Ken and EileenThe White Horse

Ken and Eileen Thompson run the White Horse in Banbury. Ken, a former engineer and sales manager, has worked in and around pubs for many years.

When they took over The White Horse in picturesque Banbury, they knew it needed a lot of care and attention and were ready for the challenge.

The pub had stood empty for two years before being acquired by Everards.

It takes a long time to rebuild a pub’s tarnished reputation. So, when Ken and Eileen took the reins at The White Horse on April 1, 2015 - “the date seemed entirely appropriate,” says Ken - they knew they had a tough task on their hands.

Two-and-a-half years on, they’re winning. The pub, once cold and formal, open and sparse, is now warm and welcoming. It’s busy again. They’re doing well.

There are candles. Open fires. Soft furnishings and ornaments. “Come and have a look in the ladies’ loos,” says Eileen. It smells like a perfume counter. There are toiletries in both the ladies and the gents - and in the ladies the wall is festooned with Post-it notes from customers declaring their love of this well-kept boozer.

There’s a piano that Eileen picked up for £50 from a local auction. “We found out later that it’s worth close to £2,000,” says Ken. When someone lifts the lid, and starts tinkling those old ivories and the whole pub joins in, the piano seems like a priceless addition.

“We enjoy serving a variety of beers to keep our customers interested” says Ken.

So, they sell Tiger because the customers like it. “We have a group of 11 or 12 old chaps who come in on a Friday and they have four pints of Tiger each and sit in the corner, chatting and reminiscing.” They call them The Incontinence Club. The old boys’ laugh about that more than anyone else, says Ken.