The White Horse is a typical gastro pub, with good food, a great drinks list and a refreshing lack of attitude. This is probably why it feels so pleasantly familiar.

The Venue
The White Horse fits snuggly in an old-fashioned cottage-esque building – enhancing its favoured-by-the-locals charm - but its aesthetic sensibility is more modern than expected. Streamlined and quietly elegant, the White Horse is an understated gastro pub, where lots of wood combines with grey paint, slate boards and ever-changing menus scribbled in chalk. The quirky details are kept to a minimum: a collection of retro lamps hang over the bar, sprucing up the usual mix and match of wooden chairs and tables.

The real asset, though, is the sizeable outdoor patio at the back. Airy and cheerful thanks to the many flowers and plants, this is an ideal retreat for a round of Pimms during the summer.

The Atmosphere
Predictably, the White Horse attracts a well-nourished group of Richmond locals. The pub is a favourite across the board, with groups of young people sitting beside old friends in their fifties. The common trait is a laid-back attitude and the lack of posh pretentiousness which is often (wrongly) associated with Richmond.

The staff, maybe a little surprisingly, are a bit scatty and when the pub gets busy, the service slips a bit. There’s no check-back on how you’re enjoying your food, and there is some forgetfulness with the orders.

The Food
The menu is simple but well-executed. Everything is nicely presented and knowledgeably cooked. A handful of starters (£4.50-£6.50) include a satisfying fried halloumi, served with a flavourful apple chutney. Traditional mains (£9.50-£16.50), like the chargrilled sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce, are well cooked and the portions more than satisfying. And the chocolate fondant is incredibly successful, thanks to a runny hot chocolate sauce hiding just below the surface.

The Drink
There is a very impressive selection of beer, including a good number of Belgian and many German lagers. Draughts (£3.50-£4.75) include Leffe Blonde, Peroni, Becks Vier, Staropramen and seasonal ales, while you can pick from bottled (£4-£5) Duvel, Fruli, Lindemans, Blanche De Bruxelles, Orval, Leffe Brune, Erdinger Dunkle, Franziskaner, Schneider Weisse and others. Out of the ciders (£4-£5), the Rekoderlig Wild Berry deserves special mention, while if you are inclined towards wine, there are more than three dozen bottles on offer (£3.75-£6.40 per glass, £10-80-£18.30 per carafe and £15-£60 per bottle.

The Last Word
The White Horse is ideal for a relaxed evening without a hint of pretentiousness. With its beer garden, scrumptious food and great beer selection, this pub has more than enough reasons to entice appreciative customers.

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