The White Horse Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "It's a beautiful pub and friendly staff!"
• "Staff were friendly and helpful."
• "Staff really helpful 1st one outside before opening time re menu & then Alexa? (Red hair) especially helpful, really busy but still made sure our meal was ok & we happy."
• "The staff were efficient (although there was a wait on food due to the influx) and the vibe of the whole place was great."
• "It was therefore encouraging to arrive and be warmly welcomed by a strong team of four behind the bar plus a dedicated food runner too."
• "Service was excellent. Food was spot on. The pub/restaurant has a lovely warm cosy atmosphere and the welcome from Debbie in particular was fantastic."
• "The staff were so friendly and lovely."

Cons:

• "Staff seem very slow & non motivated."
• "However, the managers attitude let the whole team down."
• "All in all it was a poor experience and I feel sorry for the staff who were actually trying."
• "Staff weren’t exactly unfriendly but they made it clear they were irked by my polite, friendly but ultimately negative feedback."
• "The service was terrible - 4 people left whilst we ordered food which wasn’t a good start."
• "Service was very slow tonight and food mediocre and wine selection was limited."
• "Service at the bar can be slow with any coffees ordered being brought to your table - eventually."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Every dish on our table was lovely."
• "We fully recommend desserts there."
• "None of us have been to The White Horse before and we weren’t disappointed."
• "We went for a family pre Christmas at the White Horse today and couldn't fault anything. The service was outstanding & the food was fantastic & at a very reasonable price as well."
• "Food quality and presentation now above average for this Ember Inns pub."
• "We had ribeye steak excellent."
• "Enjoyed a mixed grill, vegan burger and beef burger. All cooked wonderfully and very tasty."

Cons:

• "The katsu curry was very bland and my steak was very well done despite me asking for medium."
• "The vegan Wellington was tasty… but everything else was entirely bland & unseasoned."
• "Food verrry average and pricey."
• "The food however was very bad. Half the food was missing on the plates to what the menu said. All of the food came out literally cold."
• "Food was disappointing. Had fish and chips. Chips were very crunchy, fish had a lot of tasteless batter on."
• "Food was at best okay. Posh fish fingers were rubbery and not on bloomer as stated."
• "The food. What sort of an English pub turns out a roast dinner like that? Dry overcooked chicken, yorkies were tough, potatoes very good, stuffing inedible."

Ambiance and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "It has recently been refurbished and I was amazed at how quickly it was done. It’s looking good and looking forward to visiting it again soon."
• "It looks amazing - really warm, open and inviting. Tasteful decor and a REAL fireplace!"
• "Lovley pub set in great baddow, foods was excellent, very good choice."
• "The pub was beautiful and spotless."
• "The setting is absolutely beautiful. The fires added a lovely touch to the place."
• "Lovely old building with exposed beams."
• "Great service, reasonably good food, nice location and comfortable decor."

Cons:

• "She seriously needs some lessons in hospitality management and maybe some decent cleaners, cobwebs that are months old and rotten dusty skirts in the toilets and dust and grime all over the floors that have been swept and vacuumed in weeks."
• "More like a student house party than a pub. No ice, no glasses, broken bottles over the toilet floor."
• "On our last visit there was a foul smell in the whole pub, toilets blocked."
• "Only negative is the mirror in the ladies toilet is too high up unless you're 6ft tall you'll never be able to look in it."
• "Your bathroom facilities could do with updating."
• "This pub has no soul or atmosphere, maybe if it was busier it would buzz a bit but bring back comfy chairs and small intimate spaces."
• "Decor and furniture now looking very worn, scruffy and sad."

Management and Staff Training

Pros:

• "Running pubs in the current economic climate has become exceptionally challenging but it seems everyone on the team is going the extra mile to get things right."
• "Another new team running this pub but this one is doing a good job of it."
• "Change of manager has brought us back to the White Horse."
• "The new manager Debbie was really nice and professional and Chelsea was really nice too."

Cons:

• "Very disappointed we booked to go last night as had been sent an email for 50% off arrived ordered drinks and looked at the menu to find that everything we wanted to order was out of stock, leaving only a few items available, so we ended up having to leave and order a takeaway."
• "However, the managers attitude let the whole team down."
• "Very poor experience with previous manageress."
• "The manager is possibly one of the worst managers I have ever come across... and I was appalled by the way she spoke to customers at the bar."
• "Rather than just apologising and admitting it wasn't acceptable she complained that they were busy and all of the pubs in the group were understaffed and busy!"
• "New management & unfortunately teething problems."
• "Would be useful to train staff the difference between vegan and vegetarian, as many dairy intolerance sufferers choose vegan due to the fact no dairy is included."