The White Harte, Bristol

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Blackthorn _ left this review about The White Harte

A large pub on a corner plot just along the road from many of the university buildings, it’s inevitably popular with students and not somewhere I have been in for a few years. On my last visit they were part of the “Scream” pub chain, had artificially inflated prices unless you had one of their discount cards, a bouncer on the door, invariably a charge for entry and nothing resembling real ale as I recall. Now though, it seems to have improved somewhat, not that it could have got much worse.

Internally it’s divided in to a few separate areas in a L-shaped configuration. To the left is something of a sports room with a pool table, table football game and air hockey. A large mural depicting the Bristol riots (the ones from 1831, not 1997) covers one wall. The corner of the “L” has curved, leaded windows looking out on to the street, a few band photos on the walls and a drum kit above the entrance porch. Décor wise there are varnished wooden boards on the floor, cream paintwork, exposed brick walling and a black painted ceiling. A plasma up on the wall was showing a football match and the commentary was piped around making it a little intrusive. The middle room beyond this is a little cosier with cream wood panelling on the walls and a couple of old leather sofas.

Food wise, the menu appeared to cover most bases and was divided in to sections such as sandwiches, sharing platters, pic ‘n’ mix, planks, jackets and burgers. The main courses offered all the pub staples such as BBQ chicken, fish & chips, sausage & mash, steak & ale pie, chicken tikka masala, etc. These were mostly priced somewhere around the £6/£7 mark, although most were also available as a “2 for £7.99” deal.

Despite three hand pumps on the bar, only one was in use dispensing Otter Ale. To be fair, it was the last Sunday before Christmas so they had no doubt had a busy weekend and there were numerous pump clips dotted around the walls suggesting that they do offer a changing variety. Ciders on tap were Magner’s Golden Draft, Bounders and Strongbow, although of more interest was the dozen or so boxes racked up behind the bar and in the ‘fridge and these included Thatcher’s Heritage, Cheddar valley, Wyld Wood, Old Rosie and Bee Sting.

On 21^st December 2015 - rating: 6
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