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White Horse, Oxford
Oxford
OX1 3BB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about White Horse
Very traditional city-centre pub, with a narrow frontage and a mostly dark wood-panelled interior that doesn't expand as you go further back (which isn't far, although there is a single table on slightly raised area beyond the counter). Disappointingly, there was just a single cask beer on the two banks of three handpumps on a Monday afternoon (although there was a draught cider on another). However, I was told - unprompted - that they had just had an unexpectedly busy weekend. My pint of Loose Cannon's Abingdon Bridge (£4.90) proved to be excellent, so I was satisfied that I was just a bit unlucky.
On 25th February 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Steve C left this review about White Horse
The White Horse is a tiny little pub with bench seating in the front window and up the right-hand wall opposite the L-shaped bar counter up the left. At the rear is a raised snug and during my recent midweek afternoon visit there was some background music coming from behind the bar. I counted four keg beers alongside six hand pumps. Five of these were in operation drawing Loose Cannon’s Number of the Beast and Abingdon Bridge alongside Hogsback Brewery’s TEA, Black Sheep Best and Rosie’s Pig Cider. The pub was a bit different being so small, but I wasn’t that taken with it and I thought the NOTB was very poor, only just drinkable. I also found people walking in to have a look around before walking out again a bit odd. There are better pubs in the area.
On 30th October 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about White Horse
Still long and narrow, as described below, and heavy on the woodwork but a good place to drink, although a slight whiff of drains was a bit off-putting. Ales on this occasion were Loose Cannon Abingdon Bridge, TT Landlord, Ubu Purity and Hophead, with Old Rosie also on pump. Apparently it was under threat of closure a little while ago but it seems to be surviving.
On 20th October 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about White Horse
A small and narrow pub located on one of Oxford’s main thoroughfares, it makes the most of it’s location with plenty of references to Inspector Morse filming on an A-board outside as well as numerous photographs of the cast on the walls inside.
Internally it’s all one single plan room with a bar counter taking up most of the left hand half and small tables squeezed in to the right. Further seating is available up a few steps at the rear, but this was just one table as far as I could make out. Décor wise it’s quite traditional with a low beamed ceiling and burnt orange paintwork in between the beams, much dark wood panelling on the walls and a wood strip floor.
The menu offered a basic selection of pub grub dishes and we opted for the fish and chips along with a chicken, ham and leek pie. They arrived alarmingly quickly, certainly on a par with Wetherspoon’s, but were decent enough I suppose. The fish was a little on the small side and the batter a little greasy, whilst the pie looked a little unappetising but was actually quite tasty. They did the job, as long as you’re expectations aren’t too high.
Beers on tap were Old Hooky, Brakspear Oxford Gold and White Horse Wayland Smithy. Ciders meanwhile were Aspall’s Suffolk and Old Rosie. Overall, not a bad little boozer, but don’t expect to get a seat due to it’s diminutive size and popularity.
On 16th November 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about White Horse
Set in one of Oxford's most picturesque locations, this is a small, long and thin pub with a raised area to the rear. It's unusual in that punters have to descend a small flight of steps to enter the pub. Inside it's very traditional though, but has recently acquired some cheap modern tables which look very out of place, not helped with being home to sauce bottles.
This is one of the Morsiest of Morse pubs and don't they let you know it, with plenty of prints on the walls which are rustic wood panelled with a low, beamed ceiling. Older furniture comprises some matchboard pews to the walls; the floor is natural bare boarded. There are knick-knacks in the form of a besom broom and some pewter tankards to the ceiling beams. Lighting is pleasantly muted, coming from spherical sconce lights. The pub also boasts that it was one of Bill Clinton's favoured watering holes.
A friendly barman presiding over: Brakspear's Oxford Gold, Shotover's Oxford Prospect and St. Austell's Tribute at £4.20 a pint (central Oxford's not cheap) though very good.
A very nice pub, a must-visit if on a crawl though best not conducted during term time.
On 12th March 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about White Horse
Another well timed visit for the PG crawl as the pub had emptied out and we all managed to get a drink and a seat with little effort. The pub is small and in spite of it's size, they had a choice of five hand pulled ales. The beer selection was pretty mainstream, but I did manage to see Brakspear Oxford Gold, a fitting choice for a beer tourist on the day.
On 28th July 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The White Horse
First revisit for a good while. Decent ale selection; Shotover Prospect and Porter, St Austell Tribute, a house ale of unknown provenance and Doom Bar (which was off). My Prospect was fairly good, though the barman said something that irked my drinking companion. Standing room only and the only place we could find at the end of the bar was always in the way of someone. Seems to have lost some its lustre for me – as mentioned previously the cramped interior is full of diners, whose table-hogging is really off-putting if you just want a casual pint. Time has moved on and I think it has been overtaken in the ‘must-do’ stakes; I’d only pop in now if it was quiet.
July 2011
A nice little (in the very real sense) bolt-hole and handy for Trinity College, situated between the entrances to Blackwells. A decent selection of ale (up to five) given the size of the place, though only were three were on last visit (Tim Taylor Landlord, Oxfordshire Oxfords Pride and Shotover Prospect). The Prospect was in great shape but beware some prices – the TTL was £3.60! Addlestones cider also available though it isn’t classed as ‘real’ by the cider-types. Enter down some steps to encounter the enjoyably cosy atmosphere; it’s easy to get a bit of conversation going with a stranger. The interior is narrow with a low-beamed ceiling and wood-panelled walls, though I’m not sure about the over-use of Morse prints. There’s a neat raised seating area to rear. Would recommend this one for a crawl and good for session if you can grab a table but it is best avoided at peak times, especially as food is offered which unnecessarily packs out an already limited space. Rated 8
On 23rd January 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The White Horse
Very small and full of character,with traditional wood paneling,fitted bench seating and stools with a raised snug area at the back,it gets busy very easily.Photos of Morse and Lewis stare down at you as you sup,but being close to so many colleges ,the place is firmly on the tourist map and the customer base can be very transient.If ordering food ,you have to secure a spot to pitch down first as it would be tricky to enjoy your meal whilst vertical.The menu looked good and there were several special fish dishes at £10-13 but I was in just for the beer.
Six handpumps ,with five working on my trip drawing TT Landlord,Shotover Prospect,Doom Bar,Brakspear Oxford Gold and Skinners Betty Stogs,£3.60 and in decent shape.Some references to the White Horse brewery but none of their produce on offer.
In the 2013 GBG and worth including on a crawl,maybe not the most exciting ale line up but the interior makes up for that.Might be worth timing your visit when the tourist trade has died down if you are after some Morse atmosphere.
On 9th June 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The White Horse
As previously described a cosy traditional pub, not a lot of room on a Saturday lunchtime,probably not the best time to attend but well worth it any when, had a pint of Shotover Prospect which is a decent bitter without setting the world alight, there was also available Doom Bar ,TT Landlord, and another I now forget. not ground breaking stuff but a good honest boozer.
On 28th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The White Horse
A delightful, characterful and cosy spot to take a small cerebral tome and read with a pint whilst soaking up Oxford's atmosphere.
Already well reviewed so I'll stick to the list of ales available on my visit: Brakespeare Oxford Gold, TT Landlord, White Horse Bitter, Doom Bar. Not the most inspirational selection and if you're in Oxford for ale then there are better alternatives but my Oxford Gold was more than good enough to allow me to read the title of said learned tome. Then it was time to move on.
On 5th September 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]