posted 17th October 2026
Electrical work planned around a working pub
For a pub, an electrical refurbishment has to work for the business as well as the building. At this Winchester pub, a commercial electrical installation condition report (EICR) became the starting point for a full rewire.
Years of alterations and several supplies serving commercial and domestic areas made this a challenging installation. Over time, the project progressed from the EICR through consultation and design to the full rewire. The stages below show how we worked with the client to understand what was needed and plan the work around a business that remained in use.
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What the project involved
Our work at this Winchester pub brought together a commercial EICR, electrical design and a full rewire across the commercial and domestic areas. The main elements were:
- Commercial EICR and fixed wiring testing — Electrical inspection and testing to assess the condition and suitability of the existing installation.
- Circuit tracing and supply investigation — Tracing circuits and multiple supplies, including older unlabelled boards, to establish how the different areas were supplied.
- Distribution boards, switchgear and circuit protection — Assessing the condition and suitability of the older fuse boards and protective devices as part of the EICR.
- Project consultation — Working with the client to understand the replacement requirements and the practical needs of premises that remained in use.
- Electrical design for commercial and domestic premises — Preparing the replacement electrical design package, informed by the investigation and project requirements.
- Programme of works — Planning the replacement of the electrical infrastructure around the pub’s day-to-day operation.
- Commercial and domestic rewiring — Installing new wiring systems, containment and modern circuit protection across the premises.
1. Where it began: the commercial EICR
The EICR gave us a clear basis for discussing the wider electrical refurbishment. With both commercial and domestic areas to consider, our next step was to bring the requirements for the replacement together with the practical needs of a working pub.
While this pub required a full rewire, an EICR at other premises may identify a need for repairs, improvements or further investigation.
You can read more about how the project began, what the inspection found and what to consider when arranging an EICR in our Winchester pub EICR case study.
About the photograph: An older board encountered while tracing the pub’s circuits and supplies, before replacement.
2. Shaping the electrical design together
The investigation gave us the understanding needed to design the replacement for the commercial and domestic areas. Through consultation, we considered both the requirements of a functional, compliant installation and how the existing infrastructure could be replaced while the pub remained in use. Those practical demands shaped the electrical design package and programme of works.
About the photograph: An incompatible breaker and incorrect busbar connection where signs of heating were found, photographed before the rewire.
3. Planning the rewire around a working pub
Before the rewire began, we worked with the client to understand what replacing the installation would mean for the pub. That included the work involved, its potential impact on the premises and how the programme could be arranged around the business continuing to operate. Staff and members of the public would also be using the premises, so the work needed to be planned and carried out safely around them.
4. Putting the new installation in place
The installation itself involved new wiring systems, containment and modern circuit protection across the commercial and domestic areas. The containment needed to do its practical job while also looking right within the premises, so its appearance was an important consideration alongside the electrical requirements.
For us, carrying out a commercial rewire includes helping the client understand the work and its practical implications. That conversation matters from the early planning stages through to implementation, particularly in premises that need to remain operational.
At this Winchester pub, that approach supported a full rewire completed without significant closure of the pub and its premises.
Project gallery
The two collections below show selected views of the installation before and after the rewire. Use the arrows or swipe to browse, and select a photograph for a larger view and its full caption.
After the rewire
These photographs show the pub’s lighting, cable routes, distribution boards and labelled switches after the rewire.
Let’s talk about your building
If you’re arranging a commercial EICR, or you’ve received a report and aren’t sure what to do next, we’d be happy to talk it through. Tell us a little about your building, what you’re concerned about and anything the work needs to fit around.
You don’t need to have everything worked out before getting in touch. We help businesses in Winchester and across Hampshire understand what’s needed, whether that means an inspection, electrical repairs or a larger rewiring project.
Give us a call on 07813 720 204 or send us a message, and we can talk about how we can help.
