Boston hotel celebrates 20 years since major project to 'restore it to its former glory'
A historic hotel in Boston is celebrating 20 years since it reopened following a major project to ‘restore it to its former glory’.
The White Hart Hotel, in High Street, has a history dating back centuries.
However, its current chapter began 20 years ago in May 2006, when it reopened following a six-figure refurbishment.
The Grade II-listed building had recently been acquired by a Boston-based hospitality business, what is today known as The Coaching Inn Group.
Speaking to The Standard at the time, the then managing director Kevin Charity said: “The White Hart is one of Boston’s gems, albeit one that has suffered from a lack of investment in recent years.
“The plan is to invest a large, six-figure sum into it to restore it to its former glory.
“We firmly believe there are now glory days ahead for The White Hart.”
Today’s managing director Adam Charity, Kevin’s son, said: “Since taking over we have transformed the hotel to provide 26 stylish and individually designed en-suite bedrooms, a riverside restaurant serving fresh locally sourced food with views of the famous Boston Stump church and access to an outdoor terrace together with a lively courtyard bar and eatery.
“It is all part of our ethos of providing hospitality from the heart at the centre of the communities in which we serve.”
Turning to employment, Adam said: “We are, of course, also providing some 35 full and part-time jobs and operate an open-door policy, so that anyone joining our enthusiastic team has the opportunity of progressing a career in the hospitality industry through our Inn/spire and Inn-Tuition training programme initiatives.
“There have now been a number of occasions when ambitious individuals taking on front-of-house roles have progressed to becoming general managers, while those joining our kitchen teams have eventually become head chefs.”
The White Hart is a 19th-century coaching inn. It evolved from a 17th-century inn known as the Unicorn and was re-established as a key coach stop in 1804.
All told, the Coaching Inn Group has 43 hotels and inns to its name.
Last year, it was named Hotel Group of the Year among large hotel chains by UK consumer champion Which?.