please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This was Winston Churchill's favourite pub. He liked nothing more than a game of arrows and a pint of half and half
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What we liked about this pub was this:
I arranged to meet Milady there for Sunday Lunch. For various reasons she got there before they opened and I didn't show up for another hour and a half. But they made her welcome and didn't bother about her making one pint last 90 minutes even on a busy Sunday lunchtime.
I had a couple more pints when I got there(Donningtons' "Nice Try," their world cup special which was really good). The food was pretty good as well.
All in all, a decent place for a Sunday lunchtime out.
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Lovely 16th century pub near Blenheim Palace. Stone walls and lots of beams together with suits of armour give great character. 4 ales available. Good fair priced food. Popular with families and walkers.
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Slightly away from the centre of Woodstock, so not always over-run with tourists, although still popular and best to book a table in you want to eat. Selection of decent food, including basic £5 meal range, and variety of real ale on hand pumps. Recommended - good quality and neither a tourist rip-off nor pretentious posh.
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First visit here having passed it many times. Great pub food at a cheap price, decent pint with what looks like a regular changing selection of ales, and friendly staff (no sign of the surly landlord referred to in the posts below...).
Looks a bit rundown from the outside, but in a way that adds some charm as most other pubs in central Woodstock are done up to the nines and obviously focused on dining tourists. Inside it's cosy, with a big wood stove by the bar. In all I found it a friendly place with some genuine character, and will be back to enjoy the garden in summer.
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I was in this pub on the day this incident happened and walked in around 9pm having watched the Aunt Sally match. The beer was OK and the girls behind the bar were very helpful. The AS players I spoke to were looking forward to a pint and a good sing. All changed when landlord came down. He was/is a Grade 1 overbearing oaf! I think the barmaids were very embarrassed by his crass rudeness the musicians and it's not surprising that not only the costumed historical people all left but that they were followed by me, my friends and several other customers.
Idiots like this do more harm to British pubs than any number of Chancellors, Pub Cos etc. I mean, why travel/go out and spend good money, just to get insulted like this.
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I called at this pub 3 or 4 times during the recent Sealed Knot weekend at Blenheim Palace, as the job of beer finder general I check the pubs for my regiment. the first visits were fine, beer OK and I judged it my favorite pub in Woodstock. The last visit was a disaster, most of my regiment are brilliant folk players and singers and we are always made welcome. I enquired whether we could sing and the young barmaid asked the landlord who said OK until 21.00, this only gave us 20 minutes, the reason given was that a team of Knock Down Sally were coming in from the garden - we would not be in their way so I was bemused. We sang for about 30 minutes and the barmaid came over and told us to stop whilst in the middle of a song, I said OK let us finish it, all the customers in the pub had given us constant applause. The very large landlord then came over and nose to nose with our main player told us to get out in a very threatening way. He is obviously a violent type and was looking for a fight so we left. I would not be surprised if others followed us. The other pubs in the town were fine. This guy needs a lesson in public relations, we will never return here if he is still in charge.
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Called in yesterday evening and caught the end of the Beer Festival. Also a quiz taking place - so not sure how good the anwers got as the evening progressed. We had a couple of pints each, sampling roughly half the beers on offer. The beers were good value and also a good range from chocolatey/coffee flavoured dark beers to light hoppy ones. Well run and buzzing for a Sunday evening
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Pleasant looking pub from the outside with a modernish refrubed bar that had a sunken feel to it (against the main road outside I supose). Candles on tables gives the impression it may serve food but none in evidence at this time. There were three ales on - Tribute, Brakspears and Vale's Brill Steam. Tried the Brill Steam whcih wasn't what I would describe as 'brill'. It had a kind of metallic, home brew taste. A little less day tripper tourist though that is because it is a short stroll from the centre.
anonymous - 29 May 2011 10:47 |
Ok hold the press the tinners has gone as st austell ales have realised finally that its a comparatively crap beer. the landlord has done a canny swop for tribute with the brewery. so better permanent ale choice now (2 of 3).
the newish �5 menu is fine, not if your starving, best choice for span is ham, egg and chips, but dont expect that lovely chunky ham its more the packet ham version.
