Licensed & Catering News - The Online Business Authority for Northern Ireland’s Hospitality Industry
No Result
View All Result
Licensed & Catering News (LCN) - News Coverage from the Local Trade
  • News
  • Features

    Venue Spotlight

    A soft touch brings White’s back to life

    December 2, 2019
    whites exterior
    Venue Spotlight

    Iconic White’s Tavern – holder of the oldest liquor licence in Belfast – re-opened its ancient doors to the public...

    Read more

    Bar Person Of The Month

    Bar work proves ideal for Hannah

    December 5, 2019
    hannah ferris
    Barperson of the Month

    Like many in the bar trade, London-born Hannah Ferris (27) turned to the profession as a means of making money...

    Read more

    Interviews

    No time for standing still

    December 2, 2019
    colin johnston
    Interviews

    Locally-owned with a reputation for high-end service, Galgorm Collection is a hospitality success story for Northern Ireland. Its managing director,...

    Read more

    Social Events

    Bushmills hosts first supper club event

    November 14, 2019
    supper club event
    Social Events

    Bushmills Irish Whiskey recently hosted its first Supper Club event alongside celebrated Northern Irish chef, Will Brown at Comber-based Irish...

    Read more
    • Venue Spotlight
    • Barperson of the Month
    • Interviews
  • Buyers Guide
  • Awards
    • The LCN Awards 2020 Are Now Accepting Entries
    • Enter LCN Awards 2020
    • Entry Criteria
    • LCN Awards 2019: The Greatest Show
    • Past Winners
  • Magazine
Licensed & Catering News (LCN) - News Coverage from the Local Trade
  • News
  • Features

    Venue Spotlight

    A soft touch brings White’s back to life

    December 2, 2019
    whites exterior
    Venue Spotlight

    Iconic White’s Tavern – holder of the oldest liquor licence in Belfast – re-opened its ancient doors to the public...

    Read more

    Bar Person Of The Month

    Bar work proves ideal for Hannah

    December 5, 2019
    hannah ferris
    Barperson of the Month

    Like many in the bar trade, London-born Hannah Ferris (27) turned to the profession as a means of making money...

    Read more

    Interviews

    No time for standing still

    December 2, 2019
    colin johnston
    Interviews

    Locally-owned with a reputation for high-end service, Galgorm Collection is a hospitality success story for Northern Ireland. Its managing director,...

    Read more

    Social Events

    Bushmills hosts first supper club event

    November 14, 2019
    supper club event
    Social Events

    Bushmills Irish Whiskey recently hosted its first Supper Club event alongside celebrated Northern Irish chef, Will Brown at Comber-based Irish...

    Read more
    • Venue Spotlight
    • Barperson of the Month
    • Interviews
  • Buyers Guide
  • Awards
    • The LCN Awards 2020 Are Now Accepting Entries
    • Enter LCN Awards 2020
    • Entry Criteria
    • LCN Awards 2019: The Greatest Show
    • Past Winners
  • Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Licensed & Catering News (LCN) - News Coverage from the Local Trade
No Result
View All Result
Home Venue Spotlight

A soft touch brings White’s back to life

December 2, 2019
in Venue Spotlight
whites exterior
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Iconic White’s Tavern – holder of the oldest liquor licence in Belfast – re-opened its ancient doors to the public in October this year following a sympathetic restoration by its new owners, The Clover Group.

When White’s re-opened in Winecellar Entry at the end of October, it was the latest in a rapid succession of redevelopments by new hospitality group, Clover, which has now completed seven venues in just 16 months, including Pug Ugly’s in the former Morrison’s Bar and the former McCracken’s in Joy’s Entry.

The Clover Group consists of Mark Beirne, Jim Conlon, Paul Langsford and Andrew Maxwell.

Speaking to LCN this month, Clover’s operations director, Zoe Watson, said that White’s was one venue which the group had been keen to secure from the outset:

‘It’s a place that has such a rich history and a place that everyone in Belfast knows’, says Zoe. ‘The brand has been around since 1630, it’s a premises that everyone wanted to get their hands on and when it come up, everyone jumped at it.’

White’s look every inch the historic tavern that it is. Nestled among Belfast’s celebrated old entryways, its whitewashed walls, open hearth and richly stained wood easily conjure images of city life that have long since been forgotten.

white's interiorBelfast-based O’Donnell O’Neill Hospitality Design were charged with refurbishing the old bar. Clover’s brief to them, says Zoe, was where possible, leave things as they are:

‘They were clear that White’s wasn’t to be changed out of all recognition, nor its cherished atmosphere disrupted,’ she explains. ‘Service efficiency and an enhanced and more comfortable offering were the primary objectives.’

The original 17th century bar still has pride of place in White’s and this was lengthened and lowered during the refurbishment, enabling more customers to be served simultaneously.

