Chef Gary Usher’s new pub was saved from being demolished and replaced by flats, he has revealed. Usher, the new owner of the White Horse in Churton near Chester, said it was a ‘lovely’ feeling to have played a part in keeping the much-loved village boozer going.
Tweeting yesterday, he said: “Permission to be a bit smug? A property developer was trying to buy the pub while we were, to knock it down and build flats. Pubs are such a huge part of British history & culture & it's such a bloody shame to see so many go of recent years.
He went on: “Its lovely to be a part of keeping one.” The tweet scored over 2000 likes, and has received huge support among hospitality industry folk and pub-goers alike.
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The award-winning White Horse at Fence was among those weighing in saying: “You are only ever the custodian of a pub, you should be pleased to be part of its history. Look after it and make sure it continues to be.”
Usher began hinting that he was in the market to buy a pub earlier this year, but only completed on the sale of it last week. The White Horse had laid empty since the pandemic lockdown.
He said at the time: "I'm absolutely aware how much the White Horse means to the community in Churton because like any good pub that's who it's primarily there for, the community, and anyone else who visits is a lovely bonus. If we get it I don't want to rip it apart and change the way it looks. I love it.
"Our plans at the White Horse are pretty simple, we want to serve great drinks, delicious unpretentious food by a team that love what they do. I'm super keen to hear what the local community like.”
Usher is the owner of Elite Bistros, and is the creative force behind restaurants like Hispi in Didsbury and Kala on King Street, as well as Burnt Truffle on the Wirral, Sticky Walnut outside Chester and Wreckfish in Liverpool.
He’s planning to launch a new tapas concept called Joya in the near future, and earlier this year opened his business up for people to buy shares in. He raised over £125,000 in the first 12 hours.
The White Horse is set to open in the New Year.
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