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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The White Hart, SE1
SE1
SE1 8TJ
Pub Type
Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The White Hart
A very attractive exterior and nice enough wood panelling inside. The cask lineup was all from Fullers, Pride, Red Fox and Hophead, doubled up on the two banks of three handpulls, I wonder if Fullers now own the pub without any obvious branding? On tap was some Tiny Rebel and a couple of nowadays ubiquitous Beavertown beers. It did seem the food aspect was being pushed harder than the beer, but worth a pint.
On 21st November 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The White Hart
This place dates from at least 1848, though probably rebuilt in the 1930s for the Wenlock brewery, as there’s an exceptionally good example of one of their tiled fascias; however, these are the result of a sympathetic restoration in 2019 my M & B; good on them.
The interior isn’t quite so impressive, the only thing of note being the stone spittoon running around the base of the bar, which is bare wood field panelled and probably original. The bar back features metal poles with brown glazed tiles and there’s a tubular steel gantry above the bar; the etched glass snob screens to the rear are more than likely new. The floor is modern varnished and walls are either dark grey wainscotting or Anaglypta to the dado, then either bare brick or Eau de Nil to the picture rail, now back to dark grey, up to and including the Anaglypta ceiling, from which hang fluted spherical lamp clusters. Furniture is a mix of normal height and tall styles, tealights to tables, with décor comprising framed prints. To the left wall is a beer board listing so-called ‘craft’ beers – six – but not the real ales for some reason; supposing the pumps were blocked by bar hogs? Customers seemed to be locals and office workers, one swearing his head off, another, having a very noisy FaceTime conversation, shouting away, or talking, given that she was American. Also not a crowd pleaser, were the sticky, semi-dried patches of ale to tables and the annoying girl band musical banality wafting over the stereo.
There were five pumps, one unused, then Ubu, Landlord, Oakham Citra and Brew York’s X-Panda at £5.55 a pint and ok, but I’ve had better.
This pub is ok, but it needs to try harder. The more imaginative than average ale range is a plus, but the ambience isn’t good. Ultimately though, this place can’t compete with the King’s Arms across the road, but it shouldn’t be overlooked.
On 24th November 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The White Hart
A reliable backstreet pub, close to Waterloo Station, with a rather light feel due to lots of bare windows and an uncluttered interior round the island bar. There is a small partitioned-off pavement area outside. A reasonable range of ales on pump, as well as sundry craft stuff: at time of visit being Five Points Citrus Pale, DBC Frosted Jack, Purity H2O, Ghost Ship and Doom Bar. Condition was good.
On 2nd March 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The White Hart
Beautiful, traditional looking pub a stone's throw from Waterloo.
Central bar, surrounded by traditional tables - discreetly setup for dining with flowers, condiments but at least no wine glasses.
4-5 real ales on - I went for Black Sheep Holy Grail which was both average and a round fiver. Meant no hassles with coin change.
Parts are better than the sum.
On 23rd September 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The White Hart
A single bar Victorian back-street pub, adequately described below. The atmosphere was convivial during an early evening visit, mainly commuters enjoying a last pint or a quiet liaison before going home for the night. There was overpriced pub grub for diners and tiny portions of expensive bar snacks on sale, tables with candles which presented a fire hazard for those of us trying to read papers, and a foreign barman with no people skills. Ales on draft were Doombar, Hobgoblin Gold, Long Man's American Pale Ale and Sambrook's Wandle. Craft beers on tap were Oskar Blue, Camden Other Pils, Harpoon Take 5 and The Wild Beer Company's Pogo. There was also a passable wine list. While it's not bad, the high prices mean it's not my first choice.
On 30th January 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3280 recommendations about 3245 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The White Hart
There were five real ales on in here - Doom Bar, Adnam's Ghost Ship, Rooster's Little Bird, Bad Co Whiter Shade of Pale, and Purity UBU (£4.55 a pint). This is the sort of place that must do food, but there were no menus on the tables when I dropped in at around 2.00 PM on Friday. There were wine lists on the tables however, and although I don't generally concern myself with such things, I noticed that the cheapest wine was a South African plonk at £18.50 a bottle. That price seems consistent with the beer prices.
