please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Certainly a picturesque village pub outside the front overlooking the green and with a tidy enclosed garden at the rear, dog-friendly throughout. Three ales on, Brakspear Bitter and Oxford Gold and Marstons Help For Heroes but prices approx. 30p per pint above the local average with an orange juice and lemonade for our driver costing an eye-watering £3.60, the same price as the cheapest beer. Seemed to be doing a good food trade but I did not see the menu or the prices. On the plus side there was certainly a friendly welcome and all was clean and tidy but I have to deduct a point from my rating for the unreasonable pricing.
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Visited here yesterday got to say much better than some previous experiences. Very welcoming hostess + staff Reasonable prices excellent Oxford Gold & good sandwiches which arrived within 10 minutes of ordering Highly recommended.
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Called in here yesterday lunch time on the off-chance (I'd noticed it when cycling by last summer) and had a pleasant time of it.
The beer was good - there were two Brakspears on tap. We just had sandwiches, which were fine (and the salad garnish had a nice dressing with it), and the 'proper meals' being served to the other customers around us looked very good and were being raved about, so we'll go back and have a meal there at some point.
Friendly, clean, warm enough on a cold January day ... what else is there to say!
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Fortunately, we were the "couple" at the bar, sitting a few feet away from "Dawn" and therefore saw and heard all.
I think it is a shame that 'Dawn and husband' took this as she did and has blown something trivial out of proportion despite her admitting the pub and food is lovely (which it is). The landlord (Matt posing as 'Young Barman') very politely suggested that the customer move to the restaurant rather than the table in the middle of the bar area (and is right next to the front door) where locals tend to congregate. We had a meal in the restaurant that day, which was excellent and in comfortable surroundings.
We travel around 25 miles each way to get this pub, mostly because of the atmosphere - the friendly and professional landlord is a great attraction, always polite and helpful.
The food is great (cooked by Mike)- we particularly recommend fish and chips, cottage pie and vegetable lasagne and the quality of wine is also good. We thoroughly recommend this pub for a drink or a meal.
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Thank you for your constructive comments posted on the internet and for suggesting that my girlfriend is on the ornamental side, she is also very inteligent and the best girl in the world.
We are fortunate to have a regular lunch time attendance of village people and therefore the bar are is a comunal area for everybody including dogs as I would have explained to 'Bensonale' if I did not explain myself to you in the right manner at the time sir, I am sorry.
Therefore I hesitate to serve people two course lunches on my only bar table which can never be reserved 'dawn' especially when training new staff. I was not waiting for tables of 4.
I look forward to the comments added by the couple at the bar.
Matt, Landlord Of The Six Bells
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The comment from Dawn about being ask to move from the lovely table in the bar is one that I recognise. I too have been urged by the Landlord (young-looking guy) to sit elsewhere. I was there with a mate just enjoying the good ale - not eating. I replied that we were happy to move up if others came in, which we did. I think the Landlord needs to be a bit less interventionist in where people sit. Otherwise lovely pub although the food could be more adventurous, though the quality is excellent.
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We stopped in at this pub, it being in a lovely location and with great character. We was greeted by lovely soppy doggy and young barman, and ordered drinks and food, and sat at a table opposite the log fire, which was lovely as we were very cold. Only us in the bar area at that point, so plenty of room for us to sit.
