FULLER’S TO OPEN LONDON’S NEW PUB, ‘THE WHITE HORSE’, THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO 1923 FA CUP FINAL
- Wembley Park to welcome London’s newest pub: Fuller’s, The White Horse, on 2 October 2020
- The new pub marks the first to join the Wembley Park Estate
- 50 new hospitality jobs to be created as part of new opening
London will acquire a brand-new pub this autumn as Fuller, Smith & Turner, the premium pub and hotel operator, gets set to pull pints at its newest pub and restaurant, The White Horse, which will open in Wembley Park on 2 October, with a wide range of COVID-safe precautions.
Influenced by Wembley Park’s legendary past as a host to some of the world’s greatest music and sporting events, and the area’s strong cultural heritage, the new pub’s name, ‘The White Horse’, aptly derives from the first ever FA Cup Final match to be played in the stadium. The higher than anticipated turnout to the 1923 match meant vast crowds surged onto the pitch. Mounted policemen, including one on a light-coloured horse, which became the defining image of the day, had to be brought in to clear the crowds and allow the final to take place. The match is often referred to as the “White Horse Final” and is commemorated by the White Horse Bridge, a footbridge designed by London Eye architects Marks Barfield which leads to Wembley Stadium from the railway station of the same name.
Situated in the heart of Wembley Park, on Arena Square, and set over two levels, The White Horse is both contemporary and homely in its design. Its elegant interior, with lounge furniture, a central square-shaped bar and an abundance of planting, is set against a colour palette of rich blues, greens and ochres. The new pub will feature ample outdoor space for al fresco drinking and dining, with a quaint external garden at ground level, and an outside terrace that overlooks The SSE Arena, Wembley on the upper floor. The new space caters to all tastes, from the traditional pub-goer to the millennial remote worker, making it an attractive destination for local residents, as well as nearby workers and visitors from further afield.
The new pub will offer the community a new and practical space for remote working with its open plan layout. The venue’s upper level has two private rooms and one quiet area, complete with charging points, free Wi-Fi and screens. Tables and specific areas can be pre-booked by individuals or organisations. In addition, a plethora of plugs and USB points at every table throughout the pub make it an ideal space for local workers to enjoy a change of scenery.
The White Horse will offer all-day dining which will include delicious, fresh-cooked food and a range of Chef’s signature dishes from Head Chef, Tars Voznesenskis. The pub will also have a varied and interesting portfolio of beers, wines and spirits as well as range of low and no-alcohol options.
Fuller’s has undertaken an individual risk assessment and implemented a wide range of health and safety measures to ensure the safety and well-being of customers and team members alike. The Fuller’s team will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that anyone visiting The White Horse can get the best Fuller’s experience, even under the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On arrival, guests will need to scan a QR code to and register their details to support the NHS Test & Trace initiative. Contactless hand sanitising stations will be available throughout the venue and seating arrangements will allow for one metre plus social distancing, while separate entrances and exits, with a clearly marked one-way system will allow for smooth access in and around the space. In addition, every member of staff will undertake comprehensive health and safety training before the pub opens, enabling them to do what they do best – look after guests, maintain customer safety and create a memorable experience.
Sinead Murphy, General Manager at The White Horse, said: “Wembley Park is becoming a landmark destination for culture and community, so it was only natural for us to reflect that with the opening of this brand-new pub, which celebrates Wembley’s legendary past. The White Horse will be a neighbourhood pub for Wembley Park’s residents and the wider Brent community who may be seeking an early breakfast before work, a swift pint on the way home, or change of scene to work remotely from.
“We look forward to welcoming event day visitors who will once again visit Wembley Park for its world-class culture and entertainment when it is safe to do so, and we are incredibly excited to be open at Wembley Park for the much-anticipated UEFA Euro 2021 next summer. We intend to be the go-to venue for people to eat, drink and revel in the atmosphere.”
A traditional public house, The White House, will add another dimension to Wembley Park’s day-to-night experiences, which includes a number of family and independent restaurants and bars, including BOXPARK Wembley.
