HIGH temperatures and even higher spirits were aplenty at the eagerly anticipated reopening of The White Hart Hotel in Okehampton, which is now part of the JD Wetherspoon franchise.

After a £3-million refurbishment the new Okehampton Wetherspoons, which has provided 70 new jobs for the town, opened its doors to the public on Tuesday.

The White Hart Hotel, which has a long, rich history and has held a licence since 1623, was full of life inside and out with many residents stopping by to have a look at the pub’s makeover.

Jon Willing, The White Hart Hotel manager, said: ‘The opening day has been brilliant, and the conversion of the building has been overwhelming popular.’

He said that the pub hosted an invite-only event at the weekend which went really well and that the staff had put all of their training into practice and coped fantastically well under pressure.

Town Mayor Cllr Jan Goffey said: ‘Most of the staff are local people — the opening of the new Wetherspoon has seen a big boost of employment in the town.

‘It’s good to have a major corporate business in the town as it will really put Okehampton on the map. It’s brilliant.’

She said that The White Hart Hotel would bring new people to the town, who she hoped would stay long enough to explore all of the other great things Okehampton had to offer, including other town businesses.

The hotel, which is set on the first, second and third floor above the pub, has 23 en suite bedrooms. The new layout of the pub, which is wheelchair accessible, consists of one bar and a beer garden which includes a large outdoor seating area.

Two Okehampton Wetherspoon customers, Doreen Watson and Becky Jeffery, said that they were really impressed with the hotel’s new look and how friendly the staff were.

Soaking up the sun in the pub’s garden, Karen Allen, of Station Road, alongside mother and daughter duo, Leann and Erin Holman, complimented the pub’s refurbishment and said that it would be lovely place to spend weekends.

Mother of four, Leann said: ‘It’s a great place for families, it’s in a central location with plenty of food choices for the kids.’

Leann’s daughter, ten-year-old Sienna, was one of many Okehampton Primary School children to have their artwork displayed around the White Hart in hotel rooms, hallways and bathrooms. The pupils created pieces with a theme of mixed media Dartmoor scenes and watercolour paintings of the local wildlife.

Historical photos, details of local history, information relating to events, as well as commissioned artwork by local artists David Jones and Luna Fae, are all featured as the pub’s new decor. Many of the local people agreed that the inclusion of the children’s artwork and the local artist’s pieces really added a sense of community spirit.

The White Hart Hotel is a listed building and is renowned as one of the longest established hotels in Devon. It is a fine example of a 17th century coaching inn.

The White Hart was part of The Trafalgar Way — the historic route used to carry dispatches overland from Falmouth to the Admiralty in London, with news from the Battle of Trafalgar.

Pictured is Okehampton Mayor Jan Goffey with White Hart Hotel manager Kayleigh Scott and pub manager Jon Willing cutting the ceremonial tape with pub staff Beatrice and Beth. Picture by James Bird.