The White Horse Inn, Norwich

Multi room pub and brewery, it also has accommodation and a big modern restaurant at the back.  The front of the pub has a room each side of the door, the right hand having a hatch to the servery, the left is a more secluded sitting area. Behind is a larger multi-level space where the main bar and counter reside, this reached either from the front door or by route march from the rear car park. The higher level back bar has the counter with horseshoe coat hooks, and has pump clip decor and a big cast iron fireplace in an exposed brick inglenook presided over by a horse in a hat. Quarry tile floor with traditional furnishings although there is a central posing table and trendy lights (ceiling spiders and Edison bulbs). The lower part has more clips, brewerana, horse tackle and laminate flooring. Seven hand pumps, three with beers from the on-site Pell & Co brewery, previously the Neatishead Brewery as on the pull handles, a bitter (3.8), a darker best bitter (4.5) and a New England hazy IPA. Three guests, the ubiquitous Wherry, best bitter from Pheasantry and Brains Rev James. The village is a bit hard to find so a decent sat nav or larger scale OS map will be required. Their own beer was ok, served by an hyperactive barman and judging by the beard; brewer, although Camra says the brewery is visible from the restaurant but the beers are being contract brewed elsewhere. The NEIPA was definitely the best of the bunch although if a little stronger and sweeter the best bitter (Farrier) would have passed muster as a Burton. The nine keg taps are tucked away on the bar back and are listed on separate blackboards above, Vocation, Tiny Rebel and Siren being the more interesting. The advertising for cider appears confined to a small sign on the bar back “Still Cider: ask staff for the flavours available”. They do their own gin too. GBG2022 listed, perhaps inevitably.

We arrived at this village pub late on a Thursday lunchtime to find the front door closed. There was a sign stating that they were closed due to operational difficulties. Undeterred and noticing the full car park, we parked up and entered the rear entrance to find all tables taken in a modern area. We ventured round to the bar itself which was in a more traditional part of the pub. Bar staff didn't immediately turn us away and asked if we were looking for food. When we said we were only looking for drinks, they seemed a bit relieved as the tills were out of order and not transmitting food orders to the kitchen. One table in the bar was full of post-it notes with everybody's orders, but people moving tables was causing immense confusion. Some of the staff were clearly getting rattled when a calm head was required. The ale range was good. Woodforde's Wherry is the regular beer. Guests were Fat Cat Tom Cat, Lacon's Encore, Neatishead Farrier & Miss E Malt & Pell & Co. PG Hops. It was only after ordering the Farrier that I noticed 7 ciders - Lilley's Mango Cider, Abrahall's Slack Alice & Wild Berries, Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon & Two Trees Perry, Thistly Cross Whisky Cask & Snail's Bank Pineapple & Pink Grapefruit Cider. I would probably have ordered a cider, but at least I tried one of the local beers. We quietly watched the goings on from afar, with some vague amusement. But confusion aside, this is a good village pub with a varied selection of drinks that I would go out of my way to return to.

Official site of The White Horse Inn - thewhitehorseinnneatishead.com

Official site of The White Horse Inn - thewhitehorseinnneatishead.com

A superb village pub that has a lot to offer. The original building has been extended at the back to create more drinking space. There is a nice tiled outside drinking area and it has its own microbrewery at the back. The guest beer selection was impressive – Steam Box Brolly, Amarillo Gold, Neme Valley Manhatten Project, Holdman’s Dark, Wolf Brewery’s Granny-Wouldn’t-Like-It and Grain Best Bitter stood next to their own US Regatta on the handpumps. Thanks to their 4-glass ‘flights’ we were able ti sampel them all without falling over. Two cider and 4 keg beers were also on offer along with a good selection of gin. Food was pretty good too, a bit better than basic pub grub though not quite in the gastro style, well cooked and reasonably priced. Very much worth a visit and I’d be happy to spend considerable time here.