White Horse pub in Quidhampton to be taken over this month

The current tenants of the White Horse, on Lower Road in Quidhampton, are leaving in a couple of weeks. 

The Stonegate-owned pub will then be taken over by Quidhampton residents Steph and Pete Kershaw along with sister-in-law Sharon Sawyer.

They are eagerly waiting to sign the paperwork which has been pushed back to Monday, November 20 and hope to be able to open on Wednesday, November 22.  

Steph, 54, said: "We have worked in bars but never run a pub but we are very excited about this."

The White Horse, Quidhampton (Image: Google Maps)

Pete's aunt and uncle ran the White Horse pub in the 1980s so the pub holds a special connection for the couple.  

Pete, 58, moved to Quidhampton at the age of 17 but they spent many years away from the area as a couple.  

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Steph said: "This is home and we want this pub to be a real part of the community. That's important to us."

Steph's first experience with pubs came when she used to visit the Anchor Brewery with her father.

She said: "I think I started bottling up beer when I was about five or six years old."

Her father eventually went on to run the Barley Mow pub and the Five Bells in Salisbury. 

The couple had applied to take over a pub previously in Salisbury but were unsuccessful so when the White Horse became available they didn't believe they would be lucky enough to get it. 

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Steph and Pete Kershaw (Image: Steph Kershaw)

Steph said: "We want everyone in the village to be involved and to feel a part of it. We will keep things as they are and not make drastic changes. There will still be the pensioners lunch on Wednesday and a monthly quiz."

The couple plan to provide daily food - lunches and early evening service.

Steph said: "It will be traditional pub food such as cottage pie, and sticky toffee pudding. All the basic comfort foods."

The plan is to make everyone working at the White Horse - a part of a team.

Steph said: "My nephew will be helping out at weekends but, the whole team will be a family too. We want to keep people happy - staff and villagers alike. 

"The pub is not child-friendly at the moment but we want to change that. There is a lovely beer garden and the venue will be dog-friendly."