The White Horse, Soho, W1

A typical Sam Smiths London pub, no real ale in this one but I'm ok with their keg stuff for a quick stop.

No handpumps, no sale.

This is a Sam Smith's pub so you won't be expecting a selection of ales. And your low expectations will be met fully here with not even the handpump version of Old Brewery Bitter available. The keg version was £1.45 a half, thus quite cheap - some consolation I suppose. Food was available when I dropped in on Thursday lunchtime with a typically pub grub menu offered. Prices are reasonable too, with the rarely seen liver & onions at £6.95, steak and ale pie at £8.15, and bangers & mash at £5.95. The interior of this pub is typical Sam smith's with dark wood panelling everywhere. There is traditional screening between bars, which may or may not be original, as Sam Smith's do such a good job of restoring their pubs' original features. There is a central island bar now, and the bar counter looks like an original piece. At the back there's an attractive fireplace (with a real wood fire alight) with an impressive carved wood mantlepiece with an ancient looking clock set into its centre. Furnishings are standard issue banquettes, normal tables and chairs, small stools, plus some tall stools at the bar and at a ledge by the windows. An upstairs lounge was roped off when I was in. This is a great little pub let down, as is invariably the case with Sam Smith pubs, by the lack of a decent ale selection. There are some Sam Smith pubs that are so good architecturally that they must be visited despite the lack of ale choice - this doesn't quite make that grade.

Fairly basic Sam Smiths pub, with a small near-island bar with just a screen on one side preventing you walking all the way around. A few nice features such as the mosaic name at the doorway. Lounge bar upstairs (never visited). Busy enough, but one of those ridiculous places which doesn't have OBB on handpump. I suppose one shouldn't complain too much when you can still get a pint of Extra Stout at £2.46, but it could all be so much better...

Randomness Guide to London - White Horse entry

Randomness Guide to London - White Horse entry