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White Horse, Hedgerley

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user reviews of the White Horse, Hedgerley

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I try to review this pub at least once a year. It's still one of very few pubs I can say warrants a 10/10. My latest visit was on a Monday night, when it's always reasonably quiet. Although, there were a few in last night. The garden is looking particularly good this time of year. But, the forthcoming beer festival will no doubt put paid to that. Last night, the ales were Rebellion IPA, Stardust Curve Ball, Pig & Porter Souls Be Brave, Church End Rugby Ale & Coffee & Vanilla Porter, DBC Yachtsman, Froth Blowers Anthem & Buckland Mad March. Craft beers were Big Smoke Fruju & Bootleg American IPA. There is also a decent bottle/canned range. Real ciders were Winkleigh Sam's Traditional Dry, Broadoak Moonshine & Newton Court Islay Malt Cask Cider. Still a fantastic rural pub, not a million miles from junction 2 of the M40.
blue_scrumpy - 14 May 2019 21:38
Started my weekend in the White Horse on Friday evening. It was a nice evening and people were out enjoying the last rays of sunshine of the day. The pub has changed little since my last review. Ales on this visit were Rebellion IPA, Old Pie Factory American Pale, Hal's Ales Poker Brown, Reunion Actus Reus, Atlantic Azores, Hattie Brown Kirrin Island, Flash House Neighbourhood & Fierce and Noble Session IPA. Ciders were Abrahalls Ruby Tuesday, Salt Hill Green Man & Barbourne Whisky Cask. Craft beers were Mala Gissona Apatxe & Paulaner Hefe Weissbier. Excellent village pub. Looking forward to the next beer festival over the bank holiday weekend.
blue_scrumpy - 8 May 2018 19:38
Still a great pub. It had a beer festival over the Easter weekend. Of the 3 annual festivals, the one at the end of May is the biggest with generally over 100 ales on throughout the weekend. The pub is a 2 room village local with a basic bar and a cosy lounge. There is an undercover patio at the rear with heaters and a garden beyond that for finer weather. Ales are served on gravity. Yesterday there was Rebellion IPA & The Bard, Mallinsons Calypso Cascade, Pebblefish Admiral Hopper, Brightside Amarillo, Mitchell's Hop House Dennis, Blue Square Abyss Porter & Mill Valley Duke's Perry. The two ciders were Salt Hill Ginger Spice & Broadoak Pheasant Plucker and there was also a perry from Stockmoor. There was also a craft beer - Boundary Push & Pull. Well worth a visit.
blue_scrumpy - 24 Apr 2017 19:29
I'm sorry to hear of Mappiman's recent experience.
With two friends from Florida, both of whom know their beers well, I visited the White Horse again a few days ago. We had the Rebellion IPA and the Artisan MOSAIC. There was also a strong case for trying the black XPA. Fine beer, consumed in the cosy snug with interesting and friendly locals.
This included one of the best discussions that I have had on that forthcoming referendum, with an articulate and successful man whose views and mine differed substantially- but not on the qualities of the beer!
Definitely worth a return visit.

pubsampler - 19 Jun 2016 11:22
Hard for me to rate this. The pub is superb - old school, 8 real ales on, full of charming locals with a real buzz.

However, my Little London Pryde was ghastly, in look (flat), taste (vinegar) and price £3.85. Dont like gravity fed beer direct from the barrel. Its needs to be hand pulled to get some life into it.

Maybe it was a bad pint or an ill choice, but it left a real bad taste in my mouth.

A Shame.