But nonetheless I quite like this pub, although it's obviously not the backstreet boozer that I remember from many years ago. There are no tall tables/tall stools or sofas - just standard tables and chairs. There are no fruit or games machines either, but I did spot a nasty little cash machine (which will charge you) lurking behind one of the doors. The wine and beer prices testify to its upmarket aspirations, as does the vase of roses on the tables, and the water flagon on the bar counter.
On the heritage front, the central island servery looks original, but with some modern embellishments like coffee machines and dishwashers. The bar counter is original - Victorian probably - with the telltale hinged door at the front originally for access to the beer engines. The dumb waiter housing looks original as well. I only spotted one unused doorway, so possibly it originally only had two bars. There's not much in the way of decor; just a few miscellaneous prints and a couple of chalkboards advertising available drinks - including draught beers but not the real ales.
There was just a handful of punters in, apparently just finishing off their Friday lunchtime session. It's an expensive, but comfortable pub. Five real ales is not too shabby either. Certainly worth dropping for a pint, as long as you don't wince too much at the prices.
On 16th January 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The White Hart
Not much to add to the previous reviews. It definitely was very busy with the after work crowd but as it was a fine evening a lot of people were standing outside, so no problem to find space inside and get served.
Along with fairly mainstream offerings of Doombar, London Pride and Adnams Ghost ship there was Roosters Californian Common and Salopian Hop Twister and my pint of Hop Twister was on fine form as it was for Moby below.
All in all a decent enough pub , but lacking in any real character and if I only had time for one pint in the Lanes it would be in the Kings Arms.
On 18th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The White Hart
A single square room with a central island bar, there are tables and chairs all the way around the room and all full up on my Sunday afternoon visit.There are five pumps on the bar and my choice of Salopian Hop Twister turned out to be the best beer of the day despite the rather steep cost of £2,25 for a half. I would call back here.
On 19th June 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The White Hart
Always very busy at office-closing time, but the atmosphere is usually a bit calmer later on (which is when I tend to visit if waiting for a train after an evening out south of the river). Service still a bit variable, but has generally improved in recent years. Not much space for furniture around the central bar counter, but there is a bit of reserved space outside on the pavement. It has lost most of its character inside, but there are still some features on interest on the façades. Usually has a reasonable selection from five handpumps, with the regular Doom Bar supplemented by four real ales from the M&B guest ale programme - Purity Pure UBU, Harviestoun Afterglow, By the Horns Old Smoke and Harbour American Rye (£4.25) on my latest visit. Also has a good range of continental lagers and craft beers on tap.
On 21st June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The White Hart
Just a short walk from Waterloo station, down a pleasant backstreet amidst some charming terraces, the White Hart is a traditional pub that has been stripped out and given a gastro style makeover. The layout comprises a single room with a sizeable island servery which creates a fairly narrow ribbon of seating space around the perimeter of the pub. The whole room is bare boarded with the sort of bland, neutral colour scheme which gastro pubs seem to favour. The servery has a nicely panelled bar counter, but the whole place has been stripped back to such a degree that it’s hard to find any interesting details of note. The walls are plain, except for a few blackboards which list different drinks available and the seating options are almost exclusively restricted to standard tables and chairs, with just a couple of high stools along a short ledge to the left of the room. A quick look at the menu showed that they offer upscaled versions of traditional pub classics, with most main courses costing around a tenner. We visited in the early evening on a Bank Holiday Monday and found the place really buzzing with a lively, predominantly young, crowd which created a good atmosphere despite the underwhelming surroundings.
There were five handpulls on the bar, dispensing Sambrooks Junction, Sharps Doom Bar, Oakham Citra and Andwell Red IPA, with the fifth pump being pulled through in readiness for a new barrel. The Citra was in pretty good shape and the friendly bar staff were very organised and helpful.
This is a fairly decent pub that sadly lacks the character it undoubtedly once had. A lively crowd on my visit made this an enjoyable experience and this, coupled with a good pint of beer, means I will give it another look, perhaps as a double header with the nearby Kings Arms.
On 28th May 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]