The owners of Spalding’s iconic Ye Olde White Horse say they’re still looking for a couple to take on the pub amid worries its is becoming like the dilapidated Bull and Monkie and old Johnson Hospital sites.
South Holland Independent leader Coun Rob Gibson raised the issue at last week’s Full Council meeting.
But the leader of South Holland District Council Nick Worth says he has a meeting with an intermediary from one those three this week as dialogue continues about getting them back into use.
The Churchgate pub owned by Yorkshire-based Samuel Smith has been empty since suddenly closing in October 2019.
The brewery told The Voice this week it was still looking for someone to take the pub on and was hopeful it would reopen.
The book Aspects of Spalding by MJ Elsden claims that the building was built from material from the former Benedictine Priory and was known as Berguery House when owned by William Willesby who lived there from 1576 to 1631.
It was a pub back in 1732 known as The George.
But since its closure four years ago the frontage has begun to deteriorate, leading to comparison with the next door Bull and Monkie and also long-abandoned old Johnson Hospital.
Coun Worth told South Holland District Council: “Getting in touch with some of these people is the biggest challenges.
“I’ve an appointment in my diary in the next weeks with an intermediary with one of the premises you’ve mentioned and what I’m trying to do is get over to the owners of the premises where it’s possible to do so, that we’re willing to work with them to try and find solutions to find a use for the building or funds to make it into a use to do something with. it depends on what they want to do.
“Also we have in the past offered rate relief to businesses to help them get off the ground.
“Where we can, we’ll look to keep it in the forefront. I’ll try and keep it going where I can.”
