please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
degenerated further from the last visit - a scruff house with abominable ale. Long since dropped by the GBG and populated by wastrels and hobbledehoys.
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My second pub of a weekday evening in Banbury was an improvement on the first. This is more of a traditional two room boozer near the train station. Locals were congregated near the bar doing magic tricks! The 2 ales were both from Adnams - Bitter & Ghost Ship. Moved on from here to the nearby Mill Arts Centre (not listed on here).
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Two bars with 3 hand pulls in each but only two beers on sale.
Banks's Sunbeam (£3.60) and Adnams Southwold Bitter (£3.10).
I tried a pint of each and they were ok but not outstanding.
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New publicans since Spring 2014, beer quality on the slide.
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Also think the place is over-rated (imo). Seemed a bit clique regarding customers and staff..certainly not so welcoming. Beer ok(ish). Also agree with other posts about ridiculous pickey opening times - 1pm or something silly on a Saturday!
Prefered the Hook Norton pub further into town tbh..but will give the Bell a try again.
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Always worth a visit when in Banbury (handy for the train station). Good beer two bars and a great pleasant atmosphere with freindly licensees and staff. We used this when on a canal holiday and have been back again since then sometimes just making the train home. Well worth a visit.
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Lovely pub
Good atmosphere and music, friendly locals, luxurious smoking facilities. Sadly only Strongbow cider. Worth a visit.
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Loves the fact that people feel the need to bad mouth arguably the most best and most consistantly good pub in banbury!!!
The landlord takes fantastic care of his beer and continues to keep at least one guest beer on at all times.
Regular been is Hobsons which is always in top notch condition.
Is one of the only proper Pubs in the local area with not just young or old visiting locals are all good characters and never seem to have any trouble.
Near the train and bus station a must go to for anyone.
Does have at least one beer festival a year which are always successfull, keep your ears to the ground if you are lcky enough to be in the pub when this is on you are in for a really good time.
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By far the best pub in Banbury for anyone who likes a real ale. Atmosphere is more like that of a village pub, which is no easy task in a town like Banbury! Landlord and landlady both bubbly and enjoy talking to customers. The bar area is a bit more for a younger crowd, but sitting at a table in the lounge is bliss for anyone who hates the usual theme pubs and lager bars.
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Great place to buy pirate DVDs from - beer decent enough - clientele ropey. Move the place out of Grimsbury and you have a winner.
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Why was the only GBG entry for Banbury closed for three days in a row? On Sunday it was for a 'Private Party' (something that pubs should not be allowed to do in my opinion) but is it normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays? Pah!
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Empty when I went in on a Saturday afternoon. Went for the Black Sheep which was absolutely undrinkable - and this pub is in the Good Beer Guide ? Had a bus to catch and no one was around behind the bar so left pretty much a full pint which would have made me physically sick had I drank any more of it.
anonymous - 18 Oct 2009 20:29 |
Has a real locals feel to it without being clicky. Good beer and friendly staff
a great little find and handy for the train station as has been said. Worth seeking out.
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Very welcoming pleasant pub and conveniently close to the train station. The beers were interesting and first rate.
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Brilliant place, only discovered it recently. Execellent pint of Butcombe, pool table, cosy atmosphere and a friendly landlord. Great bet for a pint on the way into town, and handy for the station.
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A decent pint of Hancock's HB, 1st pint was at the end of the barrel and was changed without too much prompting. Traditional 2 bar boozer.
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Serves great beer full stop. Also turns a blind eye to people selling pirate goods and as it is the scruffy East End of Banbury I can only guess this is de rigeur for the area...as are the lion-sized rottweilers roaming the lounges but don't let that put you off. The Iceberg or Harveys I had was the best in its class - just keep an eye on the man with the bag of DVDs
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This is a lovely pub I had not been to for a few years, and so called in while at the Banbury beer festival, and enjoyed the Lees beer that was on.
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good friendly local pub nice atmosphere and good real ale
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Cliquey pub with sad miserable locals and arsey landlord.
Pint was alright though.
Take a walk into town and go to the Reindeer instead.
anonymous - 3 Oct 2007 12:42 |
Exceptional beer quality rather than unusual beers - huray ! Really good local. Try the Hancocks.
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Excellent news that the discerning North Oxfordshire CAMRA branch has chosen The Bell as its 2007 pub of the year. Banbury is a town which has far more than its fair share of mediocre pubs. Thus The Bell, a few hundred yards from the town centre, is a civilised and laid-back alternative to the money-grabbing pubs elsewhere (exclude the Olde Reindeer and Woolpack from that). Many congratulations.
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This Pub has been voted North Oxfordshire CAMRA branch Pub of the Year for 2007 showing the commitment to top notch beer quality and running a great pub that goes with it.
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jewel of a pub well kept beers and very welcoming
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Friendly town boozer close to the Railway and Bus Stations and also the Canal. Well run and popular, this is a real local for many people. Decent changing range of Real Ales for a Punch Tavern, always in top notch condition.
Wide range of activities from darts, though pool to the local speciality Aunt Sally.
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The local of one of my mates this so always feel welcome. Beers good & price is OK. Good place to fgo for a quite drink and a chat.
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What one would call a proper pub, Good Ale, real people, good welcome , Lounge, seperate Bar, Pub games and teams, darts , Dominoes, Aunt Sally in Season, One of a very few pubs in a town of which you can call a PUB.The beer is something else the Landlord takes a great pride in his beer.
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It is a very nice pub, the land lords are very kind and welcoming. The atmoshere inside the pub is lovely warm and cosy. The pubs toliets are extremely clean and fresh.
Becka - 21 Dec 2004 18:15 |
it is a very nice pub
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