Out & About
Warm up winter at the new-look White Horse
Regulars and new faces alike are enjoying the fresh new look and cosy atmosphere at The White Horse following its recent revamp, which has made the popular Harpenden pub an even lovelier place to enjoy good food and drink and good company.
The pub’s been constantly busy since being taken over by the award-winning Peach Pub Company eight years ago, with general manager Jon Waterhouse and his team working hard to ensure the food and atmosphere are always at their best. With so many guests beating a path through the doorway, the time had come to give the pub a new lease of life, as he explains.
“The White Horse is a really lovely, historic pub, that’s full of character and charm,” he says. “We definitely wanted to keep it that way so our new look has been carefully planned to bring out its best features whilst revitalising the interior and give it a stylish new look.
“There are lots of cosy spaces, especially the bar and the eatery beyond with its wooden rafters and stripped wooden flooring, so we’ve restored these and added elegant new furniture, furnishings, lighting and accessories to create a really smart but comfortable space,” he says.
The beautiful eatery has gorgeous sofa style seating in rich rusts and newly upholstered chairs in soft greys, rounded out by a vibrant yellow feature wall and full length curtains at one end. Natural wood and wicker give the place a warm glow, with clusters of smaller tables and one mid height table seating eight comfortably that’s already getting rapidly booked up for celebration dinners and special occasions.
The snug is decorated in rich reds and corals, with hand-printed wallpapers in nature-inspired prints softening the walls. As well as tub chairs covered in toning yellow and cream fabrics, there are new tall tables and stools in luxurious velvets creating perfect spots to sit and sip on a glass of something chilled.
The front bar, meanwhile, retains its traditional look with the wooden panelled walls painted in deep burgundy, the warm glow from copperware hung above the bar and from the original brick fireplace with its roaring fire, the perfect antidote to chillier days and evenings.
Tucked away upstairs the pub’s private dining room is freshly decorated and fitted with a new TV and laptop compatible presentation facilities, making it the ideal option for meetings and business lunches as well as for drinks and dinner parties for up to 14 guests.
Head chef Dan Kennie, who trained in Marco Pierre White restaurants, has come up with a choice of delectable new dishes for everything from light lunches to hearty suppers. Cornish Lamb Scrumpets, deliciously crisp on the outside with a filling of meltingly soft lamb inside and a punchy salsa verde make a great snack with a good pint of ale, as does potted native crab with toasted sourdough.
Mains vary from a filling free-range chicken and ham pie with silky buttered mash, greens and a rich jus to locally sourced Woburn venison haunch served with Boulangère potatoes, roasted carrots and a warming port and juniper jus. Vegan friendly Sri Lankan sweet potato and cashew curry accompanied by chapati, lime pickle and coconut sambal as well as grilled calves liver with smoked bacon, kale and mash are also going down well.
The White Horse keeps an excellent pint, like Sidepocket for a Toad from the Tring Brewery which goes with big spicy flavours as well as drinking well on its own. Seasonal guest ales make regular appearances on the bar, whilst Wolfpack Pilsner brewed by former Saracens rugby players Alistair Hargreaves and Chris Wyles is a permanent fixture.
The White Horse is also a magical place for Christmas celebrations. On the menu is bronze, free range turkey from Worcester, Cornish lamb, British beef and responsibly sourced fish. Spiced sweet potato and kale pie with spinach and wild mushrooms or fillet of sea bream with leeks, white beans, mussels and white wine make for deliciously different options alongside traditional roast turkey. With the big day less than a month away, book today and enjoy a proper feast. What’s more, for each guest who enjoys a Christmas meal, The White Horse will donate 25p to Shelter to help those affected by homelessness.
“We’re very pleased with our new look which has given the pub a new lease of life, but most importantly, so are our guests,” says Jon. “They are here with their friends and family enjoying what’s on offer and feeling right at home in our lovely, cosy pub, which is positively glowing! Come and join them by paying us a visit soon – we look forward to welcoming you.”
