Skip to content

Locals hopeful for future of 'eyesore' hotel

Ellen Knight
BBC Radio Shropshire
BBC Zeinab looking into the camera and smiling; she's wearing a navy blue winter coat with a fluffy hood, and a purple hijab. She's stood on the pavement, with Wem's high street stretching out behind her, a combination of red brick buildings and white painted shop fronts. The sky is grey and cloudy.BBC
Zeinab Lodge reckons a new restaurant could be what Wem needs

A council is holding drop-in sessions for locals to give their opinions on the future of a Grade II listed building, which is proposed to be turned into housing.

The White Horse Hotel in Wem was bought by Shropshire Council in 2023 after standing derelict for a number of years.

Locals have called the current building an "eyesore" and are hoping the council will transform it into something that will benefit the community.

"It's in a terrible state", said Wem resident Zeinab Lodge, adding that she was "so sad it's been left in this state for so long."

Ms Lodge said she would prefer it if the White Horse Hotel was not turned into flats.

"I know that people need places to live, but it would be nice if [the hotel] was just rejuvenated, and maybe [become] a really good restaurant."

A three-storey 18th century inn. It's painted a faded yellow, with a dark red front door. The nine windows are boarded up, and the door is nailed shut. A sign above the right hand first floor window reads 'White Horse Hotel'; it's in yellow font on a black sign. To the left of the building is a road sign, directing cars to Ellesmere, Whitchurch, Prees, Wem station, and the swimming pool.
The White Horse Hotel was bought by Shropshire Council for £92,000

The 18th Century inn is Grade II listed, meaning it is of special architectural or historical interest - but the White Horse Hotel's cracked, peeling window frames and faded signs have left many locals unhappy.

The site was bought by Shropshire Council for £92,000 nearly two years ago, and in August the authority announced it had appointed Buttress Architects to carry out surveys.

In August 2024, a spokesperson for the council said the project would act as "a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Wem and its surrounding area and a much-needed improvement to the look of our high street."

"Personally I hope it won't be another pub," said Caroline Davies.

"There's already four pubs here on the high street."

David smiling and looking into the camera; he's wearing a blue waterproof coat with black backpack straps just visible on his shoulders. He's stood on the pavement with a green painted shop window just visible over his left shoulder. Over his right shoulder is a road and more pavement. The sky is grey and overcast.
David Carter said he was not sure why the council committed to the project

David Carter remembers the White Horse Hotel as "the highlight of Wem."

He was concerned that the council's finances were "stretched", and said he did not know "why they've committed to it."

A drop-in session at Wem Library is being held on Tuesday to gauge local opinions and get input on the options suggested by architects.

The first is a community space on the ground floor with flats above, another is turning the building into flats, and a final option is turning it into houses.

Carole Roberts, who works in Kings Hardware, a shop over the road from the derelict hotel, is hoping the renewed site "will bring fresh people to Wem."

"It's about time it got decorated - I'm a Wem girl and it's never looked this bad."

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story