LOWER MERION — BE Hospitality’s The Pump House, the newest events venue and wedding destination in Bala Cynwyd, is now open.
The Pump House is the latest venture from BE Hospitality’s designer and restaurateur Fia Berisha, and acclaimed chef, author, James Beard Award finalist, and Bravo Top Chef-winner Nick Elmi. It’s part of the Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing, the large complex along the river on Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd.
Nick Elmi, chef and co-owner of BE Hospitality, said in a recent interview that they held their first event at the end of April and are excited about having many more.
“It’s been really great,” Elmi said. “Our first event got off without a hitch, and since then, we’ve only gotten better.”
BE Hospitality has previously opened its Mediterranean restaurant, Lark, and its all-day cafe, The Landing Kitchen, in the same complex.
Elmi said what they are doing with The Pump House is already the same things they’ve been doing but in a new, larger space.
The Pump House is described as a 12,000-square-foot historic riverside events venue.
According to Elmi, they opened The Pump House because they saw a need for a place to hold larger events.
“We had a need to do larger events,” Elmi said. “We’re doing a fair amount of private events at Lark and The Landing but continue to get requests for larger events than what we could hold.”
The space is described as a “stunning location” for weddings, galas, and events of all sizes.
The Pump House venue has five different spaces that can be booked individually or collectively.
Those spaces include The Main Hall, a 4,500-square-foot room with natural light overlooking the Schuylkill River.
The space has its own bar, access to the riverfront, and private garden that can accommodate 300 guests for a cocktail-style reception or 225 people seated.
Another space is The Bar, with finishes such as an antique red pine floor, handmade tiles, a steel staircase and enough room to accommodate 125 guests.
A third space called The Speakeasy is located beneath The Bar, which is described as a Gatsby-esque subterranean lounge space with its own bar and private entrance. It has room for 60 guests.
The Atrium is the entrance at The Pump House is a sun-drenched entryway with walls of windows offering an entrance to the space that connects directly to the trials and river and for a cocktail reception.
Finally, The Train Shed is a light-infused, covered outdoor gathering space overlooking the Sycamore tree-lined river bank, offering a scenic backdrop for ceremonies and events.
Elmi said that with the different venues, they could hold a 200-person event in The Main Hall and a smaller 60-person cocktail event. They could easily accommodate both at the same time.
The Pump House sits along the Schuylkill River at the end of Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd and is part of the Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing on land that had once housed the Pencoyd Ironworks.
Opened in May 2024, the Main Line venue is the latest debut at the Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing, an iron and steel foundry founded in 1852 and reimagined as a riverside dining, events, and leisure destination.
Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing is also home to BE Hospitality’s coastal Mediterranean restaurant, Lark, and all-day café, The Landing Kitchen. Designed to mirror the industrial and natural elements surrounding it, The Pump House offers a picturesque backdrop for events across five distinct spaces that can host weddings, corporate events, intimate gatherings, and larger parties ranging from 20 to 350 guests. A culinary extension of Lark, The Pump House features Mediterranean-influenced cuisine with robust wine and cocktail options.
