20. Little White Hart - Riverside (Brakspears) NOW CLOSED

kml (Google Earth) file - get Google Earth - show on map - submit a review | Leave a tip!

"Went to the LWH in Jan 2004 for a beer only to discover it had closed and was boarded up - how many more pubs are going to close in the town?" - Nick, January 2004

"You ought to record on your site the sad fact that the LWH closed this summer, following the disgraceful sale of the brewery. It is supposed to re-open at some point as a pub (with the upstairs accommodation transformed into offices and flats) - but don't hold your breath." - Tim, October 2003

"Popped in for a quick beer as part of a crawl of pubs in Henley. Very, very quiet. Beer was good." - Nick, November 2002

"About twenty members of my family and friends met at the Little White Hart in Henley on September 22nd 2001 for a lon-awaited reunion. My American husband (of one year) had never been to Henley and had never met most of my family; I, on the other hand, grew up in the area, was weaned on Brakspears, and was a barmaid at the "Little" throughout my student days (thirty years ago!) I learned all I knew about bartending from that most professional barmaid, Flossie. It was our family pub too. The Cottage Bar was my father's "local" and my sister (who also did a stint at bartending) had her wedding reception there - in the pub! Those were the days.
It was, however, with some trepidation that I chose the Bar at the LWH as the site for our reunion; I was afraid that it would have changed out of all recognition and that we would be disappointed. I was wrong. The bar has changed but little since the early '70's. Not that it is out-dated or has been neglected, but the quality and style has been maintained and so has the beer!
The early arrivals were comfortably installed in the bar when a family with a nine-year was refused entry - quite correctly, I suppose. I was concerned about the impact of this on our reunion, until the very friendly hostess offered us a private room, which happened to be empty, in which to relocate our party. We took over the River Room and had a good time, well served by the bar staff and hostess. The beer and the food were excellent and the service very forgiving, even of the voracious appetites of the young for food and the elders for libations! The prices seemed reasonable by my standards, but it must be remembered that I live in the United States. In short, a good time was had by all, and we were very pleased that we had returned to my family's old haunt, the Little White Hart. Thank you to all concerned. See you again soon! (link to reunion photos)
P.S. Ward, my husband, consumed his fair share of Brakspear's best bitter and thought it was "jolly good"! It stood up well to comparison with Adnams, Hook Norton, and a number of other brews in Oxfordshire, Suffolk and London during our visit!" - Hilary, October 2001

"Our first stop of the night. Very pleasant pub both inside and out. A bit touristy, there were 3 guys in the bar discussing whether or not they could reach Marlow by the following night!
Unless they were walking on their hands I suspect the answer was yes! However the bar staff were very efficient and they upheld their no children policy when a couple arrived with a child. The beers on tap were Brakspears (inevitably) Bitter, Special and Downpour. We chose the Downpour which was very good if a little expensive at £2.30 and was also a bit of a prediction judging by what happened to the weather after we left." - Ian & Kevin, September 2001

"I was in this pub on Christmas eve and there were only eleven people present, two bar staff, four people at the bar and the five of use! Beer was good." - Nick, December 1999

"Another visit and the pub was busy and the beer good" - Nick, December 1998

"I was in here for a quick few pints on a Friday night. The pub was doing a good business, but not too crowded. I had several pints of the current seasonal ale Reaper's Reward which were very enjoyable but very expensive (well over £2 per pint)." - Nick, September 1998

"The managers at the Little White Hart (Phil and Tina) seem to have hit their stride. There was some local concern after the Brewery took the place back after the death of the previous landlord, and the removal of his widow, but the friendly duo seem to have sorted things out. The place has taken on much of the atmosphere that it had under Brian Fitzpatrick, and the food is good and reasonably priced. The Little White Hart still serves the best breakfast in town, and the staff is friendly and helpful. The brewery apparently has big plans to expand and improve the hotel and the pub. The installation of their own staff instead of licensees brings control by Brakspear's management, let us wait and see what that means." - Bill, June 1998

"Brakspear's seasonal beers are about 15% more expensive than in any other pub I've tried in Henley. For example, Bee Sting, the current seasonal, is an outrageous £2.34 in the LWH and only £2.00 in the Olde Bell. But Jules, the barman with the pony tail, is an excellent bloke who pulls great pints of Guinness and draws the best shamrock in the head of the pint that I have ever seen." - Tim, May 1998

"Brakespear's has taken this place over from the popular landlady Gillian FitzPatrick. According to those in the know, there are grand plans afoot to rip out the old pub and put in a redesigned replacement. Brakespear's has been quietly moving people out of the apartments (which they also own) alongside the hotel and it all seems to lead towards expansion next year. Meanwhile the food has deteriorated, and there have been complaints about the way the rooms are being cleaned. It is my bet that there will be numbers on the tables soon, like the several chains that have replaced proper service with a sort of do it yourself system. Not what it used to be." - Bill, February 1998

"Brakspears has dumped the popular landlady Gillian Fitzpatrick and will take over the hotel and pub in the first week in November. First signs seem to indicate they will ruin the place by turning it into one of those chain pubs with numbers on the tables and indigestible food. We will keep our eye on this one." - Bill, September 1997

"Here is another example of corporate greed. Gillian Fitzpatrick, (widow of the former landlord Brian) is being pitched out on her ear come October. Brakspear's has apparently discovered that the place is doing even better than it did under the popular Brian, and is putting in their own manager. Look for this place to go down hill from there." - Bill, February 1997

"The Little White Hart is also the largest hotel in Henley, has some of the best food at reasonable prices and definitely does not attract kids. It is run by Gillian Fitzpatrick, a friendly and helpful hostess. Lots of business people at lunch, and the bar is almost always crowded. Service good and quick." - Bill, September 1996

"I like this place. Lesser known garden too... lots of ex-rowers here. Bit of a sedate, first date type of pub where you can talk without the music blasting your ears etc." - Luci, August 1996

"Yes another pub I quite like, although more of a weekday pub than a Saturday nighter. Food good. Not much else to say." - Mary, July 1995

"Henley's other riverside pub (although there is a road in the way!)." - Nick, July 1995