There has been a pub on the site of the White Horse Inn for around 300 years. In its current form the White Horse dates from 1903, having been rebuilt following a fire in the 1890’s. The rebuilding commenced in 1898 completing in 1903 on the same site the fire having destroyed the original two storey building dating back over 200 years. The new inn was a substantial undertaking in its day with its own coach house (now a private residence) and many rooms to accommodate those travelling on the busy toll road to Chester and its important nearby ports, key areas of business. In the days of horse drawn transport the Inn had everything, modern stables with accommodation above for the stable lads and the horseman as well as comfortable rooms for the business traveller. The White Horse Inn was the pride of the brewery F.W. Soames which later became part of Border Breweries.
The Pub was bought and refurbished in 2007 by its current owners Joules Brewery using the original plans from 1903, restoring this outstanding building to its former glory. Further works have been undertaken to restore the old smoke room and yard to a public area and a 30 seater dining area has been created in the old outbuildings.
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, in association with English Heritage and the Victorian Society highly commended The White Horse Inn in the ‘Refurbished’ category of the 2008 Pub Design Awards. The judges said:
This was a run-down town-centre hotel which appeared ripe for redevelopment for residential or retail use. Instead, it’s been saved in a manner that’s spirited and individual. The enthusiastic provision of bright new stained glass, pristine wooden partitions and salvaged fireplaces is at times a bit over-eager, and occasionally the new elements compete rather than blend. But the original plan form has been largely retained, and a fine building, very much at Overton’s cultural as well as geographical heart, has been successfully revitalised.
The White Horse Inn has a reputation of having supernatural residents, and has been the subject of two investigations by Spirit Quest UK as reported by the Wrexham Evening Leader.