The White Horse — Restaurant in Warwick

I am really disappointed at this place.

We were a group of four international students and graduates from the Uni of Warwick who visited your bar as we have on previous occasions without issue. However, this time, our experience was markedly different and deeply upsetting.

Upon entering the premises, we were asked for ID at the entrance, which is standard procedure. However, once inside, we were unexpectedly asked again to present identification at the bar when attempting to order drinks. While this seemed unusual, we complied without hesitation.

The situation became concerning when the bartender took an unreasonably long time to inspect our Indian friend’s ID. Despite our Italian friend being served, our friend from India was eventually told that her government-issued ID was not acceptable. When I asked whether this meant my Peruvian ID and that of our other friend (Mexico) would also be rejected, I was told yes, and that only documents like passports and BRPs (Biometric Residence Permits) were valid for non-European customers.

This was shocking and inconsistent with our experience in numerous other establishments across the UK, where foreign national IDs have been routinely accepted as valid proof of age. Furthermore, the explanation given was flawed and outdated. The BRP system has been replaced with e-visas, which we all possess. The staff seemed unaware of this change in UK Home Office regulations and did not acknowledge digital immigration statuses as valid.

When I calmly voiced that the situation felt racist, it was immediately denied, and a security staff member was called over. Instead of accurately addressing our valid concerns, we were asked to leave the premises. Being ejected from a bar we’ve previously frequented was deeply distressing and felt like an unjust, biased decision rooted in ignorance of current regulations, if not outright discrimination.

It is unreasonable to expect residents to carry their passports at all times, especially when the UK government actively encourages use of digital immigration status to avoid such risks. It is also deeply disappointing that this occurred in Leamington Spa—a town known for its large and vibrant international community, many of whom study or have studied at Warwick, like us. This town thrives thanks to its diversity, yet this experience made it clear that your establishment is not keeping up with that reality or showing the inclusivity that such a community deserves.

We felt singled out, embarrassed, and mistreated. We are residents of this country—working, studying, and contributing members of society—and we expect to be treated with the same respect as any...

NOTE: I have no clue how the original 4-star review appeared here, and got a response from The White Horse, as I didn't post it. With that in mind, I'm entering a fuller review and showing the detail of the rating. I'm rounding up the fraction rather than down --- 7 out of 15 = 3 stars.

VISITED: With a large group on a Saturday night.

FOOD/SERVICE: We ordered a sour dough bread starter and then I had the "Pan-Fried Hake & Gunpowder Potatoes, with spinach, bouillabaisse sauce, lilliput capers" (per the menu).

The bread starter was OK, but when we finished it were told that the mains hadn't been started - waiting for us to finish the appretizer.

The hake was fine - a fat and flaky piece of fish - but the gunpowder potatoes weren't great. I wouldn't say that they were raw, but they certainly seemed undercooked. The whole meal sat heavy in my stomach well into the morning of the following day.

The service was OK. We were asked if the bread was alright, but no one checked in on the mains.

My wife, with an anaphylatic allergy, found the coleslaw she ordered contained something she couldn't safely eat after it arrived and had scattered it on her salad. We always have to go through the process of checking for allergins at every eatery we visit, so that was disappointing, and thankfully avoided.

ATMOSPHERE: Really damned noisy. Yes, it was a Saturday, but the place is cramped, loud, has both piped and live music (we left before the live music started) and I struggled to have conversations with someone I was sat next to in a corner.

The place was well lit, clean, secured with door staff, and was otherwise OK, but it isn't somewhere I would choose to go personally --- this was a...

The bar staff were excellent and very accommodating all evening, they even gave me a taster of the Brewgooder Triplicity which was great. I had a few bar snacks which were very tasty. The atmosphere at The White Horse on Saturday was busy but not too bad. Really enjoyable evening. However, I’ve only given 4 stars because of your security/bouncer’s attitude at the end of the night which was unpleasant and impolite. We didn’t hear last orders called or hear a bell to inform our group that the pub was closing. His rude behaviour dampened what had been a very enjoyable evening until that point. Also to clarify our group mostly consisted of men in their 50s/60s and I didn’t appreciate being addressed in such a manner at my age of 61. We left the establishment quietly within 10mins. Your security man’s approach would have been more appropriate to a rowdy group of inebriated young men, not the relaxed middle aged group like us. Customer service from the rest of your team...