The White Hart, Hayes

Fuller’s pub and GBG listed so off I trudged from the station. The 70s refit should probably be looking at a heritage listing and it’s pretty unmolested; brick arches, wood trim and tile trim on the lower bar. All downhill after this; naff modern muzak at odds with the punter demographic, an indolent barman serving with a grunt, turning my request of Hophead into an ESB which was at least in good nick (NBSS 3.5). Bit of a flat atmosphere all round. I can see why it’s GBG and the fabric of the place is pretty neat, but the service and atmosphere left it wanting. 5.5

Official site of The White Hart - www.whitehartharlington.co.uk

Official site of The White Hart - www.whitehartharlington.co.uk

The White Hart is a large Fullers pub and restaurant located at the top end of Harlington High Street that makes it’s under a ten minute drive away from Terminals 2 to 4 at Heathrow and therefore an ideal spot for a pie and a pint whist waiting for someone to fly into Heathrow. Its primary function seems to be to provide restaurant facilities to not only the locals but more the large transient population of visitors staying in one of the many close by hotels servicing those travelling in and out of Heathrow. Internally it is a traditional pub décor with plenty of dark wood beams and panelling, exposed brick and a mixture of wooden, tiled and carpeted flooring distinguishing the different areas. The main bar area as you enter from the front is in two parts divided by a brick archway, with the right hand section extended to the side with an elevated seating area. And then there is a separate dining room to the left of the bar for those who want the more restaurant experience rather than sitting in a pub. And apparently there is a sizeable garden, but didn’t experience this on a cold dark November night. It’s the standard Fullers food menu with all the usual stalwarts of London Pride Battered Cod, Pie of the Week, beef burger and curries making an appearance with an average price tag in the £11 to £14 mark. The two sections of the bar have a group of three real ale handpumps which were doubled up with the same three Fullers beers of London Pride, ESB and something called Damson Porter, which seems to be their winter seasonal for this Christmas. I went for the Porter as this was a new one for me, but it was a big disappointment being weak, sweet and underwhelming and nothing like their excellent London Porter. But when looking at other web beer reviews this seems to be a common feeling about this beer rather than anything the pub was doing wrong and as the food I received and the service levels I experienced were very good I didn’t hold it against the pub.

Randomness Guide to London - White Hart entry

Randomness Guide to London - White Hart entry