The White Hart

Went back today, 24-2-26, and had a completely different experience: the food was wonderful, tasty and well presented, the service was better, and it was all well priced along with the drinks. I did go off peak, so others might have a different view. Kudos. Two nights ago, dinner was awful. The chicken pizza tasted nice, but chicken covered only half of it. The waffle dessert was two small pieces at one end and a tablespoon of ice cream at the other. It tasted great, but come on, it wasn't gourmet and it's not 1990. Serve a decent portion of an everyday dessert. And what decent hotel runs out of GUINNESS on 23 December?

We used to enjoy coming here and were excited to return after hearing the pub had closed for several weeks for renovations before Christmas. The visit was a big disappointment. We couldn't see any meaningful improvement to the decor or feel, and the paintwork on the stairs still had obvious chips and wear. If work was done, it wasn't noticeable enough to justify the closure or the prices that followed. The drink prices have shot up, and this place now seems to think it's charging Central London rates. A glass of wine was £14, a pint of beer £7.30 and a double rum and coke £10. We ordered just two drinks and the bill was over £20, which really surprised us. We also overheard a waitress questioning a price for another customer because the menu price didn't match what came up on the system. That didn't inspire confidence or transparency. While we talked about what felt like daylight robbery, the people at the next table joined in, equally shocked at the prices. When several tables react the same way, something doesn't seem right. This rules the venue out for our semi-frequent visits. Two rounds, four drinks for two people in total, cost as much as a decent meal elsewhere, so it's hard to justify staying. It feels as though the owners are passing on the renovation costs to customers, and I can't see that keeping the place busy for long. A once enjoyable local now feels overrated and much too expensive. A very disappointing return.

Breakfast was superb, served at the table, and excellent value. The staff were friendly and efficient. There's a nice bar for a drink or a meal, plus some outdoor seating. The rooms are a little shabby, and should be easier to clean after the planned refurbishment. The radio, TV remote and lampshade in our room were dirty. Still, the fresh white towels at breakfast and the friendly staff more than made up for that. Parking costs £10 for 24 hours in the car park two doors away. We'd definitely stay again, and hopefully the rooms will have improved by our next visit 🤞

Charlie was friendly, attentive and positive throughout our Christmas Day meal at The White Hart. He was a real credit to the pub. The place itself has a warm, welcoming feel and made for a pleasant start to the day. The food flavours were fine, but both the starter and main came out cold, which was disappointing, especially on Christmas Day. I like my beef red, but cold instead of hot and pink made it much less enjoyable. We didn't mention it at the time because it was Christmas Day and we didn't want to cause hard feelings or put extra pressure on the team. It's a shame about the temperature, as the setting and service otherwise could have made for a lovely meal.