White Horse, Doverback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Stu and Jules took the helm of this dear old lady last year, and what a welcome change!
It's back to being a beautiful, warm and welcoming pub, and much more. The food is delicious, lots of interesting gins to try, and the beer is spot on.
This is fast growing in reputation as the jewel in the crown of Dover, you'd be mad to miss out on a visit.
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Thank goodness this dear old pub (the oldest and most historic) in Dover has been given a new lease of life ! been in regularly since 'NEW' ownership this year. What a welcome - previously last year had been in and got the 'new look' as a newbie from other crowds. :( BUT NOT now - new owners so welcoming to all. They have freshly painted some areas but kept the historic writings on the wall. Beautiful, re-decorated summer beer garden - was a pleasure to sit and enjoy the sun. The food is consistant and 'FRESH' - all 'home' cooked by the new landlady. No scrimping on servings that's for sure. LARGER than life dinners. You would be hard pushed to finish their sunday luches. Excellent prices. We now regularly visit with our young family and friends. ITS - well worth the visit.
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well the good news is that the pub opened again with new owners. They have taken great care to change everything that was so lovely about the place; the decor is completely out of keeping with the historic building, the welcome is, well, utterly missing. It's been made quite clear that regulars are not welcome...it's a mystery who they do want and why - the owners can be heard rubbishing their customers - it's a puzzle why they are open at all (and not clear as the bar area is usually in darkness). As for being welcomed as a new customer - well, good luck with that.
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This is a bit of a gem in my view. I'd attempted to visit a year ago but was thwarted by closure. Fortunately last week I found it with doors open wide and was able to get inside and see if it was worth the hype.
The pub is cosy and -in the main - traditional in its core decor, with numerous little alcoves and areas in which one can closet oneself and either be merry with a group or intimate with a loved one. The pine wood-led space is complimented - or marred depending on your view - by numerous dawbings all over the ceiling and some walls presumably from various visitors who have passed through the port en route to virtually any location you can imagine worldwide. The signatures date back to the '90s so it's clearly a long-standing tradition here. Me and my mate hadn't come far, weren't going far, and didn't have a black marker pen to hand so didn't contribute; moreover it is tough to find any wallspace remaining on which to write now.
Anyway - to business: 4 good solid cask beers to try here. Loddon's Ferrymans Gold, Hook Norton Old Hooky, I think Sharp's Doom Bar and a guest from Yorksire called Cromwell's Pale - which was sampled and found to be refreshing and well-conditioned. We were about the only punters punting at that point so we had the undivided attention of the barmaid whose service was efficient. If she is the 'ladette' referred to by Stucky66 in his 2010 review I'd be amazed as both she and the 'lad' (presumably the other half) both seemed civil and enough - rare qualities in ones so young - although maybe in livelier sessions they are more boisterous?!
The ole American jazz on the stereo helped add a certain Bohemian element to the White Horse, which may seem very trad from the initial impression, but clearly within it beats a young heart. If I lived here, I imagine I'd make my way over on a fairly regular basis. As it is, it'll have to wait until my next appearance. Tentative after only 1 visit, but this is pretty much an 8.
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find the reviews hard to credit here as have been to this pub often over the years and have always tasted and known others speak of the best beer for miles around.
This local is both homely for locals, and really friendly to passers by - got talking to two Austrians who come to England just to visit this pub as they love it so - apparently there are other 'regulars' from all over the place.
Food is available days and evenings, and there was live music on when we last visited (nights when this is happening are preadvertised). It's harsh to compare to Spoons with their boil in the bag food and beer that is priced deliberately to put small pubs like this out of business.
Come support your local independent pub - or lose them forever!
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I recently visited this pub late on a Sunday evening. I had intended to dine there but food is only served 12.00 - 5.00pm on a Sunday so I dined at Wetherspoons instead. This is a nice cosy pub with friendly locals who will happily chat with strangers passing through. I tried two cask bitters, one I have forgotten the name of but the other was Loddon's Ferrymaster which I really enjoyed. To me, �3.25 per pint for bitter is very expensive,
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The pub serves Timothy Taylor Landlord as its regular ale with 3 other guests.
They now seem to have a improved menu and special barmenu.
The special barmenu contains some food that I haven't seen in a Dover pub before. Whelks, cockles, shell on prawn and jellied eels can be eaten in the pub now.
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In response to TheFabricFairy, I agree that the Eight Bells is far less cosy than this pub. However, and I find it a real pity to have to repeat this, the quality of the draught ale in the White Horse really is dreadful compared to that found in the Wetherspoons. (I find it difficult to believe I've written that myself). When you weigh up the quality of the beer along with the price you pay for a pint, the Eight Bells is streets ahead. It is, of course, a pretty dire place to enjoy the beer in compared to the White Horse, whose interior is far more comforatble, but I'm finding that more often than not I'd rather drink a well kept pint of an interesting beer in Wetherspoons than suffer yet another dreadful beer in the much more comfortable surroundings of the White Horse. Each to their own I suppose. I'd still prefer not have to suffer the backbiting insults of the management here also. No doubt it goes on everywhere but at least you cant actually hear what they say about you in Wetherspoons! I'm glad this pub has its supporters, but on balance it's not for me! You might be right if you think that says more about me than it does about the pub, but I guess we just have different satndards. I'd still advise anyone to pay the place a visit and make up their own minds; just leave the rose coloured spectacles at the door.