The White Horse is on Redbourn Lane, Hatching Green, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JP, minutes from Harpenden town centre. To book a table for lunch, dinner or for a Christmas celebration, please go to https://www.thewhitehorseharpenden.co.uk/booking-stage-1/, email
thewhitehorse@peachpubs.com or call 01582 469290
There are times when a business meeting calls for something more relaxed than a boardroom yet more polished than a standard pub table. My recent visit to The Bell at Ramsbury was exactly that — an informal get-together with a few business partners over drinks and supper, chosen for its reputation and setting rather than ceremony.
From the moment I walked in, the tone felt right. The interior blends exposed brickwork, solid wooden beams and soft, ambient lighting in a way that feels authentic rather than staged. The red leather banquette seating, plaid-backed upholstery and sturdy wooden tables create a space that is both comfortable and quietly professional. It’s the kind of environment where conversation flows naturally, without distraction.
Food That Delivers
The menu leans confidently into well-executed British classics, and what I appreciated most was its clarity. No unnecessary complication — just good ingredients handled properly.
The burger was a standout. A thick, juicy beef patty layered with melted cheese, sharp pickles and fresh tomato, all contained within a glossy seeded bun and neatly skewered. It arrived with golden, crisp chips served in a small metal bucket. It was generous without being excessive, indulgent but balanced — exactly what you want when you’re combining business with a relaxed meal.
I also opted for the cheeseboard, which felt thoughtfully assembled rather than routine. A creamy brie, a mature hard cheese and a well-balanced blue provided contrast in flavour and texture. The crackers were crisp, the chutney rich and slightly sweet, and fresh red grapes cut through the richness perfectly. It worked well as both a shared course and a conversation companion.
Dessert was simple but elegant — a poached pear presented upright in a light syrup, paired with a scoop of smooth vanilla ice cream set on a crumble base. It was refined without being fussy, and a fitting way to close the meal.
A Setting That Encourages Conversation
What makes The Bell particularly effective for business meetings is its layout. The dining area feels open yet private enough for discussion. After eating, I moved into the lounge space — leather Chesterfield-style sofas, a central fireplace, shelves of books and framed portraits creating a setting that feels more like a private sitting room than a commercial venue.
It’s a space that invites you to stay. Conversations continue without interruption, and there’s no sense of being hurried along.
Service That Understands the Room
Service throughout the evening was attentive, calm and efficient. Drinks were refreshed seamlessly, courses arrived at a comfortable pace, and the staff struck the right balance between presence and discretion — something I value highly in a business setting.
Final Thoughts
The Bell at Ramsbury succeeds because it knows exactly what it is. It doesn’t rely on trends or theatrics. Instead, it offers warmth, substance and consistency — all delivered in a setting that feels genuine.
For me, it proved to be an excellent choice for meeting business partners: relaxed but professional, hearty yet considered, welcoming without being overbearing. If you’re looking for a countryside venue that allows both conversation and quality to take centre stage, The Bell delivers with quiet confidence.
Work dinners can be deceptively hard to get right. With a large group, you’re not just relying on the kitchen — you’re relying on pacing, coordination, and a team that can stay calm when the room is busy.
My recent dinner at Miller & Carter Reading was exactly the kind of organised, reliable evening a work gathering needs. It was lively, slightly polished, and — most importantly — it ran smoothly from start to finish.
The space has that modern, uniformed Miller & Carter feel: dark tables, low lighting, and leather-style booth seating that leans smart without feeling stiff. Warm red table lamps add a soft glow across the room and help give the dining area a more settled atmosphere, even when it’s busy.
We were seated in a booth, which worked well for a group dinner — conversation stayed contained and it felt like we had our own “zone” within the restaurant. The only real downside was that, once everyone was seated, the booth felt a little cramped. The restaurant itself is spacious and clearly set up for bigger parties, but the seating can feel tight depending on numbers.
The noise level was on the louder side, and it stayed busy — but in a good way. It felt energetic rather than chaotic, and you could still talk comfortably across the table.
Food That Delivers
I started with halloumi fries and chipotle chilli jam. They were properly crisp, with that soft, salty centre you want from halloumi, and the jam added a gentle smoky heat that played well without taking over.
