Lizzie Wood - Freelance Journalist

White Hart -Tuddenham St Mary

'The menu is littered with ‘home made’ and ‘traditional’, and it’s reassuring to see habitual favourites such as steak and ale pie, lasagne, and chilli con carne filling the menu – too often they’re being replaced by Thai green curry! '

As the emblem of King Richard II, the White Hart became a popular label for Inns and Taverns during his reign: it was at one time such an ubiquitous pub name that it became synonymous with pubs in the same way that we call a vacuum cleaner a Hoover today. There may be a more miscellaneous naming convention nowadays – The Slug and Lettuce comes to mind – but a quick search on the Local Secrets’ Web site will show you that many pubs still have the stag hanging outside.

One of these is the White Hart in Tuddenham St Mary, and although it can’t claim heritage reaching back to King Richard’s reign, it has been quenching the thirst of villagers for over 200 years. A quiet village hidden in the back roads between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds, Tuddenham is perhaps now most famous for the elegant Mill Hotel and Restaurant that arrests you as you enter the village. Although its development may have overshadowed the more traditional White Hart, it’s clear that these are two very different venues, and if you’re after time-honoured British fare, it’s worth driving further into the village.

Set on the quiet High Street, the White Hart is a traditional English village pub serving real ales courtesy of Greene King and homely, hearty food. Visiting on what was one of the hottest days in the beautiful British summer, we were welcomed as warmly as the weather, and able to enjoy a pint of guest ale in the pub garden, which offers a view of the somewhat run-down exterior of the pub.

Despite outside appearances, inside, the pub has obviously received some TLC, with an almost out-of-place contemporary dining room separated from a more traditional, laid back bar area. Both spaces enjoy access to the bar, and to the friendly staff, and you’re certainly well looked after. The menu is littered with ‘home made’ and ‘traditional’, and it’s reassuring to see habitual favourites such as steak and ale pie, lasagne, and chilli con carne filling the menu – too often they’re being replaced by Thai green curry!

The food certainly lives up to its expectations, and is obviously freshly prepared using equally fresh ingredients. The smiling and warm service make this a welcoming venue whenever you visit, however, if it wants to thrive, perhaps a little more TLC is needed to restore the venue to its former, 200 year old glory.