please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Soup served without rolls. Bitter £4 a pint. I'll be staying away in future. You can buy beer for £2 a pint at Bingham's Brewery in Ruscombe and drink it at home without the Horns's canned music.
|
Under new management again! You couldn't make it up.
I'll visit again soon and give a report.
|
An attractive pub in this small hamlet a pleasant stroll up from Wargrave, it has the traditional appearance of a country inn, but once inside it has perhaps had a bit of a gastro pub makeover at some point. It’s not at all unpleasant, but just not quite as quaint and traditional as you may be expecting going on the outside.
It’s a good sized pub with a number of different rooms, although they all flow in to one another rather than being entirely separate. The flooring is a mixture of carpet and wood boards as well as some flagstones at the front. What appeared to be a dining area was off to the left, with the main drinking part of the pub being an L-shape around the bar counter. This was packed to capacity on a recent Saturday afternoon visit due to the television in the front bar showing the six nations rugby. The locals all seemed a friendly crowd. A small brick fire-place was at the rear of the bar, and this led through in to a light and airy room with pleasant views over the large garden and patio.
Beers on tap were just Brakespear Bitter and Hobgoblin. The solitary cider was Symonds Founders Reserve.
|
We visited the Horns on a frosty day circular walk from Wargrave. We arrived early so were the first ones in.
The Horns looks like a village pub from the outside but inside it is trying to be a restaurant. The decor in the pub area is pretty bland with the pub seemingly concentrating on the restaurant end.The new owners only took over a month ago so it's still work in progress, but in my opinion there's a way to go.
Beer - it's a Brakspear pub so guess what - they had Brakspear Bitter and Oxford Gold plus Wychwood Hobgoblin. Before arrival at the pub I predicted this to my fellow walkers and was of course correct. Why can't Brakspear let pubs choose their own guest beer instead of seemingly insisting on them using Wychwood all the time because they are both part of Refresh UK Group. We plumped for Hobgoblin and it wasn't wonderful at all - quite sharp. A punishment for being first in ? 2 of us changed for the second round to the Bitter (something I wouldn't usually do) and quite frankly that wasn't much better.
At around 1215 we asked if food was available. Yes said our barman, we're just producing the menu. Odd to find a pub where the menu isn't ready at opening time. At 1230 the menu appeared, the paper still warm from the printer. A bit disorganised here.
The food was not normal pub grub - no Cod and Chips or Cheeseburger - and prices reflected this. I went for Grilled Plaice with Chips ( which were really French Fries). My colleagues went for Liver which they enjoyed but which had a garnish on top which they never really identified.
In summary The Horns was a bit of a disappointment. The new owner may need more time to get it how he wants it, but I suspect it will end up more restaurant than pub. Sorting out the beer quality would be a start
|
Recently visited this pub, was really really disappointed. Went there because it was a lovely day and the pub used to have a beautiful garden with several animals and ponies too. This had all gone!!
It is a great shame as the previous people had got this pub running really well, lovely surroundings, lovely food and beer!
We didn't bother staying for food as the staff didn't seem very friendly, it is a shame the previous landlord and landlady have moved on as they were always so friendly and welcoming.
Not sure if other people are feeling the same as there were only 2 other people in the pub, everytime we had been it was always packed.
Won't be going back unless things improved dramatically!
|
Visited to meet up with some friends last night, had a very nice meal, well presented and a great place to eat. Good value for the area and very friendly and welcoming staff. Beer was good, standard Brakspear stuff, but well kept and pesented and the wine by the glass was nice and fresh. Hope the local villagers make the most of this valuable asset to their community. Worth the drive.
|
Under new management again. Range of beers inferior to what it was. Menu looks good but not enough veggie stuff on it. I had a cheesy ploughmans thingy that had so much cheese I ended up giving quite a lot of it to my dog. They have a lunchtime two courses for �10 (IIRC) which looks good but again not enough veggie on it. Not sure if they've retained the crazy opening hours (closed after 5 on Sunday and all Monday!) the previous people had.
The above sounds a bit negative but actually it's quite a good pub.
|
I called this pub to check they were ok with using a groupon voucher. The landlord refused to honour the groupon voucher saying that it was nothing to do with him and I should get a refund from groupon. Clearly there is a missunderstanding (it is a valid voucher) but what really pissed me off was that he put the phone down on me. Very rude and although I'm annoyed I wasted money on a groupon voucher that wont be honoured, I'm thankful that I didn't give him more money by visiting his pub. Small minded, petty, short sighted and doomed to fail. Avoid.
|
A rather inaccessible pub to say the least, you will need a car. On the drive to the pub you see the gated estates where the other half live, well the 1% that own the other 50% maybe be more accurate, they probably look down on poverty stricken Wargrave with disdain! A nice traditional pub of course, with plenty of space for those requiring a meal, the beer is Brakespear's and well kept with 3 beers on tap, slightly pricey though. Members of my party ordered the bar meals which were well received. Friendly staff and an amiable place to visit.
|
I visited this pub again (I was last there in 06/2008)recently. I am happy to report that the new management have made this a very nice pub with reasonably priced beer (well, all beer is too expensive but theirs is no more expensive than anyone else's). The menu looks excellent and the ambience in the pub was very good. Friendly staff and customers, dogs welcomed, just remove your muddy boots if you've hiked there.
Two real fires, lots of nooks and crannies to snuggle down in and enjoy your pint. I had Oh Be Joyful and Oxford Gold. IIRC they also had Brakspear's Bitter.
|
This pub is nowhere near Reading and is closer to Henley (forget the postcode).
|
There's nothing like an awesome roast in a pub!
But this was nothing like an awesome roast in a pub!
I've never had a school dinner and I could not imagine what they were like until this meal today.
How do you cook roast beef so it is grey? Even the roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings were abysmal. At a guess 75% of the plate was swamped with badly cooked veg.
They get a 1 for a decent pint of Brakespear Oxford Gold.
Summing up, I'd just say avoid! Life's too short to put up with this sort of stuff! Or if you do go there, stick with the chips!
|
The people who ruined the Victoria Arms at Hare Hatch are moving to this pub soon. They're taking their biker night with them. Says it all, really.
|
Brakspear pub in a picturesque location.
Building appears pretty ancient and has a function room out the back.
Quite heavily food-oriented and open hours appear a little irregular, I think they're open a lot less during winter.
Ale is the usual Brakspear fayre. Quality is inconsistent.
Worth a quick stop on a summers day, but I've yet to find a reason to visit regularly.
|
Visited at Christmas time but haven't got round to posting until now.
Pub very nice, with well-kept beer. What astounded me was the price, �3.20 for a pint of bitter if I remember correctly.
That was the first time I'd ever paid three pounds for a pint. Although I suspect it won't be the last time I pay three pounds, I won't be doing it in this rip-off pub. What a pity, it could be so nice...
|
Classic 'Midsomer' village location. A 'quate-nace' gastro pub for the Henley set. Food well presented but there is better available for these elevated prices. Brakespeare's pub, extremely good ales. Will be back for a pint or two on a sunny day, but won't be eating.
|
