White Hart, Battle

Reported to be owned by local famers, The White Hart is a gastropub located on Battle Road in Netherfield. To the right of the pub is a large gravel car park, that was almost full mid-afternoon on bank holiday Friday. Out the back are several terraces with seating and a summer house with floor to ceiling windows. There is also a strip of lawn with a line of picnic tables that run along the rear of the car park. All areas at the rear have great views across the High Weald AONB. The entrance leads to a small front bar that has banquette seating and tables under the front windows. In the left wall is a brick fireplace with burner and I spotted a Toad-in-the-Hole box for fans of coin slinging. The bar supports three handpumps that were drawing Harvey’s Best and Old Ale alongside Lake Down Pale Ale, although the Old Ale was off. There are also four keg products, two from the local Gun Brewery, Peroni and Trenchmore Farm’s Silly Moo Cider. The bar at the rear has six keg fonts, adding Asahi and Guinness to the fizz list. This bar faces a couple of high table to the right and a small L shaped dining area further to the right. At the rear is a sofa seating area beside the rear patio doors that lead outside to the abovementioned terraces. I didn’t spot a television, but there was some 60s music playing in the background. The gastro menu boasts locally sourced produce and the burger is priced at £14, which seems to be the norm for around these parts. Upstairs are some B&B rooms. The bar and restaurant are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and close early at 20:00 on Sundays. I found the service to be very polite and the atmosphere was very relaxed. I thought the contemporary décor and architecture was welcoming and I would have no problem revisiting here to try the food with the family.

Located on a ridge just west of the village, this dining pub offers a great panorama from the picture windows in the restaurant, split-level rear patio/ grassed beer garden and a fully enclosed external seating area. There is also a small bar at the front with some general seating, but all areas were available on my mid-afternoon visit. I was pleased to find Harvey's Old Ale (£5.00) available, along with the ubiquitous Sussex, from the bank of three handpumps.