After a walk around some of Suffolk’s beautiful countryside, we fancied recharging our batteries in a pub garden somewhere nearby. That decision led us to The White Horse in Whepstead…and what was meant to be a quick drink stop soon turned into a more leisurely visit.
The White Horse in Whepstead entered an exciting new chapter a few months ago when it was taken over by husband-and-wife team Alex and Lisa Rotherham, the pair behind the popular Bay Tree Cafe in Bury St Edmunds. Alex, who is Canadian, has brought some of his heritage to the pub’s new food menu, introducing authentic Canadian food and drinks alongside pub favourites – something that has already proved a hit at their café.
The garden is brilliant. It’s a space that’s perfect for everyone in sunny weather, with a patio area and a gently sloping lawn dotted with picnic tables. And there’s also a huge amount for visitors of all ages to do. A swing set will keep younger visitors entertained, while older children and adults can challenge each other to a game of table tennis – just ask at the bar for the bats and balls.
There’s also a covered games area with table football and a pool table – the former completely free to use, the latter requiring a £20 refundable deposit for the pool cues and balls.
Just as impressive as the garden is the interior. The building itself is very traditional, full of exposed beams, character and a choice of rooms, meaning you can sit amongst the buzz of fellow drinkers and diners or find a quieter corner for a relaxed drink.
We ordered our drinks from the bar: a Woodforde’s Wherry for my husband, and a homemade chocolate milk for our son, which garnered a “delicious” verdict after the first sip. I couldn’t resist trying the iced Canadiana coffee which, as you’d expect from the name, featured maple syrup in the starring role, giving a beautiful sweetness without overpowering the flavour of the coffee.
We hadn’t planned to eat, but a browse of the food menu (and a recommendation for the poutine (£9.99) from the friendly Australian manager) changed our minds…
It was definitely the right decision. The mound of golden, crispy chips was generously smothered in a rich, salty chicken gravy and topped with plenty of proper Cheddar cheese curds. This was just what was needed after a long walk, and we polished off the lot between fiercely contested rounds of ping pong.
The ordering of dessert by the other table in the garden tempted us to do the same, and we chose a Nanaimo bar (£6.75) to share.
This was beautifully presented with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a swirl of chocolate sauce, and tasted just as good as it looked. The rich cocoa biscuit base, packed with coconut, was topped with an indulgent custard buttercream and finished with a thick layer of dark chocolate. The chocolate topping may have been a little too thick to cut through gracefully, but that’s only a minor criticism.
What started as a spontaneous stop in Whepstead for a drink ended up being pretty special. The combination of that great garden, games for all ages, the welcoming atmosphere, the characterful interior and a menu offering something genuinely different (and delicious!) makes The White Horse in Whepstead totally different from your average village pub. Alex and Lisa may not have been there long, but they’ve already put their own stamp on the place. We’ll definitely be back soon.