HIDDEN away off the beaten track, The White Horse pub in the lovely village of Pleshey is a delightful find and most certainly worth the drive.
Located about five miles from Chelmsford, the venue has recently been taken over by a team of young catering professionals with a reputation for providing outstanding homemade dishes. Choose from a menu that is unashamedly traditional with all the comforting tastes of good home cooked food.
A firm favourite already is the steak pudding: oozing delicious gravy and succulent chunks of meat it will satisfy even the biggest appetites. But it’s not all about size. The ethos at the White Horse is to source as much local produce as possible with fresh seasonal vegetables and locally reared meat. Fresh fish is bought daily, and the 14oz cod fillet is proving very popular, as are the delicious fresh whitebait.
Walking into the pub it would be hard to remain indifferent to its cosy charm. Garlands of hops are strung from the oak beams giving the pub a lovely fresh aroma. As well as the dedicated restaurant area visitors can choose a seat by the roaring log fires or snuggle up in a cosy nook to enjoy a drink and feel the cares of the day fading away.
Liz, the new licensee, is keen for the White Horse to remain an integral part of village life and many locals are delighted with the sympathetic restoration as well as the range of food now on offer.
It is advisable, although not essential, to book your table if you are planning to eat. Food is served six days a week at both lunchtime and in the evening (closed Mondays) and a two-course Sunday roast is served from 12 until 5pm each Sunday. Telephone 01245 237281 to book your table, or find out more at www. whitehorsepleshey.co.uk.