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Review from 25 March is very unfair. You will struggle to find a more welcoming pub than this, let alone in Dover. I'd hardly call the landlady a "ladette" and I think there is no place for personal abuse.
Real ales; good, freshly prepared unpretentious menu and a welcome refuge from the lairiness of the other pubs in town. Thank God for the White Horse.
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Very nice pints of Rev James & TT Landlord. Great pub with lots of history with all the channel swims documented on the walls.
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Intrigued by a rather unpleasant review of a pub I know very well (from eastkent on 25th March 2010), I checked out other reviews of his and found a glowing report of The Eight Bells in Dover. This, to me, speaks volumes about the kind of drinker Mr E Kent must be - how one could possibly prefer the plastic surroundings of a Wetherspoons chain pub against a pub that has existed since 1345 and is easily the most charismatic hostelry in the town, supported by tourists and locals alike in their droves?
The White Horse is just what one would hope for in a pub that puts its customers first - real beer beautifully kept, good food, a warm welcome and no jukebox!!! A sun-trap of a beer garden, dog-friendly and above all people friendly; the amount of people who use the pub on a regular basis bears ample testament to the fact that this pub is well run on the right lines. Methinks the rather personal and uncharitable comments made against the ladies that run this excellent establishment are grossly unfair and that personal comments do not merit space on a public website.
If, like me, you like real whisky, you'll be pleased to know that the landlady stocks a couple of really good malts - for those that like battery acid, Glenfiddich is available, but (most pleasing of all) the king of malt whisky, Highland Park, is always available. The White Horse Inn really is worth a visit; go once, try not to find personal insult, and I guarantee you'll go again.
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This was the pub I used regularly when I first came to Dover. Charlie and Sue had it and it it had bags of character and a great mix of clientele from business types to punks and crusties. It had a pool table and bar billiards and no TV. We used to try to get on the soft chairs in the corner.
I visited again recently. The place is nicely laid out (the soft chairs, pool and bar biliiards have gone though) but the clientele didn't appear as mixed. Most appeared to be of the "distressed teacher" appearance. There was no sign of the ladettes at all. There was a TV in the corner.
Hard to say from one visit but the atmosphere didn't seem the same as before. But then does it ever?
I guess the pub still gets plenty of tourists on their way to or more likely from the castle.
The beer garden, always a sun trap, was as pleasant as I remembered it and the toilets are a huge improvement.
I had a pint of Landlord (good) and a pint of Woodforde's Wherry (ok). Loddon's Ferrymasters Lot and Nelson's Friggin in the Riggin were also available.
The White Horse is still one of the best pubs in Dover and I'll pay another visit soon.
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Despite the alterations a few years ago this pub remains one of the most atmospheric in the town. It is fair to say that it has a chequered history, littered with failed concepts and business plans of its post Whitbread licencees. The current incumbants, who have been in charge for a month or so, are from the more 'spivvy' side of the Dover licenced trade. Thus we have two aged 'ladettes' with history of running other pubs in Dover in charge, and a plethora of unconditioned real ales priced to suit the clique of distressed teachers who frequent the place. The ales are served too' green', being clear as a bell in the glass but as tart as a Parisian whore. Worst of all is the ladettes' attitude to their customers; they forget we can actually hear what they say about us, given their quiet retiring nature! Having said that, go there and enjoy the cabaret. It wont be there much longer, methinks!
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A real hidden gem! This pub ticked all the right boxes: superb beer; very friendly staff and a wonderful atmosphere. The sort of pub you could gladly spend all day in. This pub is well worth seeking out; I cannot recommend highly enough.
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Two visits this week! The Tring Brewery mild was so good, as was the Tim Taylor, and so I had to go back for a second visit. A marvellous pub - 7/10.
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A true oasis in Dover.
The landlord (Jack) & landlady (Jill) are excellent knowledgeable hosts in this lively traditional and unpretentious pub. You can see Jack & Jill really take pride in what they do as the White Horse is immaculately kept.
The White Horse is one of Dover�s oldest surviving public houses, the one time haunt of smugglers and Customs men, has changed little today.
The locals, many have migrated from the Mogul and more recently Blakes, are friendly and come from a good cross section of Dover society.
If you are �lucky� you might be treated to an impromptu rendition of songs from the die-hards of Dover Rugby Club on a weekend.
In the summer months Channel swimmers come to adorn the pub walls with their aquatic conquest.
There is a quick turnaround of well-selected real ales from the length and breadth of Britain.
Timothy Taylor �Landlord� is the regular pump beer and is joined by three varied guest ales.
Biddendens or guest ciders are also available from the keg.
The White Horse, which is situated close to the historic Dover castle and Dover Eastern Docks, is well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Lambo - 22 Mar 2007 19:48 |
Paid a visit last night for the first time for many a long year.
Bare floor boards and scrawlings various on the ceiling and walls are the main feature of this excellent, friendly, one-bar pub.
The Tim Taylor Landlord was in excellent condition. Also available were Vale Brewery "Special" and Cotleigh "Kookaburra".
A thoroughly enjoyable, albeit brief, visit as there were "other fish to fry".
A deserved 7/10.
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When i lived in dover and the girlfriend wanted to go for a drink before going for a meal i would take her here. V Relaxed atmosphere and the service always top notch and the beer was of a good quality. Have not left a rating as has been a while since i last visited but will visit v soon and hope and pray it hasnt changed to much
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This was a nice and quite friendly pub, and has names of all the people who have swum the channel on the ceiling and wall. They gave us free nuts, and it was in a nice location close to the remains of a ruined church....
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