Impressive Pumphouse on tv show

ONE of Wales’ favourite barbecue hotspots will appear on TV – but the show won’t be focusing on the food.

Rather, programme-makers headed to Barry to check out the renovation of an impressive Victorian Pumphouse, which is home to Hangfire Smokehouse.

Great British Buildings: Restoration of the Year will offer a “rare opportunity” for people to see the amount of hard work that goes into a restoration project and what goes on behind the scenes.

The new show, presented by Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud and Dr Anna Keay, director of the Landmark Trust, kicked off last week.

The four-part series is looking at impressive restored buildings, all of which have been longlisted for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) restoration of the year award.

Matt Howell, managing director of UK and Ireland RICS, said: “We are delighted to be part of restoration of the year.

“The projects are fantastic and it’s a rare opportunity for the public to see what the roles of the varying members of the restoration teams, including chartered surveyors, are behind the scenes.

“A great deal of technical expertise is involved. The judges, both experienced RICS professionals, are experts in their field and the winning project will certainly be more than worthy of their new accolade.”

And the Pumphouse will feature in the Victorian episode of the show, where architectural historian Dr Jonathan Foyle takes a look at how one of the greats of Victorian industrialisation has been reborn.

The Grade II-listed building has already won a series of architectural awards for the live/work apartments as well focusing on supporting local start-up businesses such as Hang Fire Smokehouse and Academy Espresso bar.

One of the brains behind Hangfire Smokehouse, Shauna Guinn, said: “It takes a lot of time, skill, money and passion to convert a Grade II-listed building to its former glory.

“A lot of developers don’t have the expertise that Simon [Baston, the developer] and his team have.”

At the end of the episode Kevin and Anna will find out which building the judges from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have shortlisted to be in the running for the ultimate accolade of Restoration of the Year.

The Victorian episode of Great British Buildings: Restoration of the Year will be shown at 8pm tonight on Channel 4.