Top marks for a top pub

Sep 24 2009 Buckinghamshire Advertiser

KATE ROSS eats at White Hart, Aylesbury End, Beaconsfield Telephone: 01494 671 211

I WAS joined for lunch by Polly Manser, the Advertiser's reporter for Beaconsfield, and Hannah Stacey, who is writing a blog, High School Muse, for the paper's website.

The White Hart is a quintessential pub with a delightfully cosy element. The warming smell of food and wooden beams make the place very welcoming. Unobtrusive background music creates a relaxed environment and the staff are smartly dressed and pleasant.

The menu is extensive, offering starters and sharers, salads, fish, grills and traditional pub fare as well as a tempting pudding section and a children's menu. Daily specials are displayed both on chalk boards around the pub and on each table. Coffees and teas are also available. Vegetarians may struggle slightly, with only a few options available.

I chose the mushroom and spinach lasagne with garlic ciabatta (£6.95), Polly had the handmade fishcakes with seasoned chips and green salad (£6.95) and Hannah had the hunter's chicken with cheddar, bacon, barbecue sauce, seasoned chips and green beans (£8.25).

The food was served promptly, nicely displayed and was declared extremely delicious by all three of us. The lasagne was delightfully cheesy and warming, the fishcakes were clearly home-made, with visible pieces of broccoli and flakes of salmon, the chicken was perfectly grilled and the chips extremely moreish.

We were staggered by the amount of food on our plates and actually struggled to finish it; we left feeling very full and satisfied. And the fact that the total bill came to less than £25 added to our feelings of satisfaction.

Car parking space is available behind the pub.