For my starter, I went for the baked cheddar mushrooms (V) — mushrooms in a creamy Cheddar cheese and spinach sauce, served with toasted breads. It was rich in the best way: warming, well-balanced, and ideal for sharing if you’re eating as a group. The toasted bread did its job without feeling like an afterthought.
For the main, I ordered the 16oz ribeye, cooked medium, with peppercorn sauce. The steak arrived tender and full of flavour, with that signature char that Miller & Carter tends to do well. It was exactly what I hoped for from a ribeye — satisfying, juicy, and cooked as ordered.
On the side, I had sweet potato fries and the onion loaf. The fries were a solid match for the peppercorn sauce, and the onion loaf added that familiar, crowd-pleasing element that suits group dining — easy to share, easy to enjoy.
I had cider with the meal, though I can’t recall the brand. We skipped dessert, largely because the mains felt more than generous enough.
A Room That Handles Groups
What stood out most was how controlled the evening felt. With a large party, it’s easy for service to become uneven — drinks forgotten, starters delayed, mains landing at random. That didn’t happen here.
Drinks and starters came out quickly and smoothly, and the pacing between courses stayed comfortable all evening. Even with a busy room, nothing felt rushed or chaotic.
No single staff member stood out — not because the service wasn’t good, but because it was consistently attentive across the board. Everyone did what they needed to do, and for a work dinner, that reliability is exactly what you want.
We were there for around two hours, and the whole experience felt well-timed.
Final Thoughts
Miller & Carter Reading is a strong option when you want steak, structure, and a dining room that can cope with a lively crowd. The ribeye was tender, the starters were satisfying, and the service was well-paced and efficient — even with a big group.
If you’re booking for a work gathering, a celebration, or even a date night where you want something dependable, it’s a safe choice — with the small caveat that booth seating can feel a little cramped once numbers climb.
After a spectacular debut in 2025, Found Festival is set to return to the scenic Claydon Estate, Buckinghamshire, for the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2026. Following a three-day celebration of music, culture, and community, organisers have announced a limited number of early bird tickets frozen at 2025 prices, alongside a new tiered ticketing system to ensure accessibility for all.
A Shining Debut in 2025
Born from the 60-year legacy of Towersey Festival, Found Festival’s first edition brought together grassroots talent and cultural discovery in a family-friendly setting. The event delivered on its promise of “head-turners, not headliners,” with standout performances across Americana, folk, world music, comedy, and wellbeing experiences.
Highlights included:
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Elles Bailey delivering soaring country soul.
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Talisk impressing with jaw-dropping virtuosity.
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The Longest Johns bringing rousing sea-shanties.
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Honeyfeet captivating with soulful ferocity.
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Comedy from Robin Ince, Marcel Leconte, and rising star Chelsea Birkby.
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Family fun with Professor Elemental’s steampunk antics and Nutty Noah’s acrobatic storytelling.
Beyond the stages, the festival site came alive with Ceilidhs, dance and craft workshops, circus artistry, stone-carving demos, nightly fire shows, silent discos, and a dedicated wellbeing programme featuring yoga, breathwork, and a wood-fired sauna overlooking the estate’s lake.
Building for 2026: Accessible Ticketing
Co-director Joe Heap reflected:
“Found is an event built with love, creativity, and a whole lot of hard work. We’re delighted with how our first year has gone, despite the challenges. It’s increasingly hard to run an independent festival, and none of it would have been possible without the incredible support of our community.”
To ensure Found 2026 remains accessible, a tiered ticket system has been introduced:
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Supporter Tier: Pay a little more to help subsidise reduced tickets.
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Standard Tier: Covers the base cost of producing the event.
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Supported Tier: A subsidised rate for those needing financial help (released once enough Supporter tickets are sold).
Only 300 early bird tickets are now available — with camping included — at 2025 prices, plus reduced caravan-pitch rates and unchanged hook-up fees. Interest-free instalment plans will also launch at the end of September.
Dates and Tickets
Found Festival 2026 takes place Friday 28th – Monday 31st August 2026 at Claydon Estate, Buckinghamshire.
️ Tickets available now via Gigantic.
Whether you’re drawn by grassroots music, family-friendly creativity, or the wellbeing sanctuary by the lake, Found Festival 2026 promises another unforgettable summer celebration.