Photos and story at my walking blog - http://bit.ly/1YyYaor
Mappiman - 19 Jun 2016 08:44
As I've done a review on April 8th for the last couple of years, I should probably add another. Still have a weekly visit here and nothing much has changed, apart from perhaps the price. Ales on Wednesday evening were Rebellion IPA & Waterloo, Mallinsons Bravo, Errant Knight, Green Duck Shaky Steven's American Stout, Bradford Odsal Top, Fixed Wheel Century Gold & Mighty Oak Saffron Gold. Ciders were Hecks Farmhouse, Winkeligh Sam's Autumn Scrumpy & Bridge Farm Perry. A craft beer was Lervig Lucky Jack. Still a favourite of mine.
blue_scrumpy - 8 Apr 2016 20:15
A small rural pub with a counter for a bar with the beer on stillage in the room behind it. There is blackboard which shows the beers that are available and there was a good choice of unusual real ales. The lounge was small but cosey.
boozers_knows - 8 Dec 2015 13:55
Still our favourite pub in the local area. The Easter beer festival has just finished. We visited early on and the range at that time was Rebellion IPA, Mallinsons Cascade, Burning Sky Devil's Rest, Haresfoot Wild Boy Ale, Parker Dark Spartan Stout, Mighty Oak Saxon Strong, Firebird Boxing Hare, Hart No. 9, Tweed Pale Ale, Shed Warwick Bear, Church End Blue Norther, Ossett Tedney Gold, Hop Stuff Amarillo Mild, Weal Weal in Motion, Anvil Brewsmith, Watts Light Bulb, Jaw Drop & Bru Ban. Ciders and perries were Oakham Orchard Reserve, Hurst View Jibber Jabber, Broadoak Perry & Farmer Jim's Copper Top. The garden is still a very pleasant place to while a few hours if there's nice weather during the festivals.
blue_scrumpy - 8 Apr 2015 18:32
The garden was very busy early on a warm and sunny Thursday evening with the pub itself almost empty. As usual a good choice of ales from micro-breweries, two previously not encountered before, with Box Steam Easy Tiger and Mantle Cwrw Teifi being enjoyed and Three Castles Tornado being even better. I have been visiting the White Horse occasionally over the last 5 or 6 years and nothing much has changed but it doesn't need to.
yellowfever - 13 Jun 2014 11:38
As nobody has posted a review since my last one over a year ago, I thought I better had. Still as good as ever. There's a mini (mini for the White Horse is around 50-60 ales) beer festival over the Easter weekend. But there's regularly a good choice of ales. Last night was Rebellion IPA, Mallinsons Stadium Bitter, Green Duck Duck A L'Orange, Pennine Hair of the Dog, Waen Gravity One, Rebel Penrhyn Pale Ale, Boggart Pale Ale & Hop Studio Dark Rose. Ciders were Gwatking Scrumpy, Mays Mediu & Rogers Furze Cutters Distraction. The draught Belgian beer was Paulaner Hefe Weissbier. Very quiet on a Monday night, as usual. But I find the quieter, the better.
blue_scrumpy - 8 Apr 2014 21:48
Was here today for the first of its 3 annual festivals hosted in a tent in the garden. Beers on were Portobello Pilsner & Portobello Pale, Jubilee Tower Rear Chain, Toolmakers Ripsaw, Stonehouse Sunlander, Red Straughton Bitter & Georgie's Pebble, Six Bells Aries, Deeply Vale DV8 Stout Wi' Clout, Derwent Bunny Hops, 4T's Return of the Citra, Tom Smith Ales Jamaican Tom, Ashley Down Traditional Pale, Rebellion IPA, Ordnance City Detonator Pale Ale, Hop Kettle Cascade, Acorn Smaragd IPA, Holdens Churchill's Pluck, Elland Sing Sing, Out There Laika, York Dino-Sore Arse & Bowness Bay Swan Blonde, plus 2 Belgian beers - Fruli Strawberry and Castle Brewery Van Honsebrouck Kasteel Rouge. There were also 5 ciders - Hecks Medium Sweet Farmhouse, Green Valley Strawberry Cider & RTT Special, Broadoak Moonshine & Worley's Reserve. This is still a great country pub and still deserves a 10/10 from me. It's just a shame it's a cold weekend for a beer festival.
blue_scrumpy - 29 Mar 2013 20:05
There is a mini-beer festival this weekend, and from my introductory sample on Thursday evening in the beer tent, it�s well worth a visit. I tried the Duck (4.6%, I think); light and clear, it is excellent. So, for now forget the IPA and head for the garden, where the beer tent awaits you!
