Have I been here before?

I was sober enough to realise we had not wandered in to a Chinese restaurant by mistake, even if there was a large fish tank by the front door. And sober enough not to wander in to the tank, either.

The name sounded traditional: the White Horse. But this pub, newly refurbed and reopened, was more inkeeping (forgive me) with the high streets of modern Britain. There was a DJ in the corner, and a feeling of space in the main body of the pub, perfect for standing-up gathering, rather than, say, dominos.

There were smart black faux-leather chairs, flatscreen televisions showing sport. Quite a few punters about for a weekday night at 7.30pm. The place was ticking boxes.

The Tribute served was superb, top drawer in fact, but I felt I could have been drinking it in any similar high street bar in any high street in England.

The White Horse, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, North Devon

Adam's Ale rating: 2 out of 5

Drink this: Tribute