After tens of thousands of pints pulled, countless Sussex Smokies lovingly made and hundreds of fundraising pub quizzes, Gyles and Mo Culver have decided it’s time to retire as Landlords of the White Hart.
The pub has seen many changes since the family took over back on the 17th April 2000, at the time their children Katy and Will were still at school and the pub was a very different place. Over the years they have worked tirelessly to create a warm, welcoming family pub, a proper ‘local’ with good pub food and a place at the bar for friendships and conversation. Memories have been made, while the highs and lows were celebrated and commemorated.
It’ll come as no surprise that Gyles and Mo met in a pub. They started as relief bar managers in the City of London, working in about a dozen pubs in total, the infamously haunted Pump House in Aldgate was one of the first. These were proper ‘drinkers’ pubs and the learning curve was steep; in the three hours at lunchtime and after City offices closed the pub was heaving with suited punters, 20 deep at the bar and waving bank notes, while orders were totted up rapier-fast in their heads with no electronic till in sight.
This sense of family and community is something Gyles and Mo have carried with them to all the pubs they’ve run, but none more so than the White Hart. Many would think that the anti-social hours that a publican keeps would be detrimental to family life, but the Culvers found it to be quite the opposite. Gyles and Mo always had time to spend with the children during the day rather than rushing off on a long commute as some parents did, and the children benefitted from gaining confidence as they chatted and charmed the customers. Strong bonds and friendships were made with this extended family and, subconsciously perhaps, the ‘secret to their success’ was formed; the inclusiveness of one big pub family.
Coming to a busy village pub from a quiet, rural one was a bit of a culture shock at first, Friday and Saturday nights could be wild! At this time, what was The Raven (then the Henfield Tavern) opposite was still open, as was the Gardeners Arms. HFC team members were (allegedly) once responsible for the removal of pub furniture one evening, found the next morning outside Budgens! Inter-pub darts championships and tug-of-war teams at the Village Fair were a regular event, they were happy and busy times.
Times change and pubs have also changed; perhaps it was the smoking ban, or the cheap supermarket booze which made the difference to how we all socialise. However, Gyles and Mo came through these times stronger, creating a meeting place for families, a great place to share a meal with friends and family. White Hart Pub Quizzes were famed across the County, as was the brilliant Sloe Gin Competition.
Gyles and Mo have always valued firm friendships with their staff. The recurring theme in old photos are of good times with staff and customers, huge smiles, Christmas parties with Gyles as Santa, and friendships which saw the ups and downs of people’s lives interwoven with the life of the pub. In an industry well used to a high turnover of staff, this attitude is quite unique. Staff become friends, returning again and again, with ties as strong as family.
The final words go to Mo. “Our time at the pub has been just wonderful, looking back on the past 37 years running pubs, and in particular the last 21 at the White Hart, I can honestly say I’d not change a single thing. We’ve opened our arms to our White Hart family and the times we’ve spent enjoying a glass of wine with them at the end of the evening have been some of our favourites. Most of all we’ll miss the people, because they made the pub what it is.”
The White Hart has been a centre of the village for so many locals. We all have memories of celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, memorable times with friends as well as sad times, the goodbyes and tributes to people we love. As the White Hart enters a new chapter, this legacy will continue. New landlords Chris and Leisha will create new memories in this beautiful old oak-beamed building, where the Culver’s made their mark in such an enduring way.
Emma Osman
Libby and Ashley Serpis
Trevor Simmons
Tracey and Steve Prescott
Nigel Higson, HART
David Jemmett, Henfield Cricket Club
Marisha Gray
Mike (aka Jack the Lad)
Siobhan and Ed Reynolds