The new pub will also be a welcome addition to the thriving lifestyle offer at Wembley Park, which includes Wembley Park Market that boasts independent and local merchants and makers, from fashion and food to homeware and wellness; BOXPARK Wembley, which is home to a diverse selection of 20 street food traders, as well as Bad Axe – the world’s biggest urban axe throwing club; Chop Chop London, which offers gender-neutral pricing for hairstyling; Twenty3c, Wembley Park’s bike and cycling experts; The Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, which showcases of-the-moment and immersive shows and the iconic events venue, The SSE Arena, Wembley which is set to re-open its doors later this year to its globally renowned show-stopping concerts and events. Altogether, Wembley Park’s vibrant mix of places and spaces play a key role in building a strong community for the local residents and wider Brent community, creating a competitive destination to the rest of the UK in delivering culture, entertainment and events, alongside a breadth of retail and dining experiences.
Matt Slade, Retail Director at Quintain, said: “Our vision for retail and leisure at Wembley Park is centered on attracting an imaginative spectrum of both independent and major brands. The British Pub is undoubtedly an integral part of the social fabric that makes up a community. We look forward to this unique pub concept becoming a much-loved local for our residents and visitors to enjoy.
The White Horse will join our vibrant food and beverage line-up that already features some of the capital’s most popular restaurants and bars, alongside the London Designer Outlet – London’s leading fashion and lifestyle outlet destination, further cementing Wembley Park as a world-class destination for visitors and residents alike.”
The White Horse will open its doors at 10am on 2nd October 2020 and will be open throughout the week from Monday to Saturday 10am-11pm and Sunday 10am-10.30pm.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Wembley Park
Wembley Park is a dynamic, cultural neighbourhood in North West London. Already home to The SSE Arena, Wembley, London’s most iconic concert and events venue and Wembley Stadium, the Wembley Park is building on its international reputation for music and sporting events and becoming a landmark destination with culture, entertainment and community at its heart. It includes homes, shops, and places to work, as well as attractive public spaces, with parks and gardens, public squares and wide boulevards for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. When completed, nearly half of the 85-acre site will be open space.
The neighbourhood continues to welcome innovative food, retail and leisure experiences, including Black Sheep Coffee, Bread Ahead, Pasta Remoli, Twenty3c, Chop-Chop London and MoreYoga studio. A unique shopping option, Wembley Park Market, combines lifestyle, fashion, food, arts and crafts, health and wellness, with a selection of pop-up boutiques offering the best in ethical fashion from local designers and craftspeople, as well as healthy frozen foods, confectionaries and pantry staples from independent traders. The presence of four hotels, and London Designer Outlet (LDO), which includes over 70 shops and restaurants with premium brands that offer 70 per cent off RRP, and a nine‐screen Cineworld cinema and BOXPARK Wembley, which has brought independent and established street food traders to the area, make Wembley Park an exceptional destination for culture, food and shopping.
Wembley Park is also home to Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, a star cultural attraction inside the former Fountain Studios. At the beginning of 2020, Wembley Park and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) announced a new partnership that will see the orchestra move its headquarters to the area.
With a pipeline of 6,044 new homes being created by developer Quintain, in addition to the 2,500 already built (with 1,969 homes already under management by Quintain’s lifestyle-focused rental company), Wembley Park is one of Europe’s largest regeneration schemes. Just two stops from Central London, Wembley Park has excellent transport connections to central London via the Jubilee and Metropolitan tube lines and Overground from Wembley Stadium station.
About Fuller, Smith & Turner
Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC is the premium pubs and hotels business that is famous for beautiful and inviting pubs with delicious, fresh food, a vibrant and interesting range of drinks, and engaging service from passionate people. Fuller’s has 213 managed pubs, with 1,028 boutique bedrooms, and 177 Tenanted Inns. The estate is predominately located in the South of England (44% of sites are within the M25) and stretches from our City of London heartland to the Jurassic Coast via the New Forest. Our Managed Pubs and Hotels include 15 iconic Ale & Pie pubs, seven stunning hotels in the Cotswolds and Bel & The Dragon – six exquisite country inns located in the Home Counties. In summary, Fuller’s is the home of great pubs, outstanding hospitality and passionate people, where everyone is welcome and leaves that little bit happier than they arrived.