A pub in High Wycombe known for being the town’s only lap dancing venue has been saved from demolition but will nonetheless close its doors for good in just a few months.

The White Horse pub on West Wycombe Road in High Wycombe has been teetering on the brink of closure for the past few years, following the submission of a planning application to demolish the building and construct a three-storey block of flats in its place.

The application, submitted by Streamdown Property Ltd, was refused by the Local Planning Authority last month on the grounds of its “unacceptable scale and character”, flood risk and potential environmental harm, but long-term licensee Alastair Watts said the decision has not impacted his plans to retire and close the pub this December. 

The White Horse, which has been a landmark in the area since the 1800s and hosted bands including Coldplay and Kings of Leon in its heyday, has since become popular for its lap dancing, exotic dancers and history of supernatural encounters.

Alastair, who previously submitted an objection to the development plans citing the continued viability of the business as well as its “positive contribution” to the area, said the pub’s closure has long been in the works, and, at 78 years old, he feels that the time has come to take a step back.

“The White Horse was sold two years ago, and the new landlord agreed to let me stay on for that period, which ends on December 31. I’m 78 and I’ve worked here since 2001 – I would have got less for murder!

READ MORE: The haunted Wycombe pub where chaplains mingle with striptease dancers

“The truth is that while the strip tease does well, running the overall business is very tough at the moment. It’s been desperately hard work with energy costs and everything else.

“I thought about asking to continue for another year or looking for new premises, but my health is beginning to deteriorate, and I think it’s best to walk away for good.”

Despite the results of the planning application, Alastair doesn’t hold out much hope that the historic building will remain standing for long, especially considering the growing popularity of High Wycombe as a commuter town.

“This building is over 100 years old, and it has endless maintenance problems. It would need a complete refit and the landlord isn’t interested in that. I think he will reapply for planning permission, maybe with a different architect, and if he doesn’t get it, he'll just board it all up." 

It's not all doom and gloom, though. Alastair is heading to Australia to visit his daughter in the New Year and is planning a blow-out final performance on December 30, ahead of a staff send-off in early January.

Reflecting on the two decades he has spent as licensee of The White Horse, the 78-year-old said he has no regrets and is even planning to write a book about the "bizarre" experiences he has had over the years.

“I’ve made lots of friends here, and lots of enemies too, as is the nature of running a pub. I’m sorry to go, but it has just become too much for an old man.”