The 'White Heart' Refurbishment
This hostelry has been a public house for over 400 years, so it is no surprise
that it is reputed to have a ghost. The 2005 refurbishment transformed it completely with a 'wow factor' for anyone who knew it before. I wrote down my immediate impressions: spacious, light, modern, tidy, warm, clean, friendly and inviting. Nothing negative but, if I was nit-picking, I would have hoped for some real ale.
The pub has chunky wooden tables, plasma tvs, leather settees and chairs and a ceramic tiled floor by the bar with tiny blue lights. An ambience of gentle music does not overpower conversation (unlike 'the bridge' next door). The quality of fixtures and fittings is very good and even the fireplaces are illuminated. There is wide CCTV coverage outside and inside, including the Gent's toilet. A general theme of blue lights pops up here and there and, from the outside, the place looks glorious at night with its pool of pale blue lighting.
The arched window, mezzanine and stairs (with an attractive spiral of little lights) are features which are new to the building. The stairs lead up to a dining area with another dining area underneath. There is a reasonable selection on the menus including vegetarian, although the pricing policy is a little quirky by charging for component parts of a meal. There is a dining and a light bite menu.
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The top row of pictures starts upstairs, with the mezzanine floor, then down into the lower dining room (where a pool table used to be). First of the bottom row pictures looks through the main bar area into the lower dining room, then we have the bar and a side area. The bottom-right picture looks from the dining room into the main bar area.
These pictures were taken days after opening, with the permission of all concerned. Website: www.thewhiteheart.co.uk (photo gallery pictures are large downloads)
The old White Hart
This was a warm and comfortable pub with a ready welcome for visitors. A previous
landlord named it 'The New Tavern' for a short time, to the annoyance of many, then Sam Thacker
moved in and changed it back. Sam was a landlord of great
character, unafraid of controversy. A sharp tongue but a heart of gold and a strong sense of humour. He put a great deal of work into renovating the pub. Sam's health became a problem and, for a while, he had the pub managed by a couple from Geordieland.
Various activities occurred here; pool games, karaoke, darts, quiz nights and occasional live entertainments. A bit like 'Phoenix Nights' on TV. The pub had a good range of beverages and always a lively clientele. In cold weather, a roaring fire would greet the visitor - but that visitor might have been volunteered into filling the coke buckets. Sunday lunchtime was always very laid-back, with the help of old Harry's wit and wisdom. In later times, I was not able to join them and missed the fun.
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Aerial Views
Aerial
views of the White Hart (1962 and 2002) can be found on an 'old
pictures' page.
