The White Horse

British
Parson Green

The White Horse, or ‘The Sloaney Pony’ as it is colloquially known, is a Victorian pub situated in pretty region of Parson's Green, conveniently located just 500m down the road from the station. This was certainly a relief to us when my friend and I were running late as we had decided to venture there on the same night as a Chelsea match (not recommended if you value personal space when on the tube).

When choosing pubs, we enjoy going places with a bit of history. The White Horse certainly ticks this box, being both a gin palace and an old coaching inn for travellers. Downstairs is a bustling but cosy bar (perhaps less bustling when Chelsea are not playing), and upstairs is a quieter but equally welcoming restaurant.

Each dish in the restaurant is matched to a recommended beer, although if you'd rather try a different beer or prefer a glass of wine, the staff are happy to make a recommendation. We both opted to start with a seafood dish each: potted shrimp with sourdough bread, accompanied by a Hoegaarden Grand Cru, and perfectly cooked scallops with lardons and a buttery, garlicky sauce which we ate alongside a light American beer called Goose Island. 

For the main course we choose Pork Belly with a deliciously crunchy crackling, accompanied by a bottle of Kwak poured into a yard of ale-style glass and stand, and the safe but recommended rib-eye steak, which was cooked perfectly rare and served with chips and a béarnaise sauce.

By dessert, we were enjoying the beer as much as the food and actually chose our pudding based on the beer the waitress selected for us: a delicious, light beer called Delirium to consume alongside an equally delicious bread and butter pudding; and a chocolate brownie that certainly didn't disappoint, served with an intensely rich chocolate ice cream, which tasted like it had been introduced to a little cocoa bean, and a peanut butter ice cream that seemed light and refreshing in comparison.  The brownie was served with yet more chocolate and a rich black chocolate stout, which is not for the faint hearted at a knee wobbling 10.6%.

Overall, both the food and atmosphere at The White Horse were excellent. One of the key highlights was the staff – knowledgeable, friendly and not afraid to have an opinion.  Helpful when, like us, you struggle to make decisions when presented with so many appealing options. We’ll certainly be visiting this pub again, either for a special occasion or just a really good feed.

Average price for main course: £18

Average price for glass of wine: £5.40

Food/Drink: 5/5

Value: 4/5

Service: 5/5

Read about The White Horse's Beer Festival

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