The White Hart, Stockbridge

A food led Fullers pub situated next to a roundabout on the edge of the village, It remains much as ETA describes nearly nine years ago. Beers were Pride, HSB and Hophead. It made for a pleasant pint on a sunny day in the beer garden but is in no way a destination pub.

This 16th Century former coaching inn is currently owned by Fullers who have marred the exterior with their tacky branding, making the pub less in character with the town next to which it stands. There is a small car park at the front, a larger one at the back and a garden terrace hidden away from the traffic. The some of the ground floor rooms have been knocked through to form a single large bar and dining area, and there is a separate lounge. The bar is rambling and has a mix of wooden flooring types – parquet and reclaimed floorboards predominate. The dining tables are large and continue the bare-wood theme, and these are the main source of income, being occupied mostly by noisy (and in some cases shrill) families. The staff seem a bit dappy, but they are friendly enough. There are a few old black and white photos dotted sparsely around the walls, and there is a tv screen which appears to have no function. These wall hangings serve simply to make the atmosphere soulless and – er, whatever the opposite of cosy is. Three Fullers ales on: I had a pint of faux-HSB which was well kept and in good condition. Apart from the beer, I didn't enjoy this visit and am not in a hurry to come back

A multi-roomed Fullers pub that looks quite attractive from the outside with white wood board cladding. The inside is nice enough without being particularly memorable, some beams here and there but otherwise relatively modern. Three Fullers stable ales Seafarers (fair), HSB, Pride. This is more of a family eatery than a locals pub. Apparently offers accommodation. Nicely inoffensive.

Another traditional 16th century coaching inn located at the end of Stockbridge High Street, and although this one is not a Free House it is fortunately owned by Fullers, so there is a decent ale choice. Low beamed with wooden floors throughout most of the pub , there is a bar area with a brick fronted bar which supports three handpumps and the Fullers stable offerings of Pride, Seafarers and HSB were available, with the HSB being a well-kept pint. And then there is a separate dining room with wooden tables and chairs. We did not eat but the food menu looked like it may not be quite as gastro as the other coaching inns on the high street, but from what we could see the sandwiches and burgers still come served on lumps of wood with the chips in separate pots to justify the higher than usual price levels. ( a lunchtime sandwich will still set you back £7.00). The White Hart also has an outside seating area and a really nice beer garden which we were actually able to utilise on the first decent weather weekend of the year. And like the other coaching Inns in Stockbridge it also offers bed and breakfast accommodation, but you are better off looking on trip advisor for what that may be like.

Official site of Fullers Brewery, owners of The White Hart Inn - www.fullers.co.uk

Official site of Fullers Brewery, owners of The White Hart Inn - www.fullers.co.uk