Local lady gives new Hall & Woodhouse pub an identity

HALL & Woodhouse have announced the new pub-restaurant, which is currently being built just off the A350 near the police station will be aptly named ‘The Milk Churn’.

The name was chosen by local Jeanette Nash, who entered a competition run by owners Hall & Woodhouse earlier this year, as they called upon members of the Melksham community to help find a name. For coming up with the winning name Jeanette will receive a year’s supply of Badger Ale and a meal for four on the launch night of the new pub-restaurant in June 2014.

Jeanette said, “I chose ‘The Milk Churn’ because it is believed that the ‘melk’ part of the name Melksham came from the old English word for milk spelled ‘meolc’, and the second part ‘ham’ was the old English word for village. It’s known that the town had roots in dairy farming, so this is probably how the name Melksham came about.  Also, as the location for the new public house is amongst fields and open countryside I didn’t want to see it be given a silly name which seems to be quite fashionable these days. We’re all very much looking forward to it opening.”

The competition was launched in July and received many entries which were judged by Jonathon Seed, vice chairman of the Melksham Area Board and Mark Woodhouse, chairman, Hall & Woodhouse. Jonathan said, “We had some fantastic suggestions for names for the new pub-restaurant and really wanted one with a bit of individuality, character and history of the area to it – we think ‘The Milk Churn’ has just that.”

Hall & Woodhouse are investing over £2.4 million in the new public house which will create around 30 jobs in the local area. The public house will have the look and feel of a traditional country pub and has been designed with the area’s farming heritage in mind. The interior will be constructed from traditional materials including oak beams, timber joists and flagstone floors to create a public house that wears in, not out.

Plans show that the public house will be split into several areas; two entrances will lead into a spacious bar serving Badger Ales, a fine selection of wines and lagers from around the world.  The bar will then seamlessly flow into either a comfortable lounge to relax in or a homely dining area serving a menu full of fresh, unpretentious, seasonal dishes prepared by a team of talented chefs.