Set in West Mersea, Britain’s most easterly island, The White Hart is an elegant pub with rooms and a fantastic array of outdoor seating. Food takes on cues from Italy, Spain, and the south of France, with an elegant touch often peppered with modern British pub dishes. Whether you’re stopping by for a casual meal or a light bite, or looking to go all out with your order for something more celebratory, all the bases are covered.
Inside, there’s a pretty, marine feel to the dining room matched with a cosy green colour palette, leather booth seating, parquet flooring and wicker lamp shades. To the rear is an attractive courtyard, complete with sun umbrellas, multicoloured tables, and comfortable benches and chairs topped with cushions.
As for The White Hart Inn menu, alongside daily specials, you’ll find snacks and smaller bites like hash browns with mushroom parfait and black garlic, Mersea oysters, and ham hock croquettes. Light dishes might include fish finger sandwiches with tartare sauce and gem lettuce, rare breed beef burgers, seasonal salad dishes and pasta plates that might come in beef ragu with creme fraiche and old Winchester cheese.
Alternatively, you can select from the small plates and starters section and order a few dishes to share, including lamb sweetbreads with smoked Cheddar custard and wild garlic, crab with watercress mayo, or wild mushroom tarts with miso and grilled radicchio. Larger plates at The White Hart Inn offer options like fish stew with gurnard, mussels, clams, and pollock; roast venison haunch with colcannon and smoked bone marrow fat cabbage; and rare breed 42-55 day aged steak with fat chips, rocket, field mushrooms and onion rings. There’s a kids’ menu too.
On Sundays, The White Hart Inn turns out a range of roasts, including loin of Blythburgh pork, rump beef, and a celeriac Wellington. All come with roasties, seasonal vegetables, a Yorkshrie pudding and gravy.