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Secret Drinker reviews The White Horse in Sleaford




Stepping into the White Horse was like stepping back 40 years.

Those of you old enough to remember the glorious days of drinking in those estate pubs in the 1980s - a golden era when you could dump your kids unattended in the back seat of the car with nothing but a pack of Salt ‘n’ Shake and a shared can of Top Deck to keep them occupied while you boozed away the afternoon with your freshly-curled perm on show - will understand.

The decor in this place felt like a trip back in time to the days when our crinkle cut chips, library books and fruit and veg were delivered to us once a week by blokes in vans; a trip back to when Sunday shopping didn’t exist so there was only one place for the neighbourhood to be. Well, between noon and 2pm, anyway.

The White Horse in Sleaford
The White Horse in Sleaford
The White Horse had a back-in-the-day feel
The White Horse had a back-in-the-day feel

The fact it would appear that very little modernisation has taken place in this Sleaford boozer for decades may put off the snobberati amongst us.

But, for me, it was a welcome change from a world of Insta-friendly UV lighting and framed chalkboards telling us to dance like no-one’s watching.

As this wonderful county is made up of all sorts of different and wonderful people, it’s great to see them all catered for by very different pubs.

The bar at the White Horse
The bar at the White Horse
Just look at that TV. Marvellous
Just look at that TV. Marvellous

And just because the White Horse is a little more back-n-the-day doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its place.

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The gent sitting watching the cricket - the only other punter in there as I entered - certainly felt it did, supping slowly and only breaking his vow of silence to loudly scoff ‘another’ every time a wicket fell.

If we were playing 80s pub bingo it wouldn’t have taken long to be shouting house; the dominant wooden bar, Guinness mirror, pool table, dartboard, box TV, trophy cabinet and fat, patterned carpet and, of course, painting of the White Horse, were all there. The pool table light had tassles and the tiles in the gents were a garish red.

The Guinness mirror and tassled pool table light... bingo!
The Guinness mirror and tassled pool table light... bingo!
Plenty of room to drink outside... or maybe dump the kids
Plenty of room to drink outside... or maybe dump the kids

This was a pub which knew exactly what it was. And seemed proud of it.

It’s the sort of place Shane Meadows would set a key scene and, in decades to come, the National Trust would love to preserve it.

But right now it’s very much a good old traditional pub ready to serve you if you fancy a drink. Just don’t dump your kids in the car.

My first ever pint of Maltsmiths
My first ever pint of Maltsmiths
Inside the gents
Inside the gents
Inside the White Horse
Inside the White Horse

THE WHITE HORSE, BOSTON ROAD, SLEAFORD, NG34 7HD

DECOR: It’s very dated but that’s probably part of its charm. 3/5

DRINK: My first ever pint of Maltsmiths Lager (4.6%), very refreshing and felt stronger than the ABV. 3/5

PRICE: I paid £4.50 which I felt was decent for the drink. 4/5

ATMOSPHERE: I was in at a quiet time so unfair to really say. But cracking if you like cricket. 3/5

STAFF: The lady behind the bar was very welcoming, busying herself with jobs around the place. 4/5

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Do you agree with the secret drinker or have any suggestions where he should go next? Where is your favourite beer garden? Email secretdrinker@lincsonline.co.uk or comment below.



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