The White Horse, Soho, W1

This was the chosen location for our Christmas drink up which I am just getting round to writing. It wasn’t my choice and if I had been asked to pick a Nicholsons pub behind Libertys, it wouldn’t have been this one, as I much prefer the nearby Clachan. But given that the week before Christmas is never a great time to experience a central London pub The White Horse did the important bits right that you hope for at this time of year of having enough staff behind the jump to deal with the swirling masses and keep serving times to a minimum and prompt barrel replacement to keep the beer flowing very well. Six ales available on the pumps in the form of Harvey’s Sussex Best, Doom Bar, London Pride, Theakston Old Peculier, Hobgoblin Bah Humbug and the St Austell brewed Nicholson Pale Ale, so although hardly an inspiring list of National brewers ( which seems to be the norm in most Nicholsons outlets nowadays), at least the Harvey’s Sussex Best and the house Pale Ale were drinking well. And plenty of evidence on the night, if any was needed, to why large brewery companies run misleading marketing campaigns on the great British public, in the way the Guinness and Tadri (sorry Madri) taps were being hammered during the evening. Well, I guess all those people will be distraught to learn, when they woke up the following morning, that they will not be getting their “Drink Indie campaign” badges any time soon, unlike those of us who stayed on the Sussex Best and could leave the pub, when we finally did, with our consciences clear.

A very busy but also very average Nicholsons pub, basically divided into three areas, a room either side of the central bar plus a lower level area at the rear. A pretty standard ale range which seems to be the norm for the chain nowadays, I tried the most interesting option in Dark Star Skylab, not in the best shape but still priced at £6.50, didn't enjoy it here to much and unlikely to be back.

The White Horse is a bit of a dark horse, in that it originally dates from 1718 but was actually rebuilt in 1939; you’d never really know it as it looks quite old if approached from Marlborough Court at night. There’s a traditional field panelled bar, some shiny white tiling but with no bar back, though above it is a rather industrial cradle of RSJs, to support two huge ugly Pilsner Urquell coppers. The colour scheme is predictable smoky blue for the most part, with upper walls and ceiling painted in a pale mushroom colour. The interior is split level, with a modern boarded floor, the rear room being full height bare wood panelled. Furniture is conventional, with some oxblood banquettes. There’s downlighting to the main room and dining in the upstairs. Customers were young and very vocal. Ales: two pumps unused, no Nicholson’s Pale Ale sadly, otherwise two unused, Doom, Pride, and Landlord at £2.95 a half and fine. This isn’t a great pub, the ambience being spoiled by the squawking younger customers; the ugly lager plumbing doesn’t help. Nicholson’s Crown is a far better bet, especially given this pub can’t even supply its own house beer.

Very busy on a Saturday evening as you would expect in this location,well described by PSM below but a little to busy to enjoy,there was a good selection beers available from the twelve handpumps.