Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Saturday, 27th July 2019
With picture contributions to 5000 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (20 more images)
Detail Pages
The White Horse, SW6
SW6
SW6 4UL
Served areas
White Horse SW6
Who's looking forward to seeing what we've been up to for 2 weeks? Our new and shiny pub will be opening at 5pm on… https://t.co/SmIPZvynxq
11:15 AM Jan 24th 2020 from Reputation.com-Social
Reviews of The White Horse (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The White Horse
This is a late 19th century incarnation, the original dating from 1688. I last came here in the late summer of 1985, so decided that a return visit was in the offing after so long. I remember it back then when the Chelsea wannabes were moving in, the area starting to undergo the process of gentrification. I recall a passing Barbour-wearing pedestrian eliciting the disdainful comment from a local: ‘An udder feckin’ green jacket!’.
The pub was known as the Sloaney Pony an account of the arrival of the above and was really quite an early proponent of real ale. What really struck me on entering, is how little I remembered it; I actually had to go outside and check the name, then check on Google if there was another White Horse on Parsons Green, but no, I was in the right pub. I may be imagining things, but the place essentially looks like a modern creation of a Victorian pub. Indeed, online photos show that the place has been substantially hipsterfied and recently too.
The floor is modern bare boarded, but the most striking element is the walls and ceiling which have been painted black with some bare brick too. The white elegant dentilled cornice and ornate marble fireplace are the only real clues to authenticity; is the bar structure really original? Certainly, the shiny green glazed tiles to the side aren’t, nor are the halogen downlighters inset into the pot shelf. There’s a cut glass mirror to the rear, which may be original, also spotted was some vestigial etching to glass in an entrance vestibule. The answer lies on the pub’s Twitter account from January 2020 which reads: ‘Who's looking forward to seeing what we've been up to for 2 weeks? Our new and shiny pub will be opening at 5pm on Tuesday 28th January!’ – so there you have it: new and shiny pub indeed.
Furniture comprises mainly ordinary tables and chairs, but rather gaudy scarlet studded vinyl banquettes to the periphery; there’s a lounge breakout area, with a coffee table. To the wall, there’s a huge baronial portrait of a white horse, lit with a brass picture lamp. On another wall, there’s a BrewDog-style board listing ales and other info, but it didn’t nearly match the offerings at the bar; how often is it updated? Other lighting comes from white spherical opaque lanterns and large picture windows, with louvre blinds which give the place the feel of a restaurant or wine bar. There’s a large restaurant to the rear and toilets are marked ‘Pistols’ for men and ‘Dolls’ for women. The gents was swankily appointed but cramped; the loo seat was wonky, there was soggy paper on the floor alongside a new loo roll; how often are they checked?
Customers seemed to be local, but the trademark black Labrador brigade seemed conspicuous by their absence – can’t say I blame them – but some of the punters were squawking loudly and arsing about witlessly.
There are eight pumps, all in use, dispensing beers from the likes of Marble, Harvey’s, Ilkley and Moor, my pint of Revival coming in at an appealing £4.50 and very good it was too.
This pub is just about ok, but the rather bland and corporate feel of the place, especially in its current guise, doesn’t make for a great place to linger, however good the beer. There are plenty of other ale houses offering a more authentic experience; four more stops on the District line and you’re at the Express Tavern, where I’d prefer to be. Even the Atlas up the road, despite a more limited ale range, offers a far superior pub-going experience.
On 5th October 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The White Horse
A quick visit after a long while to try and find a particular bottled beer they claim to stock. After asking at the bar (‘not heard of it’) we then found a printed menu, new and crisp, which listed it. Taking it back to the bar resulted in a half-arsed search (and it wasn’t like they were busy at this point, three staff sat around doing nowt) which drew a predictable blank and no faint apology as to having something listed as available that they clearly haven’t had in for some time. Anyway on a baking hot day I decided to try one of the plethora of ales - Saltaire Titus - which was a real let-down (NBSS 2) and given the complete lack of any ale being sold, perhaps this was no surprise but even so, no effort to maintain freshness was disappointing. A new (for me) feature spotted was an ostentatious tank of Pilsner Urquell which I decided would be a better bet and it was. Left feeling that this place has let its previous high standards drop quite badly. Shame.
November 2011
Revisited the Sloany Pony for their annual Old Ales festival. Some fantastic choices and the pub is as good as I remembered last time. John Stapleton propping up the bar at the far end, so minor celebrity customers too. Rated 9
Sept 2009
The ‘Sloany Pony’ is a long-established ale haven, located in a cosy corner of Parsons Green. It’s quite a striking Victorian edifice, though the interior has been largely stripped out. There are six real ales, with Harveys Best seemingly a guest with the others changing frequently. There’s also an impressive array of posh keg beer (Sierra Nevada), bottled beers from around the world, ciders and wine; more than enough to keep the discerning punter happy. Prices can be quite variable; the Harveys is cheaper than you’d find in most other London ale outlets but the more unusual brews can be relatively expensive; ask before you order is my advice (especially with the keg stuff). The quality, however, is always top-notch. There’s a nice outside terrace that is popular, a nice place to watch the world go by. Inevitably a word about the punters – yes, they are often quite amusingly stereotypes but most are harmless and often provide unintentional entertainment. Staff are friendly and well-versed in the wares the pub sells. There are specialized beer festivals throughout the year but also expect to see specialized prices as well – at least they can justify them given the excellent sourcing of unusual brews. Gets very busy whenever Fulham or Chelsea are at home. Overall, this is a ‘must-do’ London pub, easily in the capital’s top 10. Rated 9
On 1st July 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The White Horse
A top real ale destination pub, very popular with a decent area out the front for open air drinking.The bar has two flanks with the right handside leading to a restaurant,while the left hand side ends in a banquetted snug with fireplace and stairs up to a first floor lounge with it's own small bar which can be hired for a private party.The decor is more modern that I remember it,but still retains enough of a pub atmosphere to be enjoyable.Seating space remains at a premium.The chalk board lists both the real ale and craft keg options,many of the real ales are doubled clipped around the bar but there were still six ales to choose from on my Sunday afternoon trip including Vale Gravitas in absolutely top condition.There are copper tanks of Pilsener Urquell in the front bar,an unusual feature.The clientele was a mixed bunch on my visit,and the nickname of The Sloany Pony didn't seem a fair reflection of who was in after a match at Craven Cottage.The best pub of my tour of the area,very close to the Underground station and well worth a revisit for decent real ale.
On 12th May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
View more reviews of The White Horse (14)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of the White Horse, contains menus, beer details and wine list - www.whitehorsesw6.com
- Randomness Guide to London - White Horse entry
- Facebook - White Horse on Parson's Green, London
- Twitter - White Horse SW6
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The White Horse - whatpub.com
West Brompton, 1.19 miles, 22 min walk (show)
Wandsworth Town, 1.38 miles, 26 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : Yes - April - last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes - Outside detached patio. - last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 20% - last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes - According to Twitter - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Tuesdays. - last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 10 December 2021 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 26 August 2019 by Quinno _
