White Hart to close Saturday and make way for Morrisons
THE White Hart will close its doors for the final time this Saturday with the complex set to house a new Morrisons store.
Proprietors of the pub, Liberation Group, confirmed that its lease is about to expire.
A planning application was approved in 2016 to convert the ground floor and basement of Weighbridge House, which includes the White Hart and Food Hall, into a single retail unit.
A building control application was made earlier this month on behalf of Spread Trustee for pre-application advice.
The Food Hall, the only business left in the proposed site, is due to close in April so the development can get under way.
A spokesperson for Sandpiper, owners of the Food Hall, said: ‘The Food Hall will close at the end of April and will reopen when the development is finished, in approximately a year’s time, as a Morrisons.’
When the application was approved in 2016 businesses affected had substantial periods left on their tenancies and did not intend to move.
Liberation Group, proprietors of the White Hart, said at the time: ‘Our core business is running pubs, bars and restaurants and that’s what we want to do with The White Hart site.’
Commerce and Employment provided support for the project citing a lack of large stores in the area.
In the past two years Barbados Night Club has closed, Hansen’s Roll Bar has moved premises, and now the lease of the White Hart is up.
Despite the impact the development would have on the area, the aspects which required planning permission were very limited, according to planners.
