The White Hart to close

Monday 25 February 2019

Another part of a planning jigsaw looks set to fall into place this weekend as one of St Peter Port's pubs closes, with permission previously granted for a large shop to be created in its place in Le Pollet.

In 2015 planning permission was requested for Weighbridge House to be turned into one large retail space.

That includes the premises formerly occupied by Miss Nob clothes shop, Hansen's Grab n Go sandwich bar and Barbados nightclub. They've all closed while it's been announced The White Hart pub is to close this weekend.

The only business in Weigbridge House remaining open is the Sandpiper run Food Hall. That was supposed to be converted to a Morrisons Daily in December last year, but that work hasn't started yet.

Pictured: Le Pollet Food Hall. 

The offices above Weighbridge House wouldn't be affected by any redevelopment work as the permission granted in 2016 was for a two storey retail space incorporating the ground floor space and basement space where the nightclub used to be.

That planning permission has run out though so it is currently unclear if or when any work could start.

When the permission was granted, in January 2016, it was valid for three years - meaning it expired in January 2019. When Express asked the Development and Planning Authority what that meant a few weeks ago, we were told that if work had not started within the site by the end of the day on Saturday 26 January, then the planning permission will officially have expired.

"If planning permission expires in that way, then a new planning application has to be lodged which will then be considered on its own merit," a spokesman for the DPA said. 

Pictured: The planning permission granted in January 2016 expired in January 2019. 

While the future of Weighbridge House is unclear, the pub's future is also uncertain. The managers have posted on Facebook to say it will be closing this Saturday "for the last time for the foreseeable future ... but hopefully will return who knows?!"

While Le Pollet Food Hall looks likely to be the only business staying open in the affected areas of Weighbridge House for now, its managers weren't sure what was happening when Express approached them last month.

Most of the Food Hall chain stores operated by Sandpiper C.I were turned into Morrison's Local shops last year however the Pollet Food Hall has so far remained as it was. In January, Glenn Rankine, the press officer for Sandpiper C.I., said the decision on what happens next was still with the landlord.

Pictured: The White Hart Pub.