Walcot Group has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of The White Hart, a pub in the city of Bath in Somerset, England.  

The move is part of the group's ongoing expansion in the country’s southwest region, Insider Media has reported.  

The White Hart, a grade II-listed building constructed in the 1700s, has been closed since March 2024.  

It is now set to undergo extensive refurbishment to restore its historic features. 

The planned refurbishment aims to preserve the building's character while preparing it for a re-opening later in the year.  

The White Hart features a large central bar, an open kitchen and a secluded courtyard on the ground floor, with a private dining space upstairs that accommodates up to 40 guests. 

The Walcot Group, based in Somerset, has been steadily growing its presence in the region.  

In 2019, the group launched Walcot House in Bath, a venue that can cater to 150 guests.  

The group's portfolio in the southwest now includes three restaurants and a butcher's shop.  

Walcot Group directors Martin and Debbie Still, who previously owned the Pear Tree in Whitley and the Methuen Arms Pub & Hotel in Corsham, said that the acquisition ends their search for a suitable pub for their portfolio in Bath. 

Martin Still said: “We are excited to return to our publican roots with The White Hart. It’s a beautiful, much-loved boozer, and we’re looking forward to putting it back at the heart of the community in Widcombe.  

“We have been looking for the right pub in Bath for a few years, and we are delighted to have found it.” 

The group's latest venture, Little Walcot, a neighbourhood restaurant in Frome, opened its doors in April 2024, marking the fourth site under their management.