The White Horse (Uxbridge Road)
Pub number 3 on the Shepherd's Bush pub crawl was the White Horse, *not* to be confused with the White Horse (affectionately called the Sloaney Pony in Parsons Green). Oh no. When we approached the pub, we weren't sure if it was closed, as the windows were very dark. Upon approaching, an older man walked out and politely informed us that we could go ahead and go in. I think he finished his sentence with "we're harmless". But alas, this is a pub blog, and while Anna wanted to turn around and head to the Queen Adelaide, in the name of research, we powered through and popped in for a pint.
Try this beer: Okay, it's not a beer, but we did get a Cubanista. When asked, we were informed that a Cubanisa is like a Desperados, but instead of tequila, it's rum. Hesitant at first because of the nature of the knock-off name, I'll admit, you should give it a try.
The beer. The beer selection was limited, as you'd expect if you walked into the bar. I ended up with a Kronenbourg. The rest of the options were mainly made up of bitters and English ales, plus the standard 4 on tap including a Guinness and Heineken.
The ambiance. Upon walking into the pub, it was fairly dark, with a few older men, who I might even go out on a limb and say regulars (but not sure) scattered about throughout the pub. Conversation kind of seized when the two of us walked in, as everyone kind of looked up to see what the newcomers were doing in the pub. It was a little stuffy, and a pool table toward the back, and we went to the bar, where there were two lovely women working the bar. I ordered a Kronenbourg, but Anna, who doesn't drink a ton of beer, struggled with the run of the mill selection of beers. That's when they suggested the Cubanistas and we decided to go for it. They also kindly pointed us outside to the back patio if we wanted to sit and enjoy our drinks in a brighter atmosphere. Outside, in the back, there are a few tables which create a nice and sunny environment. It was bright and very pleasant, and we were the only people outside for the majority of the time. It was a little unnerving when a few guys started calling out to us from the gents' toilets, but otherwise, we had a quick chat, finished the beers, and moved on to the next pub!
The food. I didn't eat here... I don't recall seeing any menus either, and there aren't exactly a ton of food-friendly tables, so I'm not sure if food is served here to begin with!
Any extras. There's a pool table in the pub, and a nice little back patio that gets the sun in the afternoon.
And the wrap up. I'll be honest, I wouldn't have ever stayed in the pub if I weren't doing research, with a commitment to explore the good, the bad, the different, and the hidden gems of London pubs. It was a weird one, but I'm glad we went! I probably won't go back, but the garden in the back gets great sun, and I'd argue could be a great spot to sit outside without much crowd. The pints are under £4.00 - an absolute rarity in London!
Average price per pint: £3.70 (and £3.20 for a cubanista)
