please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A fabled pub and it does live up to the hype - the interior is unspoilt and charming in the extreme and the village exceptionally pretty with its row of thatched cottages. We didn't try the food but service was very friendly and the range of beers - the full gamut of Wadworth beers + a couple of well chosen guests. Overall splendid but hard to get to without a designated driver while it probably provides a great excuse to escape the Cornbury festival when it's on - especially given the customarily shocking bill that event tends to encourage.
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Stayed in Great Tew this december with friends (not at the pub) and visited the pub for lunch and drinks. Well it was my first visit but i thought it was great. The table we had was for 9 people, the welcome was genuine even though we weren't locals in what is a very tiny village. Food was perfectly decent and it all arrived at the same time, something other pubs might like to work on, i'll forgive the slightly inflated price as it's well worth paying to keep a pub like this in business. The selection of ale was good, the 6X was in perfect condition and we stayed for a good few hours soaking up the atmosphere with plenty of beer. Would make a point of going back if i'm ever in the area again. Keep up the good work.
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What a shame to see such reviews, the location and building are truley amazing is a real shame to see this place in the daldrums.
i would rather not leave any comment re quality issues etc as it seems most others will do that generally. Having had the pleasure of working for Wadworth up untill a couple of years ago i am sure they are working hard to put things right. This pub is amazing and i am sure it will return to its former glory.
SnV
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Based on my first and likely only visit to this beautiful pub, I've given it an 8 out of 10.
The beer range was excellent, as was the beer quality, the food (although pricey) was very nice and I received a good portion of whitebait for the money.
The inglenook fire was just starting up which lent a lovely ambience to the place, which is a truly lovely building and I could have quite happily spent the day in a cosy corner getting slowly sozzled.
I can't compare to the former days as I only went there recently, but I'd go back. Staff were friendly and helpful too by the way!
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I give this pub a rating of 2, 1 for the the lovely old building and location, and 1 for a nice pint of 6X. After that it's downhill rapidly. We made the mistake of eating there. The menu is limited, the prices are high and the quality of the food is decidedly average. I can only assume that that high praise lavished upon this place in the good pub guide refers to a previous era, it's certainly not worthy of it now. The worst �50 I ever spent!
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A once great pub that is still OK, but lacks it's former quirkiness. The bar and food prices are extortionate for what you're getting, but then the food is tasty and the beers are kept well. The older Scottish guy is very friendly and attentive, but the younger bar-staff need to leave their mobile phones in their coat pockets as they are constantly checking them and not concentrating on their jobs. I wish this place could return to it's former glory, but it seems to be resting on it's old reputations and not trying too hard. I hope that someone sorts things out soon as it's a good-looking pub.
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Please Wadworth either sort this mess out or sell it too someone who cares about the pub. It has gone on long enough
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We have been visiting this pub for over 20 years and its a 4 mile walk over the fields but I've joined this site just to give this feedback.
This was once a fantastic freehold pub, it was taken over by Wadworth and seemed to continue, however.......
Been a busy summer sow we haven't been for a while and what a change......
There are comments of how busy this pub normally is, today it was dead there was only 2 other people in the bar. Thats at 2.30 on a Sunday afternoon.
Too late for food, not an issue they normally had some bar snacks, NO more, Crisps, Scratchings (some of the best) sorry we don't have any just a few bits in poncy little dishes. So we just had one drink, picked up the car and went somewhere else.
It looks like this is going downhill rapidly, is another comment and I would reitterate this. There is still a photo of 'old Edgar' in the bar who we remember when we first started using the Falklands, it a good job he isn't there now .
Don't bother visiting its not worthy of the many awards its won in the past
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Had to be a grockle and visit while in the area. Wonderful attractive pub with Wadworth beers and guests. Prices were high but I had expected this. Glad I have finally tasted the pub for myself but is not on my must visit again list.
