White Horse adds deli and gin bars

July 10, 2017

The award-winning White Horse near Banbury has recently added a deli bar and a botanical gin bar, and refurbished the dining areas.

Tenants Hendrik Dutton and Julie Groves have run the pub since 2013 and collected a string of awards and acclaim for the food. Opening a deli bar in May was a strategic move, as Hendrik explains: “We wanted to make a few changes and the deli bar brought everything together.  Now, we close our kitchen on Tuesdays as well as Mondays, but open it on a Sunday night, and we no longer close the pub completely on Monday.  Having the deli bar means we always have some food available, seven days a week, so if customers turn up without booking, we can offer them something.”

It was important for the deli bar to share the White Horse’s ethos of top quality food, simply prepared. Fresh bread, cheeses and charcuterie can be ordered individually or as a platter, customers choosing their own items or taking the server’s suggestion. Customers can eat at a table or at the stools next to the bar.

Hendrik adds, “The deli bar is used all day, with customers wanting a light lunch or snack, and it’s keeping our evening customers a little longer; some of them like to move there after dinner to finish their wine with a bit of cheese. It’s enabled us to change our offer without changing what the White Horse is all about.”

At the same time, Hendrik & Julie have created a botanical gin bar, displaying up to 30 different gins which are served with a recommended tonic and garnish. “The growth of craft gin is phenomenal, and we’ve had a lot of interest in the gin bar.”