From the front, directly on the roundabout on the Hampton Wick side of the Kingston bridge across the Thames, the White Hart just looks like a pub — and it is one, but it’s also, as you will discover if you head down the little alleyway beside the building, a fair-sized hotel. The reception is tucked away down the alley, as is a sizeable car park for the use of the hotel’s customers. The company I was working for in downtown Kingston-Upon-Thames put me up here for a couple of weeks, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it before I got there, but the friendly staff, and the overall size and ambiance of the place eased my concerns. The rooms themselves are spacious, well furnished with leather couches, soft beds, and boast the latest amenities(bar fridge, espresso maker, and a luxurious rain shower in the modern bathroom. The free wifi was decent, if a little persnickety and insisted on forcing you to go back once a day, just to remind you that you were logged in… My room rate included daily breakfast at the pub, which was excellent. I ate there several nights as well: the food is high quality and the service is good, though the menu is fairly limited. Overall, a nice change of pace from more«standard» hotels. Everything was well designed and well executed to feel like an English hunt club, but it pulls it off without being the slightest bit cheesy. I’d definitely give it a try if you find yourself in Kingston.
