Opened in October 1957, the White Knight was celebrated at the time for its bold and forward-thinking design. It featured clean modernist lines, large windows, and a clever layout that separated its saloon and taproom with glass partitions. The interior was bright and contemporary, boasting stylish lighting, atomic-age clocks, striped curtains, and even a pergola-sheltered garden terrace.
Critic Ian Nairn, a fierce champion of characterful architecture, praised the White Knight on BBC’s Home Service shortly after it opened. For him, it exemplified how thoughtful design could enhance everyday life. Even decades later, the pub retains some of that charm, though modern refurbishments have softened some of its original flair with more traditional Victorian-style fittings.
The pub’s name is a deliberate literary nod to Alice Through the Looking-Glass. The White Knight, one of Lewis Carroll’s more eccentric creations, is said to have inspired the theme and even some interior choices – there’s a claim that Carroll himself once found inspiration in a chessboard floor beneath the site.
Today, the White Knight remains a welcoming community pub offering classic food, sports screens, darts and pool, and regular events.
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