Royal Navy for Andrew and dentistry for Julie meant that they come from completely different backgrounds, but after getting married in 1999 it was Julie that first broached the subject of pubs and from then it started. They trained at the Jolly Sailor in Bursledon (as featured in Howards' Way) with Hall and Woodhouse, who then gave them their first pub which was the Swan Inn in Newtown near Newbury. After 16 months they were promoted to a hotel and restaurant called the New Inn at Heckfield, where they fell in love with being hoteliers too. After a while realising they would like to have a go themselves they bought the tenancy for the White Hart and moved in on September 9th 2003. From that day, as their company name suggests they have put their “hart and soul” into the hotel and turned it into their passion. Along the way a lot has changed in their lives, none so important as the arrival of firstly Euan in March 2005 and then Liberty in June 2007, which has given them the perfect family in the perfect place; Whitchurch.
