Latest news with #RosieGalligan
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Exciting' London pub reopens after refurb with 8,000 sq ft garden
A newly reopened pub has unveiled an 8,000 sq ft garden as part of a £1 million investment. The Hammersmith Belle, leased by Belle Pubs & Hotels, has completed the latest stage of its major refurbishment, creating a garden area for 300 people. This includes beach huts, a children's play area with a castle, and an all-weather outdoor sports pergola featuring TVs for live sports viewings. Official ribbon cutting by Rosie Gilligan (2nd left), Councillor Zarar Qayyum (3rd left) and Shooting Starz Lexie Crag (left) and Jacob Cham (right) (Image: Helen Jones) The pub, located on King Street in Hammersmith, underwent a complete renovation and reopened in January 2025 after being the Hampshire Hog before and an Indian restaurant. Councillor Zarar Qayyum, cabinet member for enterprise and skills, and Saracens and England rugby player Rosie Galligan officially opened the garden on May 24. The grand opening was marked by a weekend-long garden party with food and drink tastings, children's face painting, and a jazz band performance. The pub is a short walk from Hammersmith and Ravenscourt Park stations, as well as the soon-to-be-opened Civic Centre. Childrens castle climbing frame at The Hammersmith Belle (Image: Helen Jones) As a community-focused pub, the Hammersmith Belle is gaining a reputation as a family-friendly, sports fan, and dog-friendly establishment, welcoming visitors throughout the day and evening, both on weekdays and weekends. Jane White, managing director of Belle Pubs & Hotels, said: "We're excited to be unveiling our wonderful pub garden which we hope will become a popular destination for families, groups of friends and sports fans throughout the summer. "My grandmother lived in Hammersmith, just around the corner from the pub, and I have fond memories of visiting the local area during the summer holidays. "We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming, fun community pub the whole family can enjoy. "And with our new garden, we look forward to welcoming even more customers to the Hammersmith Belle. "All we need now is for the British weather to stay kind to us." Inside, the pub has been transformed into a charming space, featuring an interior adorned with red and pink silk roses on the walls and artificial ivy and flowers on the ceiling. David Evans and Jane White celebrate garden launch at The Hammersmith Belle (Image: Helen Jones) A well-stocked bar offers a variety of drinks, including keg beer and cider taps, and a menu of family favourite meals from breakfast to dinner, including a traditional Sunday roast. For sports fans, the pub boasts multiple TV screens and two super screens showing a variety of live national and international sporting events, from football and rugby to Formula One and cricket. Additionally, there's a Bull Hitters Winmau-branded darts lounge with five oches, making it a destination venue for darts enthusiasts. The pub was originally licensed in the 17th century as the Hog. It was renamed the Hampshire Hog before becoming an Indian restaurant. It reopened in January 2025 after being taken over by Belle Pubs & Hotels. The Hammersmith Belle is part of an area in Hammersmith benefiting from a revival, supported by local efforts to enhance the late-night economy and improve the streetscape. The pub is next to the new Civic Campus and the new Hammersmith Highline. Phase three of the £1 million refurbishment plan is expected to include the addition of 14 bed-and-breakfast accommodation rooms, planned for later this year. Mr Qayyum, said: "The Hammersmith Belle is a great pub and a much-loved part of Hammersmith's late-night economy. "We're committed to growing our late-night economy in Hammersmith & Fulham as it plays a vital role in providing jobs, attracting visitors, and offering social connection. "Not only will it support our thriving hospitality industry but it will also benefit the wider borough economy too."
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Saracens 'family' have mentality to win
Premiership Women's Rugby final: Gloucester-Hartpury v SaracensVenue: StoneX Stadium, London Date: Sunday, 16 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMTCoverage: Listen to radio commentary on BBC Radio Gloucestershire; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app Rosie Galligan is targeting history with Saracens as the London club aim to win a record-extending fourth Premiership Women's Rugby club have a fearsome reputation from the outside but the England lock describes it as more like a "family"."If you're not part of it, you don't really know how special it is and how much you would go to war for each other," Galligan told BBC face reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury - who are bidding for a third title in a row - at their StoneX Stadium in Sunday's as Gloucester-Hartpury finished at the top of the PWR table they will be in the home dressing exclusively to BBC Sport, Galligan explains that this has already been factored into Saracens' preparations."Our away changing rooms are probably one of the nicest in the league, so we've been in there a few days this week just to familiarise ourselves," said the lock."We've taken all our home comforts into that changing room, it hasn't phased us whatsoever. "We knew it might be the case, and it's something that we put to bed early, and we've just got on with it." Dressing room politics aside, this final is drenched in history for one is something Saracens have a long tradition of, with some of the biggest names in the women's game including Maggie Alphonsi, Karen Almond, Nicky Ponsford and Jane Mitchell among their remain one of the most established and successful sides of the amateur and semi-professional era. They are 12-time Premiership winners and three-time PWR champions, with their last title coming in briefly left the club for two seasons to play at Harlequins but felt compelled to return."Why I went back to Saracens after my stint at Quins is that I wanted to be at the top and I wanted to win and that's Saracens' mentality, of doing anything in your power to win and get the results."It's a massive driver."Regarding their players being ruthless and vocal on the pitch, the England lock does not shy away from a vivid description of her added: "You've got lots of different characters and some that may be quite intimidating when you're up against them, but actually, when you've got them in your scrum or in your backline, you're like 'wow' this is a special feeling."I'm glad I'm playing with you now, rather than against you. "So it definitely is a place made up of a lot of talented individuals, but when we get it right and when we start to really gel together, we can play some phenomenal rugby."
