SG Refurbishments Limited are an established building company who specialise in refurbishment and renovation works. The company offers its clientele in-depth expert knowledge within the commercial industries, as well as the domestic market.

Since its establishment in 2005, the company has gone from strength to strength within the commercial and domestic industries; taking pride in the services it provides to their clients. It has established long standing relationships particularly in the leisure and hospitality sector resulting in it being contracted to multiple breweries and Pub Companies as well as other clients within the public sector.

The company’s current blue chip clients include Greene King (managed houses), Shepherd Neame (tenanted & managed houses) and Criterion Asset Management, to name a few. SG predominately support them with reactive maintenance/emergency call outs, planned maintenance and project capex works. 

In the last 20 years, SG has been responsible for works to both modern and historic architecture across London and beyond. The company has also carried out renovations to historic venues. One of its most remarkable achievements in heritage architecture came at Shepherd Neame’s Faversham Brewery.

Over the last few years SG Refurbishments has been working on and off at the oldest working brewery in the UK. They undertook a restoration project to restore their Brew House and enhance the key architectural features that had been lost as well as multiple other projects from converting the historic building to incorporate modern technology, such as yeast propagation cold rooms and micro-brewing facilities.  The history of the building dates back to 1698, though records indicate commercial brewing since 1573. The brewery uses natural ingredients, such as mineral water from the town’s aquifer and local hops, to produce Kentish ales and renowned international lagers.

NFB Heritage and Traditional Build magazine discussed these projects and the company’s success with SG Refurbishments Managing Director, Gary Gillett.

Q) For the benefit of readers give some background into the company and the heritage division?

A) We established the company in 2005. We carry out mainly commercial and a few domestic projects and we are a design and build company that carries out all trades to the construction industry. Our main workloads in recent years have been in public houses, hotel chains and restaurants and within that industry we have carried out works to heritage sites. One of the projects that comes to mind initially is Shepherd Neame Brewery, (Faversham Brewery) a family managed business who run the oldest brewery in the UK.

Q) What did the refurbishment entail? 

A) We carried out a full refurb of their brewhouse all whilst not affecting their operational capacity which was a task in itself to say the very least. The refurbishment and renovation of the project involved major structural repairs all the way through to internal and external modern day cladding whilst incorporating a heritage look and feel to the building, bringing it to modern day standards and regulations. We worked alongside material suppliers Marley Alutec to install a new roofline product, where we were the first company to use their heritage roofing system; we used their Victorian aesthetics systems like the 102 Tudor range.

As a company, we have also facilitated works to carry out the installation of yeast propagation cold rooms which involved removal of mass structural walls and installing state of the art technology facilitating measures.  Other projects to mention is the micro-brewery enabling works within their Guinness store area and most recently a major re-roofing and external refurbishment project, using materials in keeping with not only heritage approved but locally sourced roof covering, using traditional handmade Kent clay tiles all the way through to manufacturing like for like Crittal windows.

Q) From what you have you told me many of your other projects hold historical importance, give an insight into some of these other projects.

A) We carried out work recently on a site called the George & Dragon, the claim to fame for the George & Dragon is that it is where Guy Fawkes hid in the loft once his plot against parliament was foiled. We carried out major works on the pub, including a significant re-roof covering, structural repairs and an external decoration scheme. Again, this included a new roof with Keymer heritage approved handmade clay tiles. 

There are further projects we have carried out for Shepherd Neame which holds a high level of historical value. For instance, Samuel Pepys Public House – Pepys who recorded first hand momentous events such as the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague, East India Arms which provides a direct link to London’s colonial trade era and Jamaica Winehouse, which is London’s oldest café. It is also, back in the day where slaves were bid on during the slave trade, so it holds a high level of historical significance some of which is not to boast about.

For another client, we completed a design and build complete new back and front bar area including specialist trades such as French polishing and heritage style ironmongery at the Old Wine Shades, one of the oldest public houses in London having been constructed in 1663. 

Going away from pubs, we have carried out works on sites such as the Wellington Barracks to confidential private heritage establishments.

Moving forward, we are looking to complete a new contract for the historic Chatham Dock Yards, of which we are very much looking forward to working alongside them in their goal to retain the heritage upkeep and maintenance to their estate.  We are hopeful to refurbish multiple projects within the dock yards and that is something that is very high up our list as it is in the King’s trust.

Q) Given SG Refurbishments illustrious history with heritage work, what challenges have you faced during these projects? 

A) With regards to working on these heritage sites and given our experience, it is hard to say it is challenging, as it is what we do on a daily basis. However, in  the forefront of any heritage project that you do maintaining the aesthetic of the period while bringing it up to modern day standards is often a challenge. The other big challenge is sourcing some of these like for like materials, even for example as simple of wall and ceiling coverings. Other than these obvious challenges, health and safety is the main driving force behind all of our jobs being carried out. This is not only health and safety for our staff but the public too. For example, when you are removing wall and ceiling coverings, its not just asbestos that you have to be mindful of, it is also anthrax due to the age of the material at hand. To protect our fitters, staff members of establishments and the general public we have the processes in house that help us with those factors. 

Q) Are there any projects over the past 20 years that you take particular pride in? One that definitively stands out in your eyes?

A) I mean… we take pride in all aspects of work that we do here. But off the top of my head, I would say that the Shepherd & Neame Brewery is one of our claims to fame, which we have spoken about in depth.