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The White Hart, Coulsdon

Hazelwood Lane
Chipstead
Postal town: Coulsdon
CR5 3QW

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Pub SignMan left this review about The White Hart

This is a very smart, rural Brunning and Price pub, hidden away in the green belt just south of the Borough of Croydon. The pub has a roughly L-shaped layout, with the main bar area accessed directly from the front entrance and two dining areas off in either direction from there, one of which sports an attractive vaulted ceiling. The bar has a decent traditional dark wood counter with a modern looking bar back, and runs through a number of notionally separate areas, broken up along its length by structural pillars and bits of former partitioning wall. Seating is mostly around the perimeter and predominantly in the form of tables and chairs, which make all parts of the pub ideal for dining, although drinkers seem to be able to mix in happily, even during a busy lunch service. The dining spaces are quite brightly decorated, making them feel like light and airy places, enhanced by pleasant fireplaces, which I suspect don’t actually get all that much use. There’s a sizeable garden area outside with good quality garden furniture, patio heaters and a fair bit of greenery. The pub was doing a roaring trade on our Bank Holiday Monday afternoon visit, and when something went wrong in the kitchen, causing delays to everyone’s meals, the staff were quick to apologise and kept us all informed, which felt like good customer service.
There were no less than five ales on the bar, all of which were in good nick from those we managed to sample. Options included Twickenham Spring Ale and Daisy Cutter plus Dorking DB1 and a couple of others I failed to note down. The staff were all very friendly and the food was excellent and well worth the wait.
As far a food-led pubs go, things probably don’t get a whole lot better than this, or at least certainly not in the green belt around South London. I thought this place was really friendly and welcoming, with interesting, well-kept beer, comfortable, smartly presented surrounds and a nice beer garden. It’s not all that easy to get to, certainly not by public transport, but it’s now my go-to pub to take friends who are staying with us to if they want to get out of the city.

Date of visit – 8th May 2023

On 29th November 2023 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The White Hart

There is an L-shaped bar area with a polished wooden floor, occasional rugs, to the right is a large room with a vaulted open ceiling seemingly used exclusively for dining. Various prints on the walls, many have a cricket or rugby theme, I also spotted some framed maps and the odd cartoon. It is a fairly modern yet restrained fit out, some newish wood panelling, there are a few stone jars and bottles on the window cills and the occasional pot plant so the pub manages to retain a traditional "pubby" feel. A shelf contained a few reference books including a 2010 GBG, an atlas and a dictionary, all resources to resolve pub discussions no doubt. Daily papers were spread out on a side table. The pub is clearly dog friendly, there were two of them in and I saw a large water bowl in a corner by the door.
There were two real fires on the go on Saturday, really not needed as it was mild, I was in shirt sleeves but they no doubt add good cheer when the weather is chillier.
The beer range was decent, Doom Bar, Dark Star Hophead, Brunning and Price Original Bitter, Westerham 1965 Special Bitter Ale and Pilgrim Surrey Pale Ale. Various pump clips around the bar area hint at the guest ale policy. Interestingly a chalkboard above the bar describes the beer types and list "beer miles", the house ale being from Greater Manchester's Phoenix Brewery clocking up 239.
This was a decent spot to finish my mini crawl and walk around the area, I'd certainly have no hesitation of dropping by again if passing nearby. About 15 mins brisk walk from Chipstead station.
The pub has disabled access including WC facilities, a large car park and some outdoor seating.

On 1st October 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Nick Davies left this review about The White Hart

This pub has endured series of refurbishments over the last few years, including disastrously conversion by new owners The Restaurant Group to their Blubecker's brand. Thankfully they've given up on that, the builders have been in again and now it's unbranded, though one of TRG's Brunning and Price outlets under the skin.

The latest refurbishment has been reasonably sympathetic, and a great improvement on the disaster that went before, and it's more like the village pub it once was when Courage ran it 15 odd years ago.

So reasonably pubby, gastro pretensions have gone, the regulars are back and welcome and, wonder of wonders there's a decent range of beers, Hook Norton the other day, a rare sighting this far from home.

It isn't cheap, this is seven quid a sandwich territory, but all very pleasant. A good walking destination pub.

On 22nd January 2010 - rating: 8
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]