White Horse, Leamington Spa

There are some comprehensive reviews below so this one will be brief. It's a large, popular and trendy pub serving food to a mixed but mainly younger clientele. Don't let that put you off as there's a good atmosphere and isn't uncomfortable. Beer on was: Oakham Citra, Purity UBU, Andwell Red IPA and Liberation Ale. A good selection for a trendy food focused boozer and the Citra was excellent. I'd be happy to return for the Citra alone.

As ROB Camra says the frontage from Clarendon Avenue includes a magnificent Snug and Bar to the left of the entrance,etched glass windows,traditional furniture,charming but strangely unused so enter the Smoke Room and follow the signs to the bar.This opens out into a huge space with lots of tables,a bar and lots of exposed brick with a courtyard to the side.On the walls hangs art for sale,and the customer base was a lot younger than the real ale pubs in town,it felt trendy as well as popular with women.Food seemed a large draw with a decent fixed price menu 2 courses for £8,three for £11.Mains were generally £9 -£11,and although we didn't eat but a la carte prices looked a touch high for what could be described as pub grub.The six handpumps were drawing a real cider and a decent selection of real ale,my Oakham Citra was in good nick,justifying the high price. I liked the lively atmosphere and the decent ale.Its well worth visiting,just a shame that the most interesting part was not functional.

Very unusual pub. There is a closed off bar bit to the left which is the first thing you see as you walk towards the pub from Parade. This made us think it was closed initially. The closed part looks magnificent, but it doesn't smell like it's been open anytime recently. Next to the closed bit there's a small snug with room for about a dozen people. Through the snug and to the left it opens up into what turns out to be a massive pub. There's a raised area at the rear which was set up for dining. There's also an outside courtyard with seating and at the entrance to this area and facing out on to the street is a life sized model of a white horse. The walls are covered with paintings, most of which are for sale and the pub is lit by some great large, round lights. We got some drinks and settled ourselves down under Marilyn Monroe on the raised area. The menu looked good, so we decided to eat here. The food was well presented and was very good quality, which it should be as you're paying restaurant prices in here, but it was worth it. There were 6 handpumps on the bar with one being reserved for real cider. I had an Ilkley Norseman and a Coastal Poseidon which were a rather steep £4 per pint. We ate here on a Sunday night the following evening we ate at Ask across the road and tried to call in here for a drink afterwards. It was quiz night and the pub was absolutley rammed with no tables available anywhere, including the snug. Amazing, I didn't think pub quizzes were that well attended anymore. There had to be well over 100 people in, so we had to give it a miss. It's a good pub with a good selection of ale and the food is excellent, but don't even think about it on quiz night!

A very lively pub with an eclectic selection of drinks full stop. Being bit of a cider fan it is great to see a good selection and not just the main chain style ciders, but Aspalls, Hogans, Thatchers and Westons. This establishment has successfully re-established itself as a real drinkers pub whilst not being inaccessible to the masses ensuring it always has a brisk trade.