pubsampler - 24 Aug 2012 07:57
This is a fantastic real ale drinkers pub in beautiful village surroundings. The pub lies in a valley which protects it from winds and has plenty of outside seating for the summer. It has a loyal local following as well as many beer hunter visitors. There are regular beer festivals featuring numerous beers. The majority of beers are served from the barrel and well looked after. There are 8 independent beers on tap at resonable prices as well as ciders and even 1 draught Belgian lager. There are other lagers too and soft drinks for those who dont like drinking.
Food is good basic english fair and during summer bbq's are numerous. There are often other events and the pub welcomes wandering events unlike so many others. If Carlsberg made lager then this is one of the best pubs in the UK (Drink British Beer)!
gazzo4u - 21 Aug 2012 21:56
Stopped in for lunch a couple of Saturdays ago and was very impressed with the food, range of beers, staff, and garden. Will definitely be going back.
Tripehound - 28 May 2012 10:59
Still a great pub. Has recently had a minor refurbishment. But the character is unchanged. There's generally around 7 ales on, served by gravity. Today the selection was Dunscar Bridge Wicket Keeper, Big River Big Red, Brown Cow Smithson Ale, Oakham JHB, Bird Brain Chocolate Penguin, Plain Ales Sheep Dip & Mighty Oak Two Hoots. There's usually also a couple of real ciders and a perry. Today was Mays Medium Sweet, Carey Organic Medium & Butford Farm Perry. The garden is nice in the summer and hosts beer festivals on bank holiday weekends. The lounge is very cosy in the winter with a log fire generally burning. The locals are a friendly bunch.
blue_scrumpy - 31 Dec 2011 19:48
great range of quality beers in a superb pub.
THUNFAN007 - 6 Dec 2011 11:52
Excellent village pub with a great range of unusual -but good- beers straight from the barrel. The Hipdipper was excellent. The only problem was that I could not sample them all as the only way to get here is by car.
phil_27 - 14 Sep 2011 23:39
This is an excellant pub not far from M40 but is off the beaten track and takes some finding on first visit. They serve ales straight from the cask and have an exceptional range of beers from obscure breweries all year round and surpass themselves at the Beer Festivals held at bank holiday weekends. I have visited the pub on numerous occasions and would have rated it a 10 but for an experience on my last visit. As I stated earlier they have a wide range of little known beers which I enjoy trying although I have to admit they are not always to my taste. I have never previously asked to sample a beer before buying but on this occasion I did and this was refused on the grounds that it is against policy. As it happens, the beer I wanted to sample was not for myself but for a non beer drinker who likes some Belgian fruit beers. That day the pub was serving an English fruit beer and I had wondered if it might be to her taste. I had to buy a half, she hated it and I had to drink it although it wasn't to my taste at all. I think, when such unusual beers are offered that customers should be allowed a small sample to help them make up their mind. I regularly drink in Wetherspoon pubs where samples are always available and I usually find at beer festivals where I have worked that we can offer samples (although I know at least one CAMRA festival which also refuses).
neapo - 24 Aug 2011 20:29
If you like amber coloured malty beers then this is the pub to go, if you like anything light golden and hoppy then make sure you are in then secret gang. Recommendations are only given on the beers that need to be got rid of. Which is shame because some of light beers are excellent, but when they do come on they�re gone in minutes as the select few customers have been drinking them for a day privately .
manhoot - 23 Jul 2011 23:54
Having seen this pub received a local CAMRA award and that it sold ale directly from the barrel, the Ramble Then Lunch team decided to circumnavigate Hedgerley in a six mile walk and call into the White horse.

