoreson chairs that did dominate the room. Combined with upgraded lighting, new flooring, window blinds, tables, TV and soft furnishings this will rejuvenate this area into a welcoming, comfortable and attractive space that maximises the views and ambience that is The Ferry.
The theme will follow through into the dining room which has already been redecorated in readiness and as part of this project is to have new dining chairs, some new tables, and tablecloths.
The General Committee are working closely with Melissa Billen in respect of the dressing of these spaces to retain the Club feel.
The project started on Monday 12th January with completion scheduled for late February and over the refurbishment period the Club will remain open as usual using the dining area to welcome members, guests and the public. The General Committee would like to take this opportunity to ask for everyone’s patience and understanding. The end result will more than compensate for the disruption!
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Sheila, while honouring the memory of Philip, for their generous legacy.
Here are few photos showing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ transition.
More photos to follow soon
Here is our schedule of events
- Monday 12th January work starts
- the lounge bar area will be closed but the dining room will provide a lounge/diner with a temporary bar out of the old servery hatch
- the entrance and toilets will remain in use
- there will be a temporary partition to separate the dining room from the lounge area
- Wednesday night dining and Sunday lunches will continue to be served
- Friday, 13th February – Saturday, 21st February, the Club will be closed to facilitate laying of the new flooring, decorating of the entrance and hall areas
- Re-Open Sunday 22nd February for Sunday lunch. It is hoped that the project will be completed and the whole reception area of the Club will once again be back in use and more importantly, looking great
- Sunday 22nd March – there will be a formal opening ceremony. Further details to follow