When you’re refurbishing a 100-year-old golf clubhouse, and keeping it open to members, it takes more than just good planning. It takes trust, teamwork, and a contractor who knows how to make the complex feel effortless.
We sat down with Adam Glover, Managing Partner at Gardiner & Theobald, and David Henderson-Williams, a retired Chartered Building Surveyor and club member, to reflect on how GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out brought this ambitious project to life.
From the outset, this wasn’t a typical refurbishment. The Berkshire Golf Club operates 364 days a year, so closing the clubhouse wasn’t an option. “It’s the classic cost-time-quality equation,” Adam said, “but with the added twist of keeping a fully functioning club open.”
The team scheduled the work during the quieter months between November and Easter, but even then, services like food and beverage had to continue. Temporary changing rooms were set up, and member experience remained a top priority. The result? “Not a single complaint. And the club’s income was completely unaffected.”
David, who was on site most days toward the end, described the final weeks as “dramatic.” Everything came together quickly, and the impact was immediate. “Watching members walk in, their reactions said it all. People were genuinely taken back.”
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. “One member joked, ‘Your biggest problem now is getting people to leave at the end of the day.’”
David had worked with GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out for years before retiring, often on complex, live-environment projects like airports and shopping centres. “They never missed a handover,” he said. “Not once.”
That reputation gave him full confidence in our ability to deliver at The Berkshire. “I knew they’d get it right. And they did.”
Both Adam and David highlighted the strength of the working relationship. “The GRAHAM team were collaborative from day one,” Adam said. “They supported the design team, kept communication clear, and brought a reliable supply chain.”
Most importantly, “They genuinely cared about getting it right – for the Club, for the members, for everyone involved. And we had a bit of fun along the way.”
David added, “They’re not chasing problems, they’re chasing solutions. They’re people you can trust and recommend. I did, and I still would.”
The Result
A beautifully refurbished clubhouse that enhances the member experience and sets a new benchmark for live-environment construction. It’s a project that reflects what we do best, delivering excellence, without disruption.