A New Chapter for The Whitestone

After seven weeks behind the hoardings, The Whitestone in Ballasalla is back open, and looking a bit different inside.

The pub, run by Okell’s Inns, reopened on March 4 after a refurbishment that’s given the place what the company calls a ‘stylish new look’, along with a refreshed bar area and an ‘exciting new menu’.

It’s also the first venue to be revamped as part of Okell’s Inns’ new ‘Heritage Collection’ of pubs.

General manager Geoff Troughton, who has returned to run The Whitestone for a second time, says the work was well overdue.

‘I have a big soft spot for The Whitestone,’ he said. ‘It’s always been a wonderful pub with a great community, but it hasn’t had any work done in a long, long time.’

One of the biggest changes is how the inside of the pub is laid out.

The large restaurant area has been broken up into different spaces so it feels less like one big echoey room and more like… well, a pub.

‘We’ve created a bar area for pool, darts, football and a bit of banter,’ Geoff explained. ‘The middle section is a snug, warm and cosy with a log burner, and the dining area now feels more like a destination pub.’

The changes are aimed at keeping locals happy while also attracting visitors from further afield.

‘We’ve got a great community following, and Ballasalla has grown massively as a residential area,’ he said. ‘We wanted to make sure people don’t go elsewhere and can enjoy a variety of spaces here.’

And after nearly two months closed, Geoff says he’s most excited about one thing: people filling the place again.

‘It looks beautiful now, but it looks even more beautiful when it’s full of people,’ he said.

Alongside the new look, the pub has also launched a new menu, featuring traditional pub classics, some more elevated dishes and plenty of lunchtime snack options.