Stay Here: The White Hart, ChippenhamBy Iona Goulder
Quick weekend getaways are all the rage at the moment, and just two hours out of London, the White Hart Pub Chippenham, is a great choice.
The White Hart Chippenham: Setting
Just to emphasise the fact you’ve left London, the pub sits next to a river with part of it actually flowing underneath the restaurant.
Get there early and take advantage of the tables, chairs and benches spread out along the riverbank.
Being so excited to be in the countryside, we immediately ran up the nearest the hill to get a better a view of any surrounding farm animals. Yet for the less active, all the rooms are very comfortable and with modern TVs so you don’t have to miss a single episode of Millionaire Matchmaker.
The White Hart Chippenham: Activities
There are a number of activities and picturesque walks near to the pub’s location in Ford, including a trip to the sweet village of Corsham a few miles away (where peacocks apparently freely roam the streets), or if you’re feeling crazy, book a motor racing experience at the Castle Combe Circuit.
The White Hart Chippenham: Food
Dining in the White Hart’s own restaurant means it’s almost impossible to escape the idyllic bubble laid out for you. There’s no pub food here – expect crispy crab balls and josper-baked asparagus all washed down with an Espresso Martini or a glass of the Loire Valley’s finest.
If you need a perfect antidote to having a sweaty man in a suit prod you in the side while trying to turn the pages of his Evening Standard, then head down.
After dinner we did what all Londoners do in the countryside, look at the stars and try (and fail) to build fires.
By breakfast the next morning we were discussing when the next episode of The Archers was playing. There’s no doubt it’s about time to escape to this perfect country retreat, if only to give your lungs a bit of a break.