Fabulous waterside garden for the summer and food overall is good
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Having gone back again as promised I have to say I had a fantastic time! I was there for hours with friends. The staff were friendly and welcoming as were all of the regulars. The Guinness was miles better and all in all I honestly could not fault the place, just wish it stayed open later! 9/10!
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I came in here with a friend for the first time a few days ago. He lives in the area and I was visiting. I had a pint of Guinness (�3.35) which I have to say was not very good. It was clearly going off/nearing the end of the barrel and had that tinny/metallic smell you get. That said it was daytime and as such i'm sure when the lines are pulled through more during the evening it would improve. Going back again soon so will update. Regarding the interior, I quite liked it - a mixture of old and new with candles on tables.
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I return to this pub frequently as it is quite easy to exist in and all the other pubs around are just that side of either oily and semi-depressing or overly pine-wooded you need shiny sunglasses. The new �5 a dish hot menu is quite good, basically smaller cooked meals from the normal menu, presented nicely (not over the top...). The great shame as from my lat last year pub post is the beer selection is still poor, still Vales Best bitter (3.7) and St. Austell's Tinner's (3.7) on permanent - neither of which lets be honest anyone would say "oh great lets stay here and come back again!" the jewel can be the revolving guest ale but this isnt always revolved quickly enough to be present. Beer is kept well mind and its a jolly place overall just lacking a bit of heart and a really good permanent ale.
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Wasn't put off by the modernish interior. We tromped in covered in mud and didn't raise an eyebrow, luckily. The food ranges from decadent to very reasonably priced (a section of their menu is dedicated to �5 meals). The portions were good, the staff were friendly and gave great service. Will definitely be back.
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Single bar pub set slightly below the main road, so that you're looking up at the pavement as you sat inside. The interior has been spoilt somewhat by the modern seating. Although this didn't seem to be deterring the groups of people eating at every table. A suit of armour near the entrance was a slightly unusual item. The open fire hinted at how this was probably once a traditional pub. The tiny outdoor toilets add to this feeling. Vale Bitter, St Austell Tinners and Westgate Gangly Ghoul were on offer. Music was playing. A TV was switched off, to the disappointment of one local who walked on by. Nice location next to a river.
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Sadly since previous reviews and details of the 'refurb' this pub has become a shell of a place, with weird pseudo modern seating, a menu that doesn't change and 2 ales plus a guest - not massively appealing given one is st austell's tinner's - whats wrong with tribute at least? It does many sandwiches for �4-�5 a pop but whats so interesting about that - all in all not a bad pub for woodstock (as most pubs here have just gone the wrong way in terms of over fancifiying themselves into a generic blunder - but terribly average really. Very pleasant bar staff though.
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The outside suggests a traditional country pub but inside the decor is definately modern and I'm not sure if I like it. There were only two real ales available and at best they were average quality. Didn't eat here but the menu looked interesting. O the whole friendly and clean.
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After a long and settled period with one excellent landlord (Geoff) this pub has seen a lot of ups and downs -- probably more downs. At one stage the formerly charming interior was renovated in a very unsympathetic and crass manner. However, despite this philistine renovation there is a marked improvement all-round under the current licensees. There is still the pub garden by the River Glyme --- and outside loos. As mentioned elsewhere, you can avoid adding to the Duke of Marlborough's bank balance by getting into the Blenheim Palace grounds for free on a public right of way over the main road. It's not immediately obvious, but walk back a few yards towards town and there is a double gate which can be opened.
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Corking roasts and cracking barmaids. Hurrah.
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Great pub inside and out. Enjoyed the skrumpy on over as well as Old Hooky and Tribute. Staff were friendly.
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This pub was closed for a long time for refurbishment. The owners have done a great job. The atmosphere is friendly, the decor is stylish, the seats are comfy, there is a real fire, a telly for watching sport (if that's your thing), the beer is kept well and the food is excellent. The garden is nice for summer drinking, right next to a small stream. There is parking round the back and a gate to Blenheim Palace grounds is just over the road. What more could you want?
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