Littlehampton pub’s hidden garden is revealed

Town mayor Emma Neno has officially opened the garden of the White Hart pub in Surrey Street, after months of hard work by licensees Jaki and Gareth Cornford, transforming the area from what was little more than an overgrown dumping ground.

Now it boasts lush turf, shady sitting areas, birds singing in the trees and a children’s adventure playground, all in a secure setting.

Cutting a ribon to declare the garden open, Emma said: “It’s so nice to have a secure, family garden and play area in a pub, which we don’t have in Littlehampton.

“In the eight months since they took over, Jaki and Gareth have done so much, and put their heart and soul into the pub, and they have really got involved in the community.”

The couple showed their gratitude to the mayor by holding a mini-market to raise funds for her chosen charities, CancerWise and Home-Start Arun.

And there was even more colour than usual in the garden, thanks to some contributions from the “yarn-bombing” group of clandestine knitters, Knittlehampton.

For younger visitors there was a rabbit to cuddle, as well as balloon sculpting and facepainting, and DJ Toad, one of the pub’s resident DJs, was playing music all day.

Jaki and Gareth previously ran the Windmill pub at Southwick, from 2004-08, and have certainly thrown themselves into the White Hart, since the 17th century coaching inn was relaunched under its former name, after a decade or so as the Cob and Pen. It’s also under new ownership of a small pub chain.

The pub now has eight pool teams, a football team and three darts teams and also runs two poker nights a week and a monthly comedy night. “We’ve had so many people come in and say it’s a much nicer place now. We believe this should be a place for people of all ages, with or without families,” said Jaki.