If it goes back to how it was it'll likely be lost for good, however, having a healthy regard disregard for 'local' locals was never a good idea and the previous landlord's admittance that he tried to rid the place of them was foolish. Silly tactics like removing the stools from the bars so the 'old locals' couldn't sit there was cruel and calculating.
The pub needs a bit of love, the old school locals needs a firm hand from time to time, but mostly it just needs to be run with a bit of care and attention and commitment, and not try and be just another white middle class enclave.
The Tulse fills that role now. The Railway is the rock'n'rolling big sister, so the White Hart needs to find a space among the two...
not gonna be easy now...but maybe someone who actually knows what they are doing will get involved.