Lovingly restored Shifnal pub set to reopen for first time since the pandemic

That work is now completed and the pub will be opening at midday on Thursday - March 13.

It will be the first time the White Hart has opened since the Covid pandemic.

Speaking to the Shropshire Star, in January when the opening date was confirmed, Anthony Walker, the pub operations manager for Black Country Ales (BCA) said there had been huge interest from locals in when the White Hart would be serving pints again.

He said that BCA, which operates 52 other pubs across the region, normally targets an eight- to 12-week turnaround on opening pubs it buys, but it had been a bit longer for the White Hart.

He said: "It is long overdue for us. We were hoping when we bought the pub in April/May last year we would have it open by the end of the summer but with the work that was needed doing that has delayed us, so you can imagine we will be really happy to get the pub open and restored back to its former glory."

The work to restore the pub is obvious from the outside, which has been given a major facelift.

Mr Walker said that while the delay had been frustrating it was "the right thing to do" to make sure the pub was restored in the correct manner.

He said: "We know how popular it had been and I think we knew we had to get it right and I think the regulars and the people of Shifnal will be pleased with what we have done and happy to come back."

The opening comes in a week of good news for BCA which has been given permission to start rebuilding work on its Three Fishes pub in Bayston Hill, after the premises was badly damaged when it was hit by a lorry.