White Hart Inn

Canterbury. A pub has been located on this site since at least 1837. The name "White Hart" comes from the personal royal badge of Richard II (there are 283 pubs in the UK with this name, the 4th most popular). It is built on the medieval ruins of St. Mary de Castro, a church and castle chapel that was destroyed in 1486. The pubs beer cellar originally served as the mortuary for the old church. A body chute remains intact in the cellar, once used to slide bodies down from ground level. A small park adjacent to the pub was the former church graveyard and old tombstones are still visible. There is also an ancient Roman burial grounds nearby. Of course, due to its location close to these, the pub is said to be haunted.

Inside there are several comfortable spaces surrounding the small central bar, serving beers from nearby Shepherd Neame Brewery (as you probably know, one of my favorites!). But the best thing for me is the beautiful, spacious beer garden, the largest in Canterbury. Sitting out there enjoying a Master Brew with the sun setting through the trees was the perfect ending after a long day of exploring Canterbury.