My pub research has taught me a few things, most importantly there are many different types of pubs. There are posh ones. Historical ones. Trendy. And now I know a good pub to watch QPR play. Don’t know QPR. Then you many want to skip this pub—at least on match day. The Queens Park Rangers is a football club that plays in the Premier League. And The White Horse is the perfect pub to watch them on the telly.
This pub doesn’t pretend to be anything that it isn’t The beer is served in plastic cups. If you want food, I hope crisps will suffice. Want to pay with a credit card—too bad. We walked in when QPR was playing. There were only a handful of patrons. But there were two doormen. This led me to believe that after the match QPR fans would stream in. I was correct. I asked someone who came in after the match and this pub is only a ten minute walk from the stadium.
I snapped a couple of photos and I’ll be honest, this didn’t impress anyone. If you visit this pub, don’t take photos. They are there to watch football, not to pose for photos. After the match, I tried taking more photos to give all of you a sense of how crowded it got. I got more sneers and the better half told me to stop. I listened.
Before the crowd arrived.
Now you may think that everyone in this pub was unfriendly. Not true at all. I had several delightful conversations with QPR fans. I’m finding that many people in London get a kick out of two Americans who love to watch football. At first they think I’m joking, but then when I talk about the teams, players, and managers, they start to take me seriously. If I really want to impress them, I mention that I went to the World Cup in South Africa. I don’t always share that, but it does come in handy.
You may be wondering how we located this gem. To be honest, we were wandering around in Shepherd’s Bush and spied The White Horse. It was cold and I was thirsty. We watched the QPR match and then a Liverpool match. We made several friends. I will warn you that many of the patrons are not shy when it comes to their beer. They can drink copious amounts. There was no way I could keep up. When one gent spilled his beer all over me and another person the better half and I split. The natives were restless, and I was hungry. I needed more than crisps.
All in all, I liked this pub. I hate people and places that pretend to be what they aren’t This pub is proud of being a pub that serves beer in plastic glasses. I admire that. And the next time I want to watch QPR play, I may head down to The White Horse and join in on the fun. And I’ll leave my camera at home—or at least in my bag. I give the pub 4 stars out of 5. There isn’t much to look at inside, but it has a great atmosphere and some real characters.
50 Year Project 
Your photos would have spoilt their alibis for why it took three hours to get home after the game ie the police kept us loced in the ground or there was a bombscare and we were stuck in between barriers lol
Ah, now that makes sense!
beer in a plastic glass – I am up for it!
This place doesn’t pretend to be something it is not. It sounds very down to earth with serious football fans.
For a moment when I read the title of your post, I thought you were talking about The White Horse Tavern here in Greenwich Village. Its claim to fame was the clientele: Dylan Thomas, James Baldwin, Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, just to name a few.
Though it sounds like the two pubs do have one thing in common — hasn’t changed much since then either. 🙂
Next time I am in your neck of the woods I’ll have to pop into this one. Sounds like it has a lot of history.
I will know where to go when I will be there, your reviews ares great.
I meant your reviews are great, sorry for typing too fast.
the way you described how they can drink a lot is just like how The IT Crowd (a brit sitcom) described the Cockneys who love football. Reading your review made remember that scene and smiled.
Can you spotted Cockney accent there?
I’m horrible with accents. I think it will take years to pick up on all of them.
England is full of accents….it always fascinates me whenever I heard new one.
Pick up an accent means talking in that accent or simply spotting it? I can’t speak in accent too but I am pretty good in separating which accent belongs to a certain area
I’m horrible on both accounts. Can’t mimic an accent or recognize many of them. It has become a game for my friends when they visit: see if I can figure out where people are from.
Well, I certainly like the name – I love white horses!