And everything we had read about it was true. There were more real ales available here than there have been coalition U-turns and we sampled a fair cross section of them, of which I think California Common came out top. One pint we tried had gone over a bit and the barman changed it without a quibble. Top man.

Food offering was unusual in that inside the pub there appears at first glance to be a delicatessen. This however is the food counter where you not only order the food but you can look at it before you buy. Portions not enormous but prices reasonable to match and let's be honest - if you're still hungry you have another pint.

We sat in the large sloping garden on a sunny day and watched a strange avian battle between a moorhen and three wood pigeons - or had we consumed too much ? A very pleasant waste of two hours.

Any downsides ? On our visit - one. When we arrived the young man serving behind the bar turned out to be a pretty surly individual with minimal customer service skills. He threatened to spoil the White Horse experience but half way through our visit he was replaced with a more mature individual who was much better. Kid Surly was dispatched to clear tables.

We may well return in about six months time to sample a no doubt excellent range of winter ales. In the meantime visit here if you can.
ramblethenlunch - 4 Jul 2011 12:41
I went there Friday night for the beer festival Bank Holiday weekend, great selection of ales and cider good atmosphere could not fault it, even the Barbecue was top notch cant wait to return.
stornaway - 29 May 2011 12:47
I was in at the Easter weekend and they had a cracking beer festival on. We found the staff very friendly and the locals very chatty. Bigger than it looks from the front; quality pub.
dyyony - 26 Apr 2011 17:11
Still quite cosy in here today, with the roaring log fire going. Beers on today were Peerless Red Rockin' Robin, Dark Star Critical Mass, Phoenix Humbug, Belvoir Holy Knight, Yard of Ale Santa's Yard, Rebellion IPA, Mighty Oak Noel Coward, Derveniton Standard Bearer and Elland Savannah. Ciders were Broadoak Old Bristolian and Cromwells Oliver's Sweetheart. The perry was from Swallowfield. If I had one criticism, I would say that 3 ciders/perries is one too many as they can often take up to 2 weeks to turn over. Beers turn over much more quickly (often in 24 hours). However, this is still an excellent country pub to visit and still in my top 3 in the UK.
blue_scrumpy - 25 Dec 2010 18:22
What a gem! On top of fantastic range of beers they also have a deli counter inside the pub - fantastic pie, cheese, pates and other goodies. We visited during the beer festival - the range on offer was very extensive. And you can watch red kites straight from the beer garden + excellent walks nearby.
Perry_Mason - 26 Nov 2010 15:27
I have visited this gem twice this weekend for the mini Easter Beer Fest and it's been excellent. Cracking public bar and laid back saloon bar plus beer tent. Lots of real ales and real people and the sun nearly came out.

Sal a manda
Simonf - 5 Apr 2010 19:03
One of my most favourite pubs. Beautiful in summer with a big rambly beer garden. Really cosy in winter. Huge range of drinks - ask for a belgian beer and you get a ring binder full of options! Lots of real ale options and a couple of ciders. Great place.
ushi - 22 Mar 2010 23:21
Great range of beers, you'll guarantee to find something new. Went on a Sunday, very busy, but sat outside in the lovely garden. This pub is hard to beat.
tpfirt - 9 Mar 2010 16:45
Went to this pub on a Sunday, its fantastic.
Lots of beers, many unheard of, choosing at random and got a couple of duds (not duds just not to my taste). Good range of ciders, perrys, tap Belgians and bottled Belgians. Food was very good but stuck to chips pies and sandwiches so can't comment on the hot meals. No TV, no pool table, no slots, some kids but not inside and all well behaved.
Good mix of locals, beer buffs, hikers and day trippers.
Church bells and huge birds of prey.
Went back of an evening the next week - Morris Dancers which everyone was enjoying, some seriously and others in a more ironic way.
10/10 in every way.


conlil - 25 Feb 2010 15:16
Fantastic rural pub with some amazing beers to try.
An example of how rural: at the end of my most recent visit I wanted to phone for a taxi home, the barman told me that the only mobile phone signal that would work was O2 and I had to stand in a particular place just across the road! He was right and luckily I'm on O2, though he did offer the use of the landline if I wasn't :-)
I've never tried the food here so I can't comment on it, but the beer is what people go there for anyway and it won't disappoint.

stevebex - 18 Feb 2010 20:12
Fine country pub. Great selection of 8 ales. Had pints of the oddly named, but very fine, Sister Seagull from Elland Brewery and one of Scrum Down. A number of other interesting beers mainly from micro breweries.
Tigerdrinker - 13 Feb 2010 17:18
best pub ever- this is what it is all about, whether for a quiet summertime evening/ day drink, winter warming ale, or full on beer fest. Great home food and summer BBqs.

lovely surrounding woodland walks.

