Got cabin fever? Need a getaway? Check out The Whip Tavern in West Marlborough Township

Don't let the dull, dreary winter doldrums get you down. Get out of the house.

Cabin Fever Getaways is a new, seasonal series featuring restaurants you can escape to for a cozy afternoon of good food and drinks. 

Where to go

First up is a trip to The Whip Tavern, a charming, English country-style pub in the heart of Chester County, Pennsylvania's horse country.    

"Getting here is one of the best parts of the experience," says Whip Owner K.C. Kulp, who opened the 42-seat restaurant at 1383 N. Chatham Road, off Pa. 841, more than 13 years ago. It's about 30 minutes from Hockessin.

"It's a beautiful drive," he says. "You can experience the glory that is Southern Chester County."

We recently visited after a light snow had gently sprinkled the surrounding rolling hills and trees. You'll likely see sheep grazing on nearby farms and enter a dining room of patrons wearing Wellies and sometimes riding breeches and boots.

The Whip Tavern is located in West Marlborough Township, and the mailing address is Coatesville, Pennsylvania. It gets its name from a riding whip, which is incorporated into the logo and featured as a door handle as you enter the restaurant.

Why go?

We'll be frank, the Whip Tavern gets very busy on weekend nights, and there will likely be a wait. The restaurant, opened in 2005, doesn't take reservations, regardless of the size of your party. The parking lot tends to fill up fast.

Still, lunchtime or an early afternoon visit is the perfect getaway, and the rural atmosphere will make you feel you're on a mini-vacation. The pub is in the middle of nowhere. The staff is super-friendly, and there's an inviting bar and toasty fireplace sitting area. There also are games to play in the waiting area. 

Hours: Open 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday brunch is served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served until 4 p.m. The Whip Tavern is closed Tuesdays. Go to thewhiptavern.com

What to get?

Definitely the cheeseboard ($18.99). The artisan cheeses are made by the Farm at Doe Run, a 700-acre dairy farm across from The Whip that's owned by Urban Outfitters Founder Richard Hayne. The farm is well-known for producing some of the region’s best cheeses. 

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A trio of fromage can include Doe Run's creamy white Hummingbird, a Robiola-style cheese; Seven Sisters, a cross between Alpine and Gouda; and Black Swallowtail, a Manchego cheese. The board also comes with local honey, sliced apples, sliced smoked duck, whole grain mustard, cornichons, candied pecans and bread.

Kulp, a native of Buffalo, brings a bit of his western New York hometown to the pub's menu with beef on weck ($14.99), a roast beef sandwich served on Kimmelweck roll that's studded with caraway seeds and coarse salt. The thinly sliced, locally raised, grass-fed beef is served with a side of fresh horseradish, au jus and chips, also known as French fries.

But don't miss the British delights.

One of our favorite offerings is Welsh rarebit ($7.99), a warm blend of melted English cheddar and Stilton cheeses swirled with Smithwick’s Irish Ale and a hint of Coleman's mustard. It's served with crostini for dipping. The Scotch egg ($4.99) is another pub treasure. A hard-cooked egg is wrapped in house-ground local pork, lightly breaded and fried. It's served with a super cute mini bottle of Coleman's mustard. 

For a full English experience, try shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, fish and chips, ploughman's lunch and sides like mushy peas. A dessert must is sticky toffee pudding, a warm date cake topped with toffee sauce and fresh whipped cream.

What to drink?

The beer list can't be beat. Brews range from the U.K.'s Old Speckled Hen to Milk Stout from Lancaster Brewing Co. to Baltimore's Heavy Seas Beer's Powder Monkey, an English-style pale ale.

For Fox's Sake is a lightly carbonated draft cider specially made for The Whip Tavern, and money for each glass poured goes to the Brandywine Conservancy.

While beer and cider are served here, The Whip also is a BYOB restaurant and you can bring your own wine. A $2.50 corkage fee is charged for containers of alcohol.

What to look for?

"We're not a sports bar," Kulp says, but the TVs are always tuned to horseracing (this is horse country, after all), as well as the latest cricket and soccer matches.

The Whip Tavern also offers special weekend dinners that change often. 

They can include roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, luxury seafood pies, roast lamb, beef Wellington and more haggis.

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This story previously ran in january 2019. 

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico