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A Guided Tour..
Welcome to the guided
tour section where you can browse Nellies from your armchair. Some people find
that especially on their first visits they get lost - much to the amusement of
the regulars.
Quite typically,
every evening the will be a number of people asking for directions to the
toilets, the way out, or even the bar! New visitors having
arranged to meet with friends at the pub can find it quite disconcerting when on
arrival they realise that they may have to explore a warren of rooms and corridors.
This whilst hoping that their friend are not also doing the same - in the
opposite direction!
So if you are
somewhat unfamiliar before a visit, here's your opportunity to do some brief
preparation. As a good majority of people enter the pub from the back door, i.e.
from the car park or bus station, we'll start here.
The
White Horse Inn - aka Nellies - chimneys,
are swept and looked after by Jethro
THE CAR
PARK ENTRANCE
The
car part entrance is just behind us, on the right-hand-side - and is accessible
from 'New Walkergate'. Just behind us to the left, the car park continues and
passes the secluded courtyard entrance. The car park is walled, with a
pedestrian entrance (behind us) leading from the bus station.
As you look ahead - and to the right, you can see the old coaching entrance,
consisting of large double doors - facing onto 'Hengate'. You will notice some
tables and benches - surrounded by the beautiful aromas from flower boxes and
hanging baskets (picture taken June-1999).
The
doorway in the foreground, to the immediate left, is the 'Cellar' entrance -
although it's actually at ground level ! We'll have a brief look in there in a
moment, by accessing it from the inside door.
Notice
the small windows at the top of the building, on our left - that area is
strictly off limits - but we shall explore it later in the tour.
Now as
we approach the back door, which is located just to the left of the two windows
immediately in front of us, you can probably just make out the cobbled ground
(actually stone 'blocks') beneath us.
Between
here and the doorway - behind the outdoor tables and benches - you can just make
out the Well.
THE
CAR PARK ENTRANCE - progressing further towards the back
door
Ah, there's the back door - and the
Well. Yes the Well is original - but no longer in use. Although
partially filled-in, it's still some 20ft down, and so has a locked gate
over the top to stop those who may suffer temporary, alcohol-induced
insanity, from leaving by the wrong exit!
A few years ago, 'regular' -
Jonathan Linthwhaite - otherwise known as 'Johnny Windows', braved some
time down the Well - all in the good aid of charity! If I remember
right, it was at least 24 hours, but it must have seemed a lot longer.
Now Johnny generously displays the physical signs of an enthusiastic
appetite - making conditions below ground-level, somewhat cramped.
Anyway, he stuck it out - despite the odd showering of 'spilt' alcohol.
THE
CELLAR
Just a quick look in here. We've
just entered and will leave by the door in front.
As we stand with our backs towards
the wall (that we have just been stood on the other side of) you will
notice that within this section we are facing the large oak barrels
containing the Draft Bitters.
THE
LINEN PRESS ROOM
For want of a better description,
this small open room lies between the main corridor and the Scullery.
Incidentally, it has been suggested that the large wooden Press, that we
are facing at one end of this room, could well have been a Linen Press -
as it has large wooden draws beneath, which could have been used for
linen storage. Anyone any ideas?
Anyway the Press still works. On
one occasion in the name of historical science, I tested the operation
of the Press on the nearest item - yes, my head! I had decided to
conduct this experiment following another experiment associated with
evaluating the residual effect of 'Old Brewery Bitter' on the brain - on
an empty stomach. Conclusion: a pre-hangover headache - especially if
you're not sure which way to turn the handle to release the pressure !!!
THE POOL
ROOM
Here
we are, at the far end of the pool room, standing near the patio doors - leading
to the secluded courtyard. Although not an original part of the Inn, this room
has been quite tastefully designed, and
does not pretend to be a copy of any other part of the building. This room, with
its opened apex ceiling, houses two pool tables, a jukebox and pin-ball machine.
All of this is more of an annex, and shouldn't detract from the uniqueness of
the rest of the Pub. This is - at the end of the day - a real and operational
Pub, with real people (well maybe a few exceptions there!), and not a museum.
This room is the base, and practice
area ('practice' being the
operative word) of the Nellie's Pool Teams. The A-Team, for which I've been a
member for some years, and now the last few years - Team Captain - has been
exceptionally popular with most other teams in the 'Beverley Pool League'. This
was mainly due to the fact that although most games were a close result, the
other team usually won! However things have changed a little bit recently.
THE
SECLUDED COURTYARD
As
we stand with our back towards the Southwest corner of the courtyard, facing the
patio doors of
the Pool Room, you can clearly see that again there are a number of tables and
benches - which make this area, weather permitting -an enjoyable area to relax
amongst friends.
The
entire area is walled in, with an entrance from the car park via a couple of
steps - beyond the small wall on the right. On a quiet summers evening, the
relaxing background chatter is only interrupted by the bells of St Mary's -
which is only a couple of hundred yards away.
THE SMALL
CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE 'SLIDING DOOR ROOM'
Heading from the Pool
Room door back into the pub, and heading in a straight line through the next doorway
will take you back through The Scullery, then trough the next doorway - turning
right into a small corridor section.
A small
but interesting little area. In front we have the doorway leading into the main
corridor, with the Bar to the right, and front door to the left.
To
our immediate left is the 'Sliding Door Room' - more on that in a moment. On our
right is a small wooden topped table, on a cast iron base, which has a
horizontal-swivel top - which reveals a set of wooden rollers - ouch!
Just
out of view, immediately to our right, is the Scullery entrance, and all around
are old cupboards built into the walls.
It's
worth mentioning that on the wall - immediately to our right - is a large,
glass-fronted frame - enclosing a large selection of receipts and invoices of
local business, dating back to the turn of the century. A further selection is
on display in the corridor leading to the family room.
