General Sutter Inn

Read the Full Story: Authenticity is everything for Paul Pendyck. As the owner and proprietor of the Bulls Head Pub and The General Sutter Inn, Pendyck has long faced the dual challenge of curating experiences that are true to form – the Bulls Head takes its cues from the pubs back in England while the 200-year-old General Sutter Inn maintains its historic Victorian heritage – without being kitschy or overdone. And for both businesses, that demand for authenticity is apparent with each and every detail.

A Brit himself, Pendyck had a leg up on creating a genuine pub experience. “In England, they say that The pub is the hub,” he says, noting that eating and drinking establishments oftentimes double as the community’s living rooms and gathering spaces. “We’ve tried to create a real hub with a warm atmosphere where people will feel comfortable. The atmosphere is so crucial, and the colors of the paint, applications of the finishes and the embossed wall paper all really play a part.”

The outer facade is painted black and gold – a British pub standard – and was the first job The Dudes tackled at Bulls Head. In fact, the dense black paint itself is more than just an homage to his homeland – it’s the actual stuff that is sourced from Holland and used across England. And by Pendyck’s own admission, it was a doozy. ”I didn’t give them a very easy job,” he recalls. “It’s a difficult paint to apply because the level of gloss is so high that if the surface is not good, it shows every flaw.”

Inside, Bulls Head is adorned in every way imaginable with artistic touches and finishes to evoke the look and feel of a Pendyck’s homeland – a subtle foundation upon which various artifacts and artwork from the homeland now hang. Coupled with an award-winning selection of beers (including hand-pumped casks) and a menu of exceptional British fare, Bulls Head Pub shines as a real oasis of English culture here in Central PA.

The General Sutter Inn, on the other hand, required a separate plan of attack in maintaining the look and feel of its heritage. More than two centuries old, the historic inn tiptoes the line between being reminiscent of a bygone era and appearing flat-out stale. In turn, Pendyck has adopted the perspective that the inn’s aesthetic should “refer to Victorian” instead of simply attempting to replicate it.

“Attracting young people is important,” he explains, noting that he doesn’t want guests to feel like they are “going to their grandmother’s house.” “But we still want that element of the VIctorian Era in here. A lot of the wallpaper we use has a Damask Victorian design, but maybe has a hipper, more contemporary twist to it.”

From repairing and touching up walls and ceilings in the lobby and ballroom to putting finishing touches on the General Sutter’s 16 overnight rooms, The Dudes delivered on keeping the spirit of the inn’s past alive all the while helping prepare it for a busy future.