The White Horse (affectionately, The Sloaney Pony)
The Sloaney is a versatile pub - obviously in the summer, it's a great location to sit outside on the patio under some umbrellas (likely not there to shade us from the sun, but to protect us from the drizzle). It's an easy and non-controversial pub to agree on with friends - even those who don't drink beer, and one of my favourite (and regular) haunts in SW London.
Give this beer a go: San Franpsycho IPA (Anchor Brewery - San Francisco, California) - a nod to my hometown
The beer. They've got a diverse selection of beers on draft. In addition to the standard English ales (still haven't branched out to drinking these, but maybe in the winter when it's cold out) and the standard lagers (e.g. Peroni, London Lager, Kronenberg, etc), they've also got a lineup of rotating beers. At the time of this post, notable beers on tap include San Franpsycho IPA (mentioned above), Sierra Nevada Otra Vez, Nugget Session IPA, Liberty IPA, and Stone Tangerine Express IPA. I get excited about this refreshing (fruity) selection of beers because unlike many pubs, they aren't relegated to the bottle-only fridges, but you can get them as pints (hurray!). And of course, like any pub I frequent on the regular, they also always have Camden Hells and Pale as a standing beer on tap.
The ambiance. Long story short, there's a lot of red trousers and loafers, and I probably wouldn't go here while in early dating territory. That being said, it's a great place for meeting up with friends, or if you're in the neighbourhood and want to have a couple pints either indoors or out. The inside of the pub is nice, with lots of areas to sit down, but the set up isn't ideal for creating an intimate environment. There's a lot of open space in the middle of the pub, which is great for bar access, but it also means less seating, and where there is seating, it's crowded and can get loud. The majority of the tables are large beer garden-style tables, so I wouldn't go there banking on getting a small table for two. I've been here to watch 6 Nations several times, and also the football - in my opinion, it's a good backup pub for these types of things. They've got a few strategically placed TVs, but they are small and in the corners, so it's not exactly made for the big sporting events. However, because of the space and setup, it's great if you want to be able to watch the match, but maybe were a bit late in making reservations at some of the more popular venues for watching sports. The nice thing is - it's never too packed, you can always get a pint within a reasonable amount of time, and it's always got enough buzz to maintain a good environment.
The food. I've eaten here on many occasions - ranging from grabbing a quick burger on a Friday evening because what was supposed to be one pint turned into four and so it was time to eat, to sitting down to a Sunday roast on a rainy afternoon with friends. The burgers are very nice here, and the chips are definitely noteworthy. They've also got a full menu, including dishes like Lamb rump, venison steak, and Atlantic Sea Trout. The sharing platter is a good one if you are there on a Saturday afternoon and feeling peckish. In warm weather, they sometimes have the grill going outside, which is always a nice way to change up your afternoon pub eats. There's also a restaurant upstairs that you can book for more of a dining experience, but - full disclosure - I've never been up there, so I can't give much insights here. In summary, the food is good - it's definitely a place you can bank on eating a nice meal, with options other than traditional pub food and burgers (but I'm partial to burger in a pub).
Some extras. As I mentioned - they have heatlamps outside on the patio, so that's a big plus if you are a smoker, especially in the winter! They've got water bowls for dogs and are a very canine-friendly pub.
And the wrap up. Great pub for groups looking for a chilled out afternoon or evening. If you want to make a night of it, you could carry on the after party down the road at Amuse bouche. It is on the slightly more expensive side if you are looking for pints, but the beer selection is good and changes on a fairly regular basis (I want to say seasonal, or even quarterly for some?). The food is nice, so don't be afraid to plan to eat there, and it's a super easy pub to get to if you're already in SW London.
Avg price for a pint: £5.50 - £6.00 (closer to £5 for the normal lagers, closer to £6 for some of the craft beers)
