Surry Hill’s The White Horse pub saddling up for new owner

Kirsten Craze

First published 16 August 2019, 6:55pm

The White Horse Hotel in Surry Hills.

Known for the glittering silver and white stallion on its roof, landmark pub The White Horse, in the heart of Surry Hills is now looking for a new owner.

Just listed for sale through Savills agent Tony Bargwanna, who is yet to disclose an asking price, the pub is advertised as earning more than $500,000 a year in rental income from the current tenant Prosper Roster.

Iconic enough to have its own Wikipedia page, The White Horse at 381 Crown St was opened in the 1930s at a time when a tramway ran right out the front and Surry Hills was a far cry from what it has become today.

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Rough and tumble working class watering holes were the norm and the trendy eateries and wine bars were half a century away.

Inside the White Horse Pub in Surry Hills.

Throughout the years the pub had many identities, and even suffered a caved-in roof during a 1990s hailstorm, but it wasn’t until the new millennium that The White Horse took off.

By 2004, the pub had a facelift and the now-famous stallion was added to Surry Hills’ skyline.

Made in Scotland by artist Andy Scott, the sculpture was cut into pieces and reassembled in Sydney.

Prime spot to keep warm during winter with a fire place built into the wall.

A year later the hotel was bought by Precision Group for $5.5 million.

Licensee Steven Hiles signed a 12-year lease by 2014 and the popular pub underwent yet another significant renovation by Matt Woods Design to include upper level lounge areas and a rooftop terrace.

Sitting opposite the site of the Surry Hills markets, close to the Surry Hills library and surrounded by eateries, the pub is a short walk to both the new light rail and Central Station.