What’s the White Horse like?
This Shepherd Neame pub, which dates back to the 1400s, was given a total makeover by award-winning licensees the Thompson family in 2024. It is a short drive from the medieval market town of Faversham and was even mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer’s historic book, The Canterbury Tales.
How dog-friendly is the White Horse?
Incredibly dog-friendly. Pets are allowed throughout the pub, including both the restaurant and bar areas. You’ll find complimentary dog treats on the bar, water bowls aplenty and Sir Woofchester’s treat boxes for sale. There is an additional charge of £10 per dog per night to stay.
Tell me more about the White Horse
There are 11 rooms at the pub, all of which are located on the first floor. We stayed in No.6 – a spacious superking room close to a set of stairs with good access to the pub garden. As you might expect from a 600-year-old building, there are creaky floors, low doorframes, sloping ceilings and wooden beams – but it all adds to the charm.
Our recently renovated room was incredibly stylish with sage green walls, on-trend rattan lampshades and vintage furniture. But the bed was the real standout for us, as it was enormous – and incredibly comfortable to boot. The room, which also had quirky floral prints on the walls, had a real relaxing vibe and battery-powered candles only added to that.
We had a great range of teas, coffees and hot chocolate to choose from and the bathroom, with its wooden beams, geometric tiled floor and cool panelled walls, seamlessly blended old and new. The rolltop bath was a treat and there were also fluffy white towels and complimentary Duck Island toiletries to enjoy.
What’s the food like at the White Horse?
Delicious. There’s a big emphasis on fresh, local produce here and many of the dishes are seasonal. When we visited, on a chilly February day, there was a huge selection of Small and Big Plates on the menu (think beer-battered fish and chips and chicken ballotine), not to mention items from the cute deli counter, such as handcrafted pork pies and cheeses, plus specials.
We opted for two hearty classics – the toad in the hole (made vegetarian) and the root vegetable pie with mash and winter greens, pictured above. Both were really tasty and filling. And while my husband rounded off his meal with a cheeseboard, I went for the homemade apple strudel served with salted caramel sauce, which was just… wow!
Breakfast is also well worth getting out of bed for, with everything from a Full English to old-school boiled eggs and soldiers. Both the bar and restaurant have a really lovely, rustic feel with wooden floors, a log burner, old photographs and candlelit tables at night. We loved the quirky light fittings too, which had been made from old spirit bottles.
Are there resident dogs at the White Horse?
Yes, the owners have several dogs who live in the cottage next to the pub. We encountered three during our stay! All the dogs are very well-behaved and you will probably see them patrolling the restaurant off-lead or waiting by the kitchen door to collect their ‘sausage tax’. If this might stress your dog out during your stay though, do let the staff know.
Where are the best dog walks near the White Horse?
Helpfully, Shepherd Neame has started putting together a list of walks that start and finish at its pubs. At the time of writing, there were 14 guides – and the White Horse was one of the pubs to make the cut! The recommended route, which leaves from the front door, takes in a mix of woodland paths and fields. It is approximately five miles long and should take around two hours to complete. Click here to find out more and download a map.
Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park, pictured above, is also a great place for dogs to have a good run off-lead. The site contains the remains of a former gunpowder factory that was in operation until the 1930s and has four different walking trails to follow. It’s totally free to visit the park, which is around a 10-minute drive from the White Horse. For more information about the site and its trails, click here.
What Ernie and Stan loved about the White Horse
The sausages for breakfast, the fuss from staff
What I loved about the White Horse
The enormous comfy bed, the delicious food, the friendly team
How to book the White Horse
Rooms start from £110 per night, including breakfast. For more information or to book, call 01795 500387 or visit the White Horse website.
