The White Hart, Headington, Oxford

Supposedly dating from the 16th century, this is a fine stone building in picturesque old Headington. It’s little changed from the previous review, except that now there are the almost inevitable gastropub cues such as some applied grey and smoky blue paint, white wainscoting, trendy patterned wallpaper, a modern pale boarded floor combined with some slate flagstones and carpet, with conventional country pine furniture. Customers were affluent locals, staff were friendly and there was a good soundtrack on the gramophone. The ale range amounted to Castle Rock’s Harvest Pale, Ossett Voodoo, then Everards Tiger, West Coast IPA and Golden Hop at £2.40 a half, though quite a dull beer. This is a decent pub, one of the best (not hard) outside the city centre, making for a great triple with the Masons, taking in the Butchers on the way and certainly a lot better than the neighbouring Black Boy. with its designer interior, lack of customers, lack of real ale and Hall & Oates, because I can’t go for that. No can do.

Official site of The White Hart - thewhitehartheadington.com

Official site of The White Hart - thewhitehartheadington.com

Traditional, multi-roomed wood-clad pub in a picturesque location opposite a church. An Everards outlet, with their core beers (Original, Sunchasher (good) and Tiger) plus guests from Titanic and Castle Rock (fair). Hogans cider (real?) also offered. Board games and papers. Pie board, with 9 tasty-sounding pies listed. Impressive grassed beer garden. Advertised beer festival to be held in May. A really nice place this one, would seek out again. About 20 minutes from the Masons Arms so makes for a good double-header if you’re out this way.