The Hugh Hefner of High Wycombe is ready to name time on his legendary strip pub after 30 years of drinks and dancing – however guarantees one final blowout.
Alastair Watts, 77, has been on the helm of The White Horse by way of many “hugely successful” years, however on December 30 shall be calling final orders as a result of a “perfect storm” of rising prices and a developer’s want to construct a brand new block of flats.
Alastair mentioned he was shuttering The White Horse, “one of the oldest strip pubs in England,” “unhappily”. “The building is over 100 years out, it’s a perfect storm if you like,” he defined. “The building’s worn out, I’m worn out”.
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Like many pubs across the nation, the price of dwelling disaster has had a horrific influence. “It’s a big old barn of a place, the costs of keeping the place heated are just incredible.”
(Image: Tony Kershaw / SWNS)
The constructing’s proprietor, an area property developer, is known to have little curiosity in protecting the Horse open as a bar, “he wants to pull it down and build a block flats – there’s a surprise… it’s happening all over.”
The utility was not accepted by The Local Planning Authority on grounds of “unacceptable scale and character”, flood danger and potential environmental hurt. This, nonetheless, was not sufficient for Alastair to vary his thoughts and preserve the boozer open.
Alastair mentioned he didn’t fancy discovering a brand new property at his age – he turns 78 over Christmas – and determined to stroll away from “The Pound Shop” because it has been recognized by some as a result of punters paying a pound to have a look at the dancers.
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“It has been me for 20 years – I’m the only person you’ll ever talk to who holds a sexual entertainment license. It’s bizarre when you think about it, the licence is in my name – yeah right – at 78 that’s going to work!”
The White Horse has supplied a springboard for the careers of most of the ladies who stroll by way of its doorways. “Many of them have gone on to be hugely successful models,” Alastair defined.
(Image: Tony Kershaw / SWNS)
Many of his former workers on the West Wycombe Road venue “became top erotic models – one became a police officer, they’ve all done pretty well by working here.”
He famous that rising taxes on strip pubs meant that they had been a dying breed – “the licencing, the sheer trouble of it. There are nonetheless loads of dancers round.” In its heyday, the likes of Coldplay and Kings of Leon performed there, however now, as the tip seems on the horizon, Alistair continues to be in good spirits.
(Image: Tony Kershaw / SWNS)
“The 30th, ‘the last hurrah,’ we’ve called it. Lots of dancers, lots of old faces and we’re rather hoping we can drink everything that’s left in the pub.”
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