The White Horse,

1-3 Parsons Green, London, 0207 736 2115 Mark Dorber's legendary hostelry has not only secured the White Horse its front-running position in the ranking of our top 20 pubs, but has also helped it earn a place in the heart of the trade.

Having built a reputation for offering pedigree food and drink in a stunning location over the past 23 years, Dorber now plays host to a raft of industry events from tastings to impromptu gatherings of some of the sector's leading lights.

His trained business eye and bottomless beer knowledge have prompted his landlord, Mitchells & Butlers, to take the unusual decision to relax his tie, enabling him to exercise an enviable freedom over the pub's range.

Exploiting this deal in every facet of the business, Dorber has sourced an eclectic portfolio of beers, including some from Chiswick micro brewer Oakham JHB as well as an impressive collection of 55 bottled beers from all over the world, including brews from the six trappist monasteries still brewing.

But even some monasteries don't match the great Victorian allure of the pub's building, which sits proudly on the corner of Parsons Green.

With an existing coach house-turned-restaurant ­ and an ingenious second restaurant dedicated specifically to beer and food matching opening next month ­ it's not surprising the clientele is a mix of Fulham families and stylish foodies.

"We have a hugely-popular terraced area just outside," says Dorber.

"So you can imagine the amount of Ferraris being casually parked on the pavement.