We sat down opposite the lovely fire, at an empty table, and were immediately encouraged by the young barman to sit at another table, as other people might also want to sit alongside us at the table, it being a table for four. We said we didn't mind that, and were happy sitting where we were. Then 5 mins later, we again had it strongly suggested to us that we might like to sit in the restaurant, as a larger group of people might come in and want the table we were on.... This comment was very odd and a bit rude i felt, as there was only us in the bar, plus a couple standing at the bar that had just come in, and it started to feel like we were being pressured to go in the restaurant on the off chance that a group of four might come in??? He then went on to suggest that the new waitress (who also looked somewhat embarassed) show us the tables in the restaurant to see if we liked it in there. It was all getting awkward now, and i could see my husbands hackles rising, so i quickly agreed that we would go and sit in the restaurant area to save a scene. I just wanted a stress free meal....thats all. So we were ushered around to the restaurant, which was empty, had no fire, and was very cold. The unwelcoming manner ruined our meal (which was ok food wise), and made us feel as if we were not wanted in the bar area for some reason. We are just a normal middle aged couple, clean and well groomed, and totally bemused at the behaviour of this young barman! We were not allowed to sit where we wanted, and were hassled until we moved. The really annoying thing was...no one sat at the table we originally chose to sit at, the whole time we were there. When we did go to stand in front of the fire to warm ourselves while waiting for our meal, we also had frosty looks from the barman as if we were doing something wrong. We quickly ate our food and left as soon as we could. I had to restrain my husband (a retired policeman of 30 years service) from saying something to the barman, but left a tip for the young waitress (her first day!), who did her best to deal with this obviously awkward situation. The barman has put us off going in there again, which is a shame, as the pub, food and other staff were lovely!
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Rather a foodie pub. Real fire, dogs everywhere. Nice ambience.
Only one real ale on (Brakspear bitter), two other handpumps not doing anything when I visited. Food good.
If I may express an opinion, the blonde young lady (landlady?) is distinctly on the ornamental side. I definitely approve.
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So James has got it wrong again, not the first time!
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The current Landlord and his staff look forward to welcoming you at the Six Bells Warborough for the foreseeable future where we are happy to provide you with freshly prepared seasonal food and of course good wine and well kept Brakspear ale.
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Well it's all move again! The landlords off to try his luck somewhere else, so it was obiously, not working.
We await a new landlord, or return of the old! to see what happens...........
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I must admit I am something of a regular at the Bells and the staff are friendly and the food is fresh & cooked to order. I told them this and I suggest other people do the same rather than remaining anonymous. Best incarnation for a while.
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It's been six month since my last visit, and well it's not moved on, chef dosn't seem to be able to do all that's on the menu! worrying......... Where's the landlord gone? managers don't seem to care as much........
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What a nice day for a visit...Easter Monday, glorious sunshine and a few pints in the lovely beer garden. Sat for a couple of hours reading the Sunday papers and woofing down the awesome Wasabi Nuts (very moreish). 15 mins from my house on the bike, so will definitely be back for another visit. Landlord was a friendly chap too.
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Well 'Stevebrt' I have tried the place again, as I travel around the local pubs, maybe it was my visit that made Glenn decide he was off to pastures new again after only a year, why's that then? another pub turned to a resturant, now left to fight it way back to being a pub again, look out Benson and the 3 Horseshoes, It will happen again! Still Stevebrt no doubt your'll be there.........
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Continue to use this place as my new local. Do not agree with xxjamesxx at all, new tenants have been in since February so hardly new tenant on the block. It's allways busy when i go there and you could not wish for better service. The menu is superb, never had Bucks Bacon Badger before but it was a revelation.
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New tenants moved from The Chequers, Berrick Salome (in Aug08), new chef but same tired menu and ideas, well run but, nothing outstanding.
Very busy as they new tenant on the block, all in all just the same old thing in a different location. You would do better at 'The Cricketers' on the main road, a much more friendly pub...........
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Had a superb meal with friends on Sunday. New owners have been in about a month, the Bitter was devine, with a good wine list. Fantastic location
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Lovely location, especially on a Summer's day/evening.
3 Real Ales so well worth a visit.
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When I first came to know it 30 odd years ago it was one of Brakspear's many gorgeous village pubs. It's still not too bad now. They've managed to avoid knocking the small rooms together but the homely clutter has gone and the usual gastropub stripped wood and big tables have arrived. However it's not too identikit for all of that.
Mother's Day and everyone was on vast stodgy looking roast dinners which they didn't seem to be enjoying much judging by the amount on the plates going back.
Anyway Brakspear's in good form and on a summer's day it's a lovely spot. Worth a trip out.
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Must go back to this cosy little pub again soon. Its tucked away down by the cricket pitch. Always welcoming, with a decent menu and outdoor tables in the summer.
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