Barley Mow, Clifton Hampdenback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Two of us had a late lunch and drink here on Saturday 16th at about 3pm.There is a large Car Park across the road. The bar had a friendly barmaid and a few drinkers and diners in . Good choice of beer although the weakest was about 4.1% but tasted good . Reasonable menu choices available. We had the gammon steak and the Sirloin Steak which arrived within 15-20 minutes which was brought to our table in the pleasant garden area. I enjoyed it and I would visit again. The pub is part of the Chef and Brewer chain and retains a bit of character.
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This is definitely a dining pub. Greeted by a sign on entry "pick your table in the beer garden then order your food at the bar", got in at 19:00 too cold to sit outside and getting dark, everything set out for eating every where, could have ordered a drink and stood at the bar but got the feeling you would be asked repeatedly if you had ordered your food. So walked out and off up to the plough.
The rooms were nicely decorated and the food may have been good, but did not feel welcoming for drinkers other than the beer garden. I must be getting old. You used to go out to the pub for a drink. Dining wise not sure, beer in the evening wise poor.
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Could be better but nevertheless proved to be a welcome pit stop seven and a half miles in to a half marathon length walk from Wallingford to Abingdon along the river. Food was actually decent, even if the staff were mystifyingly sporting Christmas themed costumes in early September. Shades of theme pubbery although not the whole hog - and a mixed grill enjoyed on a previous visit would have truly satisfied one of the Roman legions that likely once marched this way.
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I have very mixed opinions about this pub; whilst it is quite 'standard' in terms of food, prices etc, it is set in a nice location and has a nice ish beer garden.
I've been a couple of times, whereby the food was more than average, service was okay, pricing was good, however, after calling in here one evening after being out for the day with my boyfriend, the service was absolutely appalling.
We wanted around 45 minutes JUST for someone to come and take our order, despite someone saying he'd be 'back in 10 minutes' when we had decided. We just sat there for the fun of it really, and to see how long it'd actually take them to come and take our order for food! It got to the point where staff were walking past our table and not even acknowledging the fact we were sat there!
After this experience (it was completely laughable), I'd be VERY unlikely to return. We didn't even get an apology barely, nevermind any compensation or incentive to ever return!
If you want a local pub with mediocre foods/wines/ales and service, please do visit, but if you're looking for something a bit nicer and more 'decent', I wouldn't waste your time going here!
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Wanted a decent night out ,arrived 7.20p.m to my dismay we had a 30 minute wait for drinks and when the waiter turned up explained the head chef walk out the day before and we had to wait 30 mins for our meal and would take our food orders later. most disappointing thing was the waiter took meal orders of other tables forgetting the order we arrived and that is poor service. once they realised they could not cope , they should have given us a choice to go elsewhere or mentioned the waiting time would be an hour plus before they sat us at the table. At 9.15 we left no meal.We later went to Tandoori Indian -didcot for good service great food.
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It's a good job the cask mark inspectors haven't been here on a couple of recent Mondays. The Broadside has been fine, but the guest ales have probably been on a day or two too long on my last couple of visits. Still, the food was good, although they're just about to change the specials menu and most of the choices were off; just poor timing on our part?
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An historic pub in a good location, but with the uniform Chef & Brewer treatment and matching high prices. The Adnams Broadside was well-presented though, and it is handily placed for Thames walkers.
start - 11 May 2008 08:57 |
The Barley Mow featured in Jerome K Jerome's humourous account of a Thames boating holiday, "Three Men In A Boat" (1889). There are parts of the building that Jerome may still recognise if he could visit it today, but the newer parts have been given the standard Chef & Brewer "Olde English" look, complete with fake plastic beams and junk from the attic.
It is a popular venue with reliable food and beer. A recent makeover has provided the front garden with heated canopies for smokers (in advance of the 1st July smoking ban in enclosed public places), while the rear garden is a smoke-free zone. All internal areas are already smoke-free.
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Better than expected for a chain pub, with decent beer & good quality food served late. Very nice garden, & next to campsite (fairly basic facilities) & river.
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Part of a chain but good guest ales, good food and pleasant garden close to the Thames. Used to be dog-friendly but new management have banned pets anywhere in the pub or restaurant. Young staff seem to be a little under-trained.
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