Pub Heritage White Hart Hotel
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Somerset - Midsomer Norton
Two star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic interest
Listed Status: II
The IslandMidsomer Norton
BA3 2HQ
Tel: (01761) 418270
Website https://the-white-hart-public-house.business.site/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whitehartmusicBA32HQ
Real Ale: Yes
Real Cider: Yes
Public Transport: Near Bus Stop
Bus: Yes
View on: Whatpub
An excellent late-Victorian pub built of local stone and retaining its old layout of public bar, snug (formerly the lounge) and off-sales. The entrance lobby has an old settle and jug and bottle hatch, still used for service to customers drinking in the lobby and passageway. The passage turns at right-angles with a couple of tables under the staircase. On the left is a good vestibule entrance with full-height panelling and double doors leading to the public bar, which is hardly altered from when it was built. Its features include an original counter (the unusual curve at the far end made in 1985 when new gents’ toilets were added), the original bar-back with slender columns between the shelving, Victorian tiled and cast-iron fireplace with marble surround, timber panelled dado with fixed benches attached and a partition wall on the jug and bottle side. Even the pot shelf above the counter is old! The snug on the right of the entrance retains its original panelled dado with some wall benches attached, and an old cast iron fireplace with mirrored surround above. The new lounge to the rear was created in 1985 and is a combination of a former beer store, which was roughly situated where the present servery stands, and a private lounge. A skittle alley on the right in the far end of the former beer store was probably first introduced in the 1950s or 1960s. Ask the licensee to show you the old spittoon more recently used as an ashtray.
A traditional town centre pub, probably of the 1880s, built of local stone with a little red brick banding. It now has three-rooms but originally consisted of a public bar and lounge but changes in the 1980s expanded the trading area. Through the front door is the entrance lobby which has an old settle and it retains its Jug and Bottle hatch, which is still used for service to customers drinking in the lobby and passageway. On the left a small vestibule with full-height panelling and double doors leads to the public bar. This retains its counter, panelled dado, Victorian marble surround, fixed benches and (perhaps the most attractive feature) shelving and balusters in the bar back. Near the entrance the counter bulges out in a curious fashion, probably to create an entrance area for staff and an arrangement for outdoor sales. 1984 plans by Bass Wales and Western Ltd of Cardiff (job architect D.G. Emery), approved in 1985, led to slight alterations, including the odd kinked-in portion of the counter to give access to the remodelled gents’, and also modifcations to the other end of the servery. Note that the real ale is served from casks on an old stillage under the jug and bottle hatch and real cider - popular here - is served on handpump.
Right of the main entrance is what was before 1985 the lounge, now known as the snug: it is quite plainly appointed with some fixed seating and the panelled dado painted a very untraditional light green. The 1985 plans also created the saloon at the rear from what were the former beer store and a private lounge: a new counter and servery were introduced and thus the pub took its present form. A skittle alley was added probably in the 1950s or 1960s.
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