please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We've been going here on and off for 34 years and I've seldom seen it as busy and with such a buzzing atmosphere. We ate and the food was excellent and seeing as I don't rate Youngs beers since Wandsworth brewery shut I was pleased to have Grandstand from Twickenham brewery which was very moreish. Very very pleased to see this historical pub in a village that once became the capital of England (in 1305) a success once again.
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Under new management as of September 2013 and the landlord clearly means business. Still Youngs - well kept bitter and a guest Tribute. It is the food that is really going to shine with this pub however: fantastic roast chicken, triple-cooked chips and Wakelings beef roast to perfection. There are plans to install a smoker and make this a real destination for local carnivores. Mains currently £10 which for the quality is unbeatable.
I live nearby and have seen a succession of landlords try to make a success of the White Hart and I am convinced that the pub now has a great future.
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I was surprised to read an earlier posting suggesting this pub is expensive, when it remains one of the cheapest for a decent pint anywhere in the area. As of early 2013 a pint of Young's Bitter is £3.20 - up to 80 pence cheaper than some pubs in the vicinity. And it is a good pint as well, served in a good pub with good food and with a hardworking couple now in charge. The locals are happy, and if you can keep them happy, someone is doing a good job. So please, when making price comparisons, compare like with like. Yes, Surrey can be very expensive, but the White Hart is not.
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Stopped for a beer after a great country walk. When will these pubs learn that if they charge too much they lose trade. I had a great pint of Youngs Special and would have had a few more but resent the high prices and refuse to pay these prices. So it was back on the road for me and the missus and I wont be returning.
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Lovely old pub with friendly staff. We stopped here for lunch in the middle of a walk with our two dogs and found the pub to be very welcoming - the barman even brought over some water for our dogs. Nice old-fashioned bar with large open fireplace. Two Youngs beers and a guest beer - Tribute, which was very nice. Good selection of proper pub food at a reasonable price. Worth a visit.
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Cliquey local at bar make no attempt to move or make way to others wanting services.
It's a shame, as the landlady makes a great effort in this pub and serves good beer (I haven't tried the food) and I hope she makes a go of it.
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Ordinary, Special and Waggledance (�3.30). Friendly service.
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First visit here for a while. Didn't like the Watneys when it was owned by them but went a few times when it was Sheps. Was very impressed that the Youngs Ordinary had just "gone" when we arrived, but the cask was changed immediately and a lovely fresh pint or two followed. The barmaid now landlady deserves to do well in what is a beautiful and immensly historical inn.
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Cosy roadside Youngs pub offering 3 beers - Youngs Ordinary & Special & Wells Bombardier. The cider is Stowford Press. Most of the interior is carpeted, with parquet flooring around the bar area. Food appeared to be popular. The garden at the side looked as if it needed a bit of love and attention. But it is large enough to graze a herd of sheep!
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It's now a Youngs pub and best of all the well liked barmaid Sara is still there and now running it. Beer is well kept and the food just as good if not better. I love fish dishes and there always seems to be an appetising fish dish on the specials board to attract me plus the standard menu is refreshed regularly.
Shepheard Neame took the pub sign with them and as of November Youngs have still to put up a replacement - but don't let that deter you, well worth a visit.
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Going to be sold to Youngs brewery I hear.
andy8 - 17 Jul 2010 12:20 |
I would echo the comments of Buster01. Shame the landlord is leaving a great pub. The brewery, Shepherd Neame are an absolute disgrace.
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As a regular, I agree with all the comments below. The current landlord has turned this pub round. Sadly, it might all be coming to an end - the landlord has quit. Years of parsimony by the brewery has meant that this Grade 2* listed building is being allowed to fall apart. Repeated requests to the brewery to fix the hole in the roof of the public bar, fix the leaks in the rest of the roof, do something about the rot in the window frames, repair cracks in the ceiling, etc. have driven the landlord to distraction. He's had enough. sadly, the excellent barmaid is leaving as well.
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Nice old pub (once Richard II's hunting lodge) which serves a very pleasant drop of Shepherd Neame beer. Warm and friendly and relaxing, very suitable for a stop off on a walk. Ignore the old cove who sits at the bar complaining about hikers (who probably spend more in there in an afternoon than he ever has). Barmaid lovely also (see comments passim).
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This really is a proper local!!
Old beams, traditional feel and excellent home cooked food. Had the cheese and bacon burger, very good, home made ground beef patty.
Holsten, Master Brew and Spitfire are main beers.
Great staff, friendly chef and very attractive breasty bar maid, what else can you want.
Has to be tried.
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Spent the entire evening there last night and loved it. A 16th century building with character serving tasty Whitstable Bay and Spitfire (didn't get to try the Master Brew) - other drinks are available! Landlord and staff were friendly and welcoming. No fruit machines or juke box - excellent. What a village pub should be.
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The buxom young lady did very well as she was on her own on a busy Mothering Sunday taking orders and pulling pints. I've waited much longer in less busy places. Shepherd Neame on the sign, so the Spitfire was our weapon of choice. Our Scampi & chips, Cod and chips and veggie lasagne (w/ garlic bread) were thoroughly enjoyed. Nice toffee sponge. Other tables were served by a guy in chef's dress, presumably due to the lack of bar staff. Both very friendly. A very old building (look up its history). Shame it's on such a busy road, which is hard to cross. An escaped pub golden retriever roamed the tables to everyone's delight. I suppose it's not correct under some food law, but who cares?
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Decent food, helpful and friendly staff, well worth a visit
MG100 - 13 Nov 2008 15:35 |
A very nice, traditional, dog-friendly country pub. The staff are friendly, beer is well kept and the open fires are great in winter. The lack of TV, jukebox is very welcome. Food is good (particularly the desserts) and well priced. Patrons are a friendly mix ranging from stock brokers to agricultural workers.
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Nothing special about this pub it's boring and dull,
they employ young lady's to work behind there bar in which i can only assume it's for the male customers as she is a bit over friendly and likes to flirt with all the males that walk in. It has no entertainment just beer and seats, food is very over priced and not of great portions nothing more to say really.
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I am not a fan of Shepherd Neame, however they make the best of it and the rest of the pub makes up for it, so well worth a visit.
The pub has some great features; a traditional feel, lounge, public bar, restaurant, beer garden and they let you bring your dog inside and are very child tolerant.
Food is well above average for a pub and has no prententions.
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Great pub and very friendly staff when we popped in the other saturday. Beer is well kept and reasonable from �2.80/pint. Has both a lounge and public bar plus garden, very traditional with timber beams. Only eaten there twice but food was good. They also seem to welcome owners bringing in their well behaved dogs. Lovely atmosphere. Only problem is take care when leaving the car park as visibility is not good along the main road.
andy8 - 23 Jun 2008 07:07 |
11 of us from a walking group had lunch at the White Hart today. The food was excellent - best steak and ale pie I'd had in ages, and delicious vegetables.
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Lovely traditional country pub. Good quality food at reasonable prices. Friendly and efficient staff.
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Nice pub - but our meal there was completely spoilt by an off-duty member of staff sitting at the bar chain smoking. We'd sat in an empty area of the bar (me, my pregnant wife and young child) so that we didn't disturb anyone else.
There were no ashtrays on the tables which is a reasonable indication of non-smoking area - but then a member of staff sat down nearby chain smoking throughout our meal.
A good point: Soft drinks seemed reasonably cheap, the bar service was good and friendly.
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