Priti Patel MP (centre) with Dave & Tracy Arnott, owners of the White Hart Hotel & Public House, Witham
Witham MP drops in to support her local
The White Hart Hotel and public house in Newland Street, Witham hosted a visit from local MP Priti Patel on Friday (24th July 2020). Priti dropped in to meet the White Hart’s owners, Tracy & David Arnott and to hear all about the Hotel’s efforts to prepare for its re-opening on 4th July, with social distancing and cleanliness measures in place. The MP was also given a tour of the premises.
The White Hart has undergone a deep clean of its entire premises, cleaning regimes have been reviewed and enhanced, including tables being sanitised before new customers are seated. Sanitisation stations have been installed at all entrances and in toilets. All staff also sanitise and wash their hands between each table or customer they serve. A new booking-in system has been introduced alongside the White Hart’s own ordering App, which has recently gone live.
The seating capacity of all the Hotel’s restaurant and outside bar areas have been reduced to allow social distancing with increased spacing between tables. There is a maximum of six people per booking and all visitors are encouraged to use the White Hart’s App and its full waitress and table service rather than visit the bar.
Priti Patel, after her visit to the White Hart said: “I was very impressed by how hard the hotel has worked to create an environment that is as safe and as comfortable as possible for its clientele and staff. It has all been very professionally and thoughtfully done. After the long lockdown period, it is essential for local people to once again have leisure facilities that will encourage them to come out of their homes for the social contact that we all need. I hope that Witham residents will give the White Hart their full support, particularly because it is such a well-known landmark and institution in our town. Local businesses need our support now, more than ever.”
Tracy Arnott, the owner at the White Hart said: “My thanks to Priti for popping in to see our facilities and all we have set in place to prepare for our re-opening, earlier this month. We very much appreciate her support and encouragement. People are still slightly reluctant to visit places like pubs and hotels, but we have done absolutely everything we can to make them feel safe and welcome and we will continue to do so. I hope that having seen or heard about the new socially distanced and ultra clean facilities here they will feel safe enough to give us their support.”
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