The old White Horse pub in South End Green

BUILDERS are currently refurbishing what drinkers used to call Hampstead’s “unluckiest pub”.

The New Journal has learned that north London pub operators Stanley Pubs have taken on the lease of the former White Horse in South End Green and are currently fitting the place out.

They manage a swathe of other respected locals, including the Lord Stanley, The Tufnell Park Tavern, The Landseer, and The De Beauvoir Arms.

The White Horse – now renamed The Fleet Tavern – has had multiple owners in recent years and staggered from one revamp to another.

It finally closed its doors under the White Horse name in 2018 and in 2020, it was re-opened as The Cork and Bottle, a chain boasting 300 different wines in stock.

But the relaunch fell flat as the Covid lockdown hit as it was ready to start trading.

In 2021, it was rebranded the Bell of Hampstead by an east London firm who had a lease for the Lock Tavern in Chalk Farm. Its owners went into administration in 2023.

Now freeholders Heineken hope new tenants Stanley Pubs can make a go of a historic venue that has suffered from so many false starts in the past 10 years.

Stanley pubs operations manager Fred Wright said: “It’s a great pub in a great location – right by the Heath, and South End Green has such a wide and busy demographic.”

Now called the Fleet Tavern – the renaming is a nod to the underground river that flows off Hampstead Heath – it is busy with builders, working to get pumps primed and an opening day fixed.

Mr Wright said: “We have a well-established and simple idea of how to run a pub. We have a focus on food but also make it really welcome for people who want to come in just for a drink. The way to do it is to keep it simple, but really good quality.”

He added: “It is a simply beautiful looking building. It has wonderful big windows with stained glass – it really doesn’t need a big refurbishment, it is just a classic pub.”

Last year, the pub was opened by landlord Enda Murray, who manages the popular Maddens bar in East Finchley.

He was tasked by Heineken to get the place trading while long term plans were arranged. The venture lasted five months.

Mr Murray told the New Journal: “The licence was altered after flats were rented out upstairs. It means you’d need to apply for temporary event licences every time you wanted to host a gig or a party. It meant you could only do a certain number of things.

“It is a really weird one. The pub is designed primarily as a drinking bar and perhaps there is no longer the market for that in Hampstead.

“Other pubs nearby do really well, so it is something of a mystery as to why the White Horse didn’t thrive. I can’t put my finger on it.”