Very friendly family run pub, with friendly local atmosphere. go there.

1010
adeaxe - 2 Feb 2010 17:52
Little has changed since I reviewed this pub just over one year ago. It's actually Rod and Ray (not Ron and Ray) that provide much of the evening entertainment (watch out for the spitting python). Last night, there were 8 real ales - Greene King IPA, Marlow Rebellion, Black Hole Starry Night, Bartrams Rude Alf The Red Knows Rain Dear, Milk Street Bobbled, Weltons Headless Horseman, Derby Sleighed Again and Brown Cow A Winter's Tale. There are also 3 changing real ciders or perries - Double Vision, Moles Black Rat and Winkleigh Autumn Devon Scrumpy last night. Saxon cider is no longer stocked. There is also a regular draught Belgian beer (St Monon Ambree yesterday), as well as mulled wine and cider at this time of the year. I was glad to see the White Horse in the top 50 recently. But it seems to have dropped down a little over the past few days. My rating remains 10/10 - one of only 3 pubs I gave this score to (the others being the Ship & Mitre, Liverpool and the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers).
blue_scrumpy - 14 Dec 2009 19:35
This pub is as good as it gets. Great range of ales, all in top notch condition, most served straight from the barrel via the little bar hatch. The ales are constantly changing and they specialise in ales from local micro breweries. The garden is lovely in the summer, as is sitting out the front and watching the world go by. 10 mins off the M40. Its well worth a special trip to this pub - not many like this still around.
tommysdad - 28 Oct 2009 13:06
This is what a pub should be .No pool tables no music blareing out. a gem Lots of lovely real ale.. The gardens are a pleasure to sit in,one drawback young children running around playing tag and hide and seek,should be left in a pen.
retiree - 17 Aug 2009 05:48
A complete gem.

I paid my maiden call at this hostelry on 30th May, having cycled from Gerrards Cross station. What immediately impressed me was the near-heroe's welcome I received from locals drinking outside, as I locked my cycle and took a look around the outdoor drinking area.

A proper, no-nonsense PUB. No tv, fruit machines or jukebox. Pure conversation rules the roost here, and I ended up in conversation with several regular visitors to the WH, who were friendly, chilled and relaxed.

From a constantly changing range of eight beers (some on gravity) I enjoyed four including one from Rebellion, another from Wensleydale (formerly Lidstones) and one from Penpont in Cornwall.

Festivals are held, usually around the late May bank holiday weekend (and at other times - check with pub) and beer turnover is reported at well over one hundred nine-gallon casks in the course of such events.

This pub must be visited, and it is one of those rare occasions where I will unreservedly award the full 10/10.

One of the best pubs in the UK.


lad_newton - 2 Jun 2009 19:16
The best pub I know in SE England. A cracking country pub with an excellent range of real ales, mostly from Northern micros. There's 3 changing real ciders also (although 1 is from Saxon). Look out for Dot (the owner) supping here ice-filled drink near the fire, and for Ron and Ray who regularly compete with one another in breaking wind contests! Excellent and regular beer festivals, a great unspoiled country pub interior and fabulous atmosphere. No music, no TV, hardly any mobile phone reception (great news) and a friendly, relaxed environment to spend a few hours working your way through the blackboard. 10/10 from a fussy customer.
blue_scrumpy - 2 Dec 2008 21:21
Popped in here a few weeks ago after a nice walk round the countryside with my wife. Sat in the large beer garden, cracking little pub this. I had some food and it was decent pub grub. Well worth a visit.
dgriffin - 12 Aug 2008 14:47
Another visit - A good little Freehouse that can get some really interesting beers. Cannot get these in your local pub owned by pub co - chain antiseptic multi-nationals.Treasure it.
Vive the difference.
cheers
cavalier - 13 Apr 2008 14:32
A very interesting place, with a super selection of ales. Food is also good. I've now visited a few times and the staff have always been friendly and knowledgable about the beers.

