The White Horse is a traditional English pub in the heart of The City and offers a welcome respite from the endless franchises in the area. With a warm interior and friendly staff, this is a great choice for a down-tempo City pub.

The Venue
The White Horse is fairly easy to find, and is walking distance from Aldgate and Liverpool Street tube stations. The pub, from the outside, doesn't appear to be much; however, once inside you’ll discover a well-designed space.

This used to be an O'Neills pub; since then, it has undergone a radical transformation and is now a cosy spot featuring wooden trimmings and minimal gaudiness. The bar is at the back left-hand corner of a small room featuring wooden floorboards. On either side of the room are tables and high stools. The White Horse is a wholly independent pub, which makes it a breath of fresh air in a city dominated by monopolies and chains. What is particularly inspiring is the pub's ambition to compete with the sterile and uncreative - yet oddly well-liked - chain bars. And, based on the food and booze on offer, this should be a successful push into a market crying out for some originality.

The Atmosphere
The lunchtime crowd appears to be a happy and relaxed mix of City workers on long lunches and regulars being well looked after by the efficient staff. There is an unpretentious air here, and it’s consequently a great place for a business meeting as you almost blend into the walls. The pub fills up in the evenings, especially near the latter end of the working week. It would definitely be easy to while away many hours here.

The Food
This is an establishment that you would usually come to drink in, and most patrons head straight to the bar. If you do happen to sample the food, you won’t be disappointed; however, the White Horse serves traditional pub food, so you shouldn’t confuse it with a gastro pub (and thankfully the prices don’t add up to gastro pub prices, either).

Recommended are the bangers and mash. The sausages are supplied by Simply Sausages, a small company based in Bermondsey, and the range on offer is extensive, including: lamb and mint; pork, ale and leek; premium Cumberland; and tomato, mozzarella and basil. The lamb and mint sausages are particularly recommended, served with mash and gravy. The fresh mint flavour shines through, and they are tender and not overcooked. The mash has a lovely texture and isn’t too creamy although the gravy is on the bland side. It’s definitely tempting to try all of the sausage varieties on the menu.

Alternatively, the fresh fillet of cod with real ale beer batter, hand-cut chips and homemade tartar sauce is a good choice. The fish is nicely battered and tastes fresh; however, the real stand-out is the odd-sized hand cut chips. The capers in the homemade tartar sauce add a nice salty touch, too. Best of all, prices are kept low for the quality on offer. The bangers and mash is priced at £7.50 and the fish and chips at £8.95. There is also a choice of salads and plates to share after 5pm.

The Drink
There is a good selection of ale and lager on tap here, at reasonable prices. In the lager department, the Peroni is the stand-out performer. The ales are a more creative affair. There are two ales on rotation. The pub's customers can determine which ale is to be featured next by casting a vote. Examples include Timothy Taylor Landlord and St Austells Tribute ales, which are well kept and fresh. The wine list is a little limited; however, the Chilean Tierra Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and fruity and, at £3.50 a glass, reasonably priced.

The Last Word
Its relaxed air and hearty pub food make the White Horse a great pub to visit in the uninspiring City. This is an old school traditional English pub, which is perfect for this area of town.

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