The White Hart, Stoke Newington, N16

A big lump of a pub opened out inside absolutely full up on a bank holiday Sunday lunchtime with live football being on probably swelling the numbers. Four of Five Handpumps were in use with a couple of Ciders along with Robinsons Dizzy Blonde and Adnams Ghost Ship. Being so busy it was difficult to get a real feel for the pub but I agree with PSM below, the two tier beer garden was very nice indeed.I would try it here again.

This is a large, opened out, pub on Stoke Newington High Street run by the Antic pub chain. There are lots of battered looking floorboards throughout, a lovely patterned ceiling that has survived the pub's various guises over the years and muted lighting courtesy of some fancy chandeliers that left the room perhaps a bit too gloomy on a bright summer's evening. The darkness isn't alleviated by the lack of natural light in most of the room, nor by the floral wallpaper or painted walls which all appear in various dark shades. An L-shaped servery runs around the right side of the room with a panelled counter and a much altered dark wood bar back. Board games are stacked on the end of the bar and there is a set of book shelves near the entrance. A wide variety of seating is available, with two partly screened areas to the front and right offering lots of standard and button backed chair seating as well as table football. The main section of the room to the left of the bar has standard chairs and benches in the usual eclectic Antic style. There are a few old pictures on the walls, a Johnny Mnemonic pinball machine, TV screens showing cricket, a collection of speakers and a decent indie music soundtrack, which between them should provide some degree of entertainment. To the rear is an excellent two tiered beer garden, with the lower level accessed through an archway in a hedgerow with an attractive gate. There is loads of picnic bench seating and an outdoor bar. As Antic pubs go, the ale range here was pretty weak, with options limited to Sharp's Doom Bar or Purity Mad Goose. Three pumps were off, although the keg range included three Meantime beers and Stowford Press cider. I tried the Mad Goose which was decent enough but the service was truly dreadful with several people turning up at the bar and getting served ahead of those who had been waiting some time. There was also some inept serving of the drinks, all of which combined to leave me stuck at the not-particularly-busy bar for the best part of ten minutes. We had a bite to eat as well and the food was reasonable enough without being particularly memorable. I had pretty high expectations for this place, having read many a good word about it from one of its regulars, beer writer Pete Brown, and knowing the kind of pubs that Antic specialise in. Sadly the sloppy service, poor ale choice and gloomy interior failed to win me over and I couldn't even find a seat in the garden to cheer myself up. I'm sure this place has better days than the one I saw, but I won't be rushing back to find out for certain.

5 real ales served in a quirky stripped out yet also formal interior.

Official site of The White Hart - whitehartstokenewington.com

Official site of The White Hart - whitehartstokenewington.com