Gainsborough – The White Horse

The White Horse is another Stonegate pub, part of their Craft Union pub which are little to do with craft products and far more to do with venues with a strong community feel and cheaper drinks prices.  I’m not sure how long it has been a pub (although I suspect it’s from the mid-Victorian period) and it’s also not a listed building, although the bricked up property on the left is. The pub used to be owned and operated by Hewitt Brothers of Grimsby, although they had operated the Trent Brewery on Silver Street in Gainsborough. The brewery ended up in a series of mergers and takeovers and it ended up being owned by Bass, who soon shut it.

The drinks range was typical for Craft Union, although just one real ale which was the Black Sheep best bitter. I can’t complain at the pricing of this, it was £2.10, which must be in the territory of making them very little money. It’s open long hours, usually around 10:00 until 23:00 for most days of the week, with the community element being evident. The service here was timely and polite, although it was evidently a pub where most customers already knew each other.

The head dissipated quickly, I think that’s likely soap residue on the side of the glass, but it was not the freshest ale that I’ve had although it remained drinkable. At £2.10 a pint though, it’s hard to find much to complain about.

For someone new to Gainsborough who wanted to meet people, this is likely a very good candidate pub as it’s laid-back and welcoming. I’m not sure that anyone wanting a range of real ales and craft beers would particularly rush here, but that market is likely covered by the JD Wetherspoon literally opposite to them. Craft Union pubs do offer some very keen pricing and I’m guessing that this is allowing more people to go out to the pub and is helping these venues remain open, so there’s a very real need for locations such as this.