Myself and a number of friends now refer to this small room as 'The Office'.
It's here we'll often assemble to put the world to rights.
'THE
SLIDING DOOR ROOM'
As we enter this room via the sliding door
(which is usually already open) you are faced with a large
round table - with a gaslight over the center. To the right is fitted in
an 'L' shape, is the high-back bench seats. To the left, is the open
range which usually has a coal fire burning during colder weather.
The window opposite, looks onto Hengate.
Hengate usually has traffic queuing at the traffic lights outside, so it
is quite typical to see drivers looking in through the windows with some
envy at the occupants enjoying the comfort, warmth and beverages.
Having walked over to the other side - and
turning back to look from the window - the 'round table now is more
visible in the foreground. The range to the right is not lit as this
tour takes place during summer. However, during winter we shall see the
place with open fires and happy folk etc.., etc.
Looking forward over the red and black
tiled floor, we can see the doorway from whence we came.
OUTSIDE
'THE SLIDING DOOR ROOM'
A view from outside 'The Sliding Door
Room'. Immediately beyond the doorway to the left is the front door
(from Hengate). To the right - the Bar, Toilets and back door. As you
enter the corridor, directly opposite, immediately to your left is the
'No Smoking Room'. Continuing down the corridor -leads to
the 'family Room'.
THE
EX 'NO-SMOKING' ROOM
 This
room (which also faces onto Hengate) is pictured a couple of days prior
to the replacement hand-made gaslights being installed. This room had
relied on candles for quite a number of years (visible above the
fireplace) although originally had the gaslights. As we stand with our
back to the window - looking towards the left corner - we can see the
small fireplace with traditional mirror above, and to the left an ornate
mirror surround.
Incidentally, as you might have guessed -
this is the one public room within Nellie's that is reserved as a
non-tobacco participation room!
THE
FAMILY ROOM
Having entered through the doorway visible to the left, we are now
facing towards the main fireplace, with the windows overlooking Hengate
to our right. In the right-hand corner is one of two piano's (the other
being in the function room - upstairs).
The
piano is quite often played - preferably by someone who can - adding to
the overall ambience. Only just visible between the door and the
fireplace, is an old wine cooling chest.
Now let's head into the main bar area....
THE MAIN BAR AREA
Heading out of the
'Family Room', or 'Dart Room' as some of the staff still know it, and heading
through the door opposite the main window, takes you into the Main Bar Area.
During most days and evenings this is the one source of sale. However on certain
occasions, or by private booking, a small bar is available for exclusive use
along with the upstairs function room.
The main bar, where
all food and drink is purchased, is off-limits to all children. Of course it is essential
for the good of all patrons that children, dogs and ferrets are kept under
supervision at all times.
The main bar itself
was only installed with the take-over by the Samuel Smiths Brewery in 1976.
Prior to this, sales where dispatched from a tables located in the same area.
Glasses where hand-washed and hand dried with white cotton towels.
Today the main bar
area has a large water-sealed, extendable, 4-lamp gas chandelier and a smaller
individual gas wall light opposite the bar above a small second fireplace, next
to the wall clock. Incidentally,
the short-cased wall clock in the corner, behind the entrance door is well known
for chiming at unusual times, and the wrong amount of chimes!
The main bar's
seating is primarily of the padded bench variety around the perimeter. Marble
topped, iron tables are here also. Above each fireplace is a mirror. The main
fireplace mirror is large and has quite an ornate wooden surround. At the top of
the surround there has been a carving, only obvious by its absence. Rumor has it
that during the Second World War, RAF pilots stationed at nearby RAF Leconfield,
had one evening broken off the wooden eagles head at the top of the mirror, then
throwing it on to the blazing fire beneath. The eagles head at that time was a
bit too close to the oppositions symbolisms!
LET'S GO UPSTAIRS!
On the first floor,
above the Beer Cellar and Kitchen is the Function Room. This room is also lit
entirely by gas chandeliers and wall-lights. The only exception to this is if
someone books a band or disco, when to their relief an electric supply is
available for modern colored lighting (what ever that is!).
The first floor 
function room is accessible by a staircase from the main corridor, and adjacent
to the back door. At the top of the staircase is another short corridor, with
the main function room entrance behind directly opposite. A further staircase
heads up of this corridor to a locked trap-door access to the 'off-limits', unoccupied
third floor. But don't worry, we'll go and have a look up there in a
moment.
As you enter the
function room, you are entering a third of the way into it with an area and
small bar
area behind. Immediately ahead lies the main extent of this room which
is sash-windowed on the right-hand side, overlooking the courtyard entrance from the back door. At the far end of the room is a large open fire
beneath a
large mirror. During winter artists and performers have to be careful on not
burning their rears on a lively coal fire behind then.
Adjacent left to the
main fireplace is an old upright piano. The function room is regularly occupied
with jazz bands, folk singers and poets. Full details can be found within the 'What's
On' section.
NOW LET'S GO OFF LIMITS!
Heading out of the function room, back on to the 1st floor corridor we head
towards the second staircase leading to the now disused 2nd floor. This area is
usually off-limits, but we have permission and more importantly - a key!
The 2nd floor was originally a set of five individual public bedrooms of the
Inn. This floor can no longer be used due to fire regulations, which would
require a suitable public fire escape. In turn, the provision of a fire escape
would probably infringe on the buildings conservation 'listed' status.
What remains on this
top floor, are the walls doors and fireplaces, however most of the wooden floor
boards have been removed, along with the ceiling. Treading carefully towards the
only light source, daylight beaming through the dusting, cob-webbed windows, we
can again peer down into the rear courtyard.
THE END - WELL SO FAR...
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Copyright Nellies.co.uk 1999 - 2011 :: Website owned by Mark
Elvidge
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