Previously, White’s had provided a limited food offering but Clover has now established a new restaurant on the first floor where a video gaming lounge had previously been located. Christened the Oyster Rooms, the new eatery has the feel of a traditional Irish dining room. Simon Toye, a former head chef at Deane’s in Belfast, has been brought in to oversee the delivery of a seasonal, locally sourced menu that does include oysters.

The name of the restaurant is drawn from an old newspaper clipping that one of Clover’s researchers had found. It mentions WInecellar Entry and makes reference to a venue in the vicinity that was called the Oyster Room.

Graham O’Donnell from O’Donnell O’Neill says that the design of the new restaurant has been ‘respectful and authentic’:

‘Interior features create a theatrical experience that includes the introduction of antique furniture, reclaimed light fittings, bold heritage paint colours and crushed velvet drapes.’

white's exteriorClover has also created a lighted, pagoda-style pavilion in the courtyard space outside the bar and spent money to enhance the approach to White’s along the entry:

‘We knew from our experience with refurbishing McCracken’s that these historic entryways can be very complimentary to our offering,’ continues Zoe. ‘We’ve done a lot of work to tidy and brighten up the area and make it more welcoming for people coming down here to the bar.’

It’s all part of a gentle process of change and refinement at White’s that seeks to preserve the venue’s historical character:

‘We have not brought major change to White’s,’ confirms Zoe. ‘There’s a regular here, Jim, that’s been coming in for 40 years. The only real difference that Jim sees is that now, he’s sitting on a high bar stool. Change has been done with a light hand, changes to the draught beer on tap, an expansion of the food offering, that type of thing.

‘White’s is famous in Belfast in hospitality terms, it’s been loved by so many generations of people who all have memories of the place, so hanging onto that essence was our main priority.’

In terms of feedback, Zoe says that visitors have been ‘pleasantly surprised’ that so little drastic change has occurred:

‘We’ve just improved on something that was already great,’ she says. ‘People seem particularly pleased with what we’ve done in the alleyway outside, it makes them feel a lot more comfortable about coming in.’

white#s exteriorAs for the Clover Group generally, Zoe says that plans remain on track:

‘We’ve done seven venues in 16 months and it’s been tough,’ she concedes. ‘Opening bars is a big job, and these are big projects to manage. But we move quickly when we see that opportunities are there, and we’ve taken on some fantastic staff in the venues that we have bought and that’s been a great help.’

Going forward, Zoe says that there will be no let up in the pace:

‘We’re always working on something,’ she says. ‘We opened the Fountain [on Fountain Lane] two weeks after we had done White’s and our main focus now is on driving both these venues and then, of course, it is Christmas which is huge for the business.’

white's interior

 

zoe watson
Clover’s Zoe Watson
Tags: alcoholBarsbelfast food scenebelfast hospitalityhospitalitytourism
Previous Post

New craft distillery to create 40 jobs

Next Post

No time for standing still

Next Post
colin johnston

No time for standing still

Recent

whites exterior

A soft touch brings White’s back to life

December 2, 2019
inside jumon

What doesn’t kill you…

November 4, 2019
shed bistro, belfast

New era beckons at Shed Bistro

October 1, 2019
Licensed & Catering News

Best foot forward at Buba

May 11, 2019
Licensed & Catering News

Plush new look for Ballycastle’s Marine

April 5, 2019
Licensed & Catering News

Gusto e is the real thing

March 6, 2019
Licensed & Catering News (LCN) – News Coverage from the Local Trade

For more than 70 years, Licensed & Catering News (LCN) has been regarded as the voice of Northern Ireland’s hospitality, leisure and tourism industries. First published in 1940, LCN has established itself as a trusted and informative source of reliable industry-specific information for the trades in Northern Ireland.

Follow us on social media:

Ti marketing strategy

TI’s new three-year strategy to boost overseas visitor spend

December 6, 2019

arts partnerships

Partnership yields new visitor experiences

December 4, 2019

lisburn supervalu

Musgrave confirms Drinks Inc acquisition

December 3, 2019

Category

  • Features
  • Venue Spotlight
  • Barperson of the Month
  • Interviews
  • Social Events
  • Buyers Guide
  • Awards
  • Magazine

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Be the first to know

Get all the latest information on Events,
Sales and Offers. Sign up for newsletter today.




  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

© 2019 Licensed & Catering News | Website Designed & Built by Blue Monkee - Belfast Web Design

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Features
    • Venue Spotlight
    • Barperson of the Month
    • Interviews
  • Buyers Guide
  • Awards
    • The LCN Awards 2020 Are Now Accepting Entries
    • Enter LCN Awards 2020
    • Entry Criteria
    • LCN Awards 2019: The Greatest Show
    • Past Winners
  • Magazine

© 2019 Licensed & Catering News | Website Designed & Built by Blue Monkee - Belfast Web Design

Don't leave just yet!

Sign up to receive our latest newsletter!

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Cookies

This site uses cookies: Find out more.