Finalists in the Great British Pub Awards, for ‘Sustainable Pub of the Year 2023’!
Finalists in the Great British Pub Awards, for ‘Sustainable Pub of the Year 2023’!
Finalists in the Great British Pub Awards, for ‘Sustainable Pub of the Year 2023’!
Finalists in the Great British Pub Awards, for ‘Sustainable Pub of the Year 2023’!
At the Bat and Ball our vision is to be one of the leading sustainable country pubs in the UK. Reflecting on the environmental challenges that we face in the hospitality sector we are keen to make changes now to impact our business and local area.
Some of the benefits in achieving greater sustainability at a busy gastro pub include being less reliant on traditional supply chains, reduce food miles, wastage and of course our customers receive more homegrown produce.
One way we wanted to focus on achieving this is by growing our produce onsite hydroponically.
Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants without using soil. Hydroponic flowers, herbs, and vegetables are planted and supplied with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water.
Whilst researching hydroponics vs traditional farming we found hydroponic systems use about 90% less water than traditional farming. This is due to no water being lost to the soil or evaporation, and the water in the system is recycled again and again.
The additional benefit of hydroponics is you achieve a better yield. Applying vertical farming gives up to a 10 times greater yield per square metre.
Whilst researching hydroponics vs traditional farming we found hydroponic systems use about 90% less water than traditional farming. This is due to no water being lost to the soil or evaporation, and the water in the system is recycled again and again.
The additional benefit of hydroponics is you achieve a better yield. Applying vertical farming gives up to a 10 times greater yield per square metre.
Whilst researching hydroponics vs traditional farming we found hydroponic systems use about 90% less water than traditional farming. This is due to no water being lost to the soil or evaporation, and the water in the system is recycled again and again.
The additional benefit of hydroponics is you achieve a better yield. Applying vertical farming gives up to a 10 times greater yield per square metre.
This vision to work with hydroponics has been years of planning and knowing we would require a site to start this project from the ground up.
During the process of searching for the right site in 2020, there were many factors to consider when taking on a new pub including for us a space for the hydroponics project to develop.
The Bat and Ball, located on the outskirts of the New Forest has been ideal for this vision to grow.
The 160sqm polytunnel was constructed over a few months using locally sourced equipment and materials to ensure we were focused on sustainability at all times.
This vision to work with hydroponics has been years of planning and knowing we would require a site to start this project from the ground up.
During the process of searching for the right site in 2020, there were many factors to consider when taking on a new pub including for us a space for the hydroponics project to develop.
The Bat and Ball, located on the outskirts of the New Forest has been ideal for this vision to grow.
The 160sqm polytunnel was constructed over a few months using locally sourced equipment and materials to ensure we were focused on sustainability at all times.
Once built, the design for the various hydroponics systems could be installed, this system uses pumps to deliver fertilised water to the grow trays and a drain pipe to recycle the unused nutrient solution.
Limiting the amount of single use plastic is a vitally important part of becoming carbon neutral for us. Hydroponic growing supports with this as we are reducing the single use packaging being delivered to our site and inevitably thrown away.
Although this project is in its early stages we have begun growing and are already seeing produce from a wide variety of the below.
Monday- 12pm – 10pm
Tuesday and Wednesday closed
Thursday 12pm – 10pm
Friday – Saturday 12pm – 10pm
Sunday- 12pm – 7pm
Monday- 12pm – 10pm
Tuesday and Wednesday Closed
Thursday 12pm – 10pm
Friday – Saturday 12pm – 10pm
Sunday- 12pm – 7pm