Cracking place to sit outside, front or back, on a sunny day and sample a few of the ales.
deadleg - 3 Apr 2008 20:57
As most others have said, The White Horse has a great selection of beers. The thing I like best is the fact that it's one of the only pubs I know that has a nice Belgian stong beer on tap. However, they only have one at a time (per month), and sometimes it's one of those fruit beers...which I don't like. As far as their other beer, I have had one or two that might have been reaching their age limit, but I suppose that's expected when you try to keep so many beers...many of which are largely unknown. The place is great when the weather is nice...to sit either in front, or the back garden. Never ate there, so can't comment on that. Worth a visit.
Toolman_Johnny - 31 Mar 2008 14:05

Excellent pub - great choice of real ales and guest beers, and a lovely atmosphere. Food is excellent and well. A perfect place to end up in after a walk in the countryside around pretty Hedgerley village.
Well worth a visit.
martinbaker - 12 Mar 2008 13:12
Beer from Microbrewers will always be expensive to procure. Small-scale production means larger cost overheads. Simple economic theory.

I personally applaud their active promotion of microbreweries. It gives small businesses an exposure that they won't get in tied houses. Most breweries started off as micros many moons ago. There'll always be a few beers that aren't that great served up, but there'll be some crackers. Sober's Six Sixes is a particularly memorable beer I had in the WH last year.

If you want a Dark Star/Hopback/Grand Union/Sharps there are plenty of places that serve them!!

Except Grand Union, which is now defunct, bar a few barrels sitting in cellars waiting to be tapped...
Quinno - 7 Feb 2008 14:03
What a lovely traditional pub and used to be the best pub in England, BUT the choice of beer on my last few visits (Saturdays 12th, 19th, 26th January)has been awful - Micro breweries so small they taste like they are brewed in garden sheds. Oh for a Dark Star/Hopback/Grand Union/Sharpes etc. Why is the beer so expensive here ? I drink in pubs in London where most beers of similar gravity come out 20-30 pence cheaper. I think in future I'll leave this once good pub to the real ale tickers in their anoraks. Very dissappointing.
muffinboy13 - 7 Feb 2008 13:44
Imagine a picture postcard English village pub - this is it! Idyllic setting, excellent beer (range, variety and quality), good food. Legendary beer festivals. Probably my favourite pub, sha,me it's so far from Leeds.
Jezza64 - 30 Dec 2007 15:05
Now this is what I call an PUB!!!
Beer well kept, very good and varied choice of ales. A sociable and well informed Landlord (certainly knows his brews). No fancy fonts, all drawn from the barrel.
It is friendly, cosy, and clean, the idyllic English Pub, what a pity that most others have turned into plastic palaces more worthy of a McDonald's sign outside!
I urge you to pay this haven a visit as soon as you can
richardhoward - 8 Oct 2007 09:54
Fantastic and deservedly popular country pub, top beers, good garden, beer festivals.
Can't undertsand why this place is showing such a low rating at the moment. If you love beer, you'll love this pub.
daverrm - 18 Sep 2007 10:13
Simply the best for real ale, with informed bar staff who instinctively know who's next! Food a bit iffy but who cares with this superb team of enthusiasts.
brismi1951 - 16 Sep 2007 21:12
"Go there for the superbly kept and varied beer, the hot fires on a cold winter's evening and the feeling of an old pub run in the way that pubs are supposed to be run..."

Yup, I think that's a fair assessment...
Quinno - 12 Jul 2007 19:02
This pub has been voted SWM CAMRA pub of the year has done on many occassions. The beer range is superb and the landlord knows his ale. There are also two ciders and a belgian beer on draft.

The clientel is a mixture of locals and beer lovers alike. Coversation is not spoilt by a juke box or a games machine. This is how a country pub should be.

Many different types of people go to the beer festivals and that makes it much more fun. My friends and fellow drinkers are neither Estate Agents, overweight clerical assistants, yuppies or faux farmers, however, we know a good pub when we see one!!

