After decades of quietly building its legacy, The Rising Sun was ready to be reimagined as a more human-centred space, preserving its character while introducing a renewed sense of purpose.
With decades of experience creating hospitality-led spaces that inspire connection and belonging, our team was driven to breathe new life into this historic property and maintain its unique character. This marked a new era for one of Reading’s oldest pubs.
The Rising Sun’s history stretches back to the 17th century. Formerly known as The Sun Inn, this landmark pub once hosted travelling circuses, housing animals in its rear barn until an infamous elephant stampede left the building in disrepair. That story stayed with us throughout the project, shaping how we approached the space with care and curiosity.
As part of our full-service design, we refurbished the interior areas and extended the pub to create welcoming, vibrant outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy all year round.
The project involved creating a new design scheme that transformed the historic barn into an inviting restaurant that balances character with a contemporary dining experience, alongside a cozy, characterful bar and a kitchen designed to support the team behind it.
The entrance and outdoor spaces gave us an opportunity to create a long-lasting first impression for guests and people passing by. We reshaped the arrival experience to feel more welcoming and reimagined the former car park as a memorable, lively garden featuring a pergola, external bar and garden pods for added comfort and versatility in all seasons.
Initially, we proposed an extension to the barn with a parapet flat roof connecting to a front-facing gable, but local authorities requested a more subtle design. In response, we adapted the approach, developing an infill extension that was carefully crafted to sit in harmony with the original structure. We used materials like feather-edge cladding, white-painted brick and red roof tiles to echo the original building and help it feel at home in its setting.
During demolition, the project took an unexpected turn when we uncovered an old basement beneath the barn which had collapsed during an animal stampede. This moment brought the The Rising Sun’s history back into focus. With our priority being the integrity of the building at this stage, we introduced structural solutions to stabilise the space and allow us to continue with the construction phase as planned.
Throughout the whole process, we worked alongside our client’s interior designer to create a welcoming, lived-in feel that puts people first and considers how the space will perform over time.
Environmental responsibility was part of our thinking from the outset. We prioritised using reclaimed materials where possible to reduce impact, including preserving unique features like the original wall paneling, which also helped retain the pub’s familiar character.
Now, The Rising Sun stands as a beautifully revitalised community pub with a story to tell, blending historic charm with a fresh sense of energy and purpose. This transformation ensures one of Reading’s oldest pubs remains a place for people to come together, now and for years to come.