If you want Fullers, Shepherd Neame and other such boring brands, then go somewhere else. Go here if you want to try well kept different beers from small, new and unknown brewers.


cooksthebooks - 2 Jul 2007 19:43
good unless you dain to venture into the locals bar wearing a turban. Shame ignorance is still rife... just want a quiet pint.
yarlsberg - 1 Apr 2007 00:01
One of the best for real ales with a huge selection which varies daily. Forget the food which is not great but just go for the beer. The staff are friendly and the clientel mixed. The beer festivals get very busy but are definitely worth visiting. Bring a non-drinking driver though.
steviec1211 - 14 Mar 2007 22:33
What a funny place?! The Barman couldn't tell me anything about the Beer that was available, so I rather feel that there was not a lot of point in employing him in the first place!! Not a good experience.
Alain - 30 Dec 2006 18:09
The beer is varied and usually pretty good, although quite overpriced. Half the time you get the feeling you're drinking the same old stuff but with a catchy ~ stupid name that you'll never encounter again in your life.

The clientel is a sorry mix between yuppies and people having adulterous liasons in the lounge area through to green welly wearing yuppies and faux farmers from low cost local housing dominating one of the three tables in the tiny public bar, waffling on about the old times (mostly droning on about fiddling the tax man, old blues music and ancient English motorcycles). Fine if you get off on those things, very dull if you don't.

The food is dire beyond description. Stay away from it at all costs or pay heavily for the crap salads, dreadful scotch eggs and indifferent occasional hot dishes. The worst that English cooking can possibly provide, salmonella disguised as nourishment.

The beer festivals are swamped by estate agents called Nigel and bedraggled overweight clerical assistants from Ealing. Well worth avoiding.

Go there for the superbly kept and varied beer, the hot fires on a cold winter's evening and the feeling of an old pub run in the way that pubs are supposed to be run.


cynicalbastard - 25 Mar 2006 12:46
Visited yesterday on the way back from a disappointing trip to Birmingham. This made up for it even if it did cost a fortune in cab fares. Would give it a 10 but it's such a pain to get to. Anybody who likes their real ales or traditional pubs should give this place a visit, just find a tee-total driver.
M.Sticker - 3 Jan 2006 17:39
Wow! This place is immense!

Can't really add anything new to whats been said below...quality beer, friendly staff, lovely atmosphere...A perfect 10 every time!
Quinno - 28 Nov 2005 21:25
An absolute must if you're a real ale drinker. Always a big selection and it has such a charm about the place. The drawbacks are the size - it's tiny - and the fact it is in the middle of nowhere so someone has to drive.
MikeyBee - 18 Aug 2005 16:16
What luck, this is my local! Winner of the CAMRA best pub award five years in a row, the White Horse was excluded from voting to give someone else a go! The main beer festival is held on the 2nd bank holiday in May (130 ales, perrys, ciders) but most bank holidays will have a smaller version (about 30 different ales.
The the ales on offer change extremely frequently but old favourites will keep popping up.
robthebob - 15 Aug 2005 17:36
This is one of the few gems left in the world. A good old fashioned pub, flag-stones in the public bar and a proper fireplace. 7 real ales and 2 ciders. Good food too. Worth trying to find.
beersponge - 19 May 2005 21:21
What a pub!! two minutes from J2 of the M40 and well worth the detour. A small flagstone bar with inglenook seat, the lounge is not much bigger, and plenty of garden seating. This pub had 6 real ales on gravity when I visited, mostly from tiny breweries. The hot food is good and extremely cheap for the are, and the cold buffet/deli is to die for.
All of this plus pleasnt young bar staff who actually know what they are doing gets the pub a 10 vote.
Jimbo Smith - 4 Sep 2004 09:01
8 Real ales from the cask every day, quality food, no kids, gaming machines or musak. Friendly staff. What more can you want
Jonathan - 19 Aug 2004 13:55
One of the best pubs I've had the pleasure of visiting. Real ales, real ciders, nice garden, beautiful surroundings (in the middle of nowhere, and takes a little finding first time) - popular beer festivals held once a year - there really is nothing bad that can be said about this pub. All drinkers must give this place a visit once in their lives!
Alan - 7 Jul 2004 16:30
Beer Festival at The White Horse Friday 28th May - Monday 31st May. Over 130 real ales!
anonymous - 19 May 2004 21:44
A brilliant real ale pub. Local CAMRA branch pub of the year for the last 5 years running, I believe.
spudge - 25 Apr 2004 01:24

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