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Decided to impress my partner by taking her to this old favourite of mine. Never will go on a Sunday lunchtime again, glad we did not want to eat as bar too crowded and food stopped early as had run out before normal time of 3pm. Nice Otley O2 guest ale plus others I could not see through the crowd. Pestered by wasps outside. Will wait until winter when the grockles have cleared off.
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Believe there was a major change in staff and management about easter time that could explain why I found it much better than some of the earlier reviews had painted the place. I tried a couple of the guest ales and had no complaints. The setting just adds to the experience with the long tables out front and the charming beer garden out back. Am sure I shall be back for a few more now the standards are so good again.
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We've just had a lovely evening in the Falkland Arms, with great food and service. We live locally and feel we are very lucky to have such a great local pub.
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This is the first time I have ever felt compelled to complain on a public forum.
I have just returned from a very disappointing visit to The Falkland Arms - all the more so because it WAS a firm favourite in North Oxfordshire. The menu is now very limited and ordinary. We ordered the lasagne and had to send it back twice because it was cold in the middle as it had been microwaved in a bowl. They also forgot our drinks order. It beggars belief that cherryben suggests issues about poor quality are addressed at the time because when I asked to speak to someone in management I was told they didn't want to speak to me at all and that I was wrong.
The barmaid was left to cover for the kitchen and resorted to rudeness by basically suggesting that maybe we were after a free lunch. This is how a great pub goes downhill really quickly - what a shame for Great Tew.
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Thanks for your comment Bruce451. As a business we value every comment we receive, whether they be good or bad. I would however have prefered to know about your opinion of poor service, cold food and flat beer at the time of your visit so that something could have been done to rectify this and to make your visit a little better. Although no excuse, we had literally taken the pub over from previous management that week and perhaps some how this may have constituted to the less than high standard that you experienced and that we now pride ourselves on. I would welcome you to come and give us another try and thank you again for your comment.
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Visited last week with a friend, all new faces, poor standard of service, cold food, flat beer. Not sure why they are in the good beer guide?
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This pub dines out on its undoubtably glorious setting. I can't comment on the food but on my last visit the beer was awful, stale and completely out of condition. The bar staff's attitude was as bad: curtness combined with disinterest. The staff know, as they do in other tourist spots, it doesn't matter if standards are low and rudeness prevails - there will always be another coachload tomorrow. Well I won't be amongst them.
How this place got into the Good Beer Guide is very hard to understand.
2 for the setting alone. CAMRA branch, you need to get this place de-listed.
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On the face of it the perfect thatched rural pub. Service has become more friendly and obliging recently after a long period when customers were treated with disdain. The beers are generally, but not always, in good condition. We have tried the restaurant food a couple of times and for the price it is very ordinary. It is about time they repaired or replaced the rickety seats and tables out front. Many visitors will be dazzled by the bucolic setting inside and outside but for us the fact remains that this pub could be a lot better.
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A long, long time since my last visit!! Not changed much, still a classic country pub with roaring log fire, good local ales and hearty, well presented food. Was very busy Sunday lunchtime, but still remained an enjoyable visited.
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What a find! Stumbled upon this pub on a rainy day, found a roaring log fire, friendly staff and excellent beer. Not often you find such a choice of ale to pick from. Didn't try the food but looked good - hope to visit soon to give it a try!
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I am sorry to say that on a recent visit I was sorely disappointed with the quaity of the beer, flat and out of condition. I would not recommend this pub for the beer - location very nice. It has just got back into the good beer guide but if they stay as they are it'll be out next year (in my opinion.
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Stayed here a few times now and really not sure what to make of it. Clientele and service seem to veer wildly from kind and helpful to uninterested and aggressive.
There seems to be a new owner every year, so maybe it's that, but my last visit left a lot to be desired. Offensively rude bar staff and 16-year-old "locals" mouthing off left right and centre.
You can't really go wrong with the location, but it'll be a while before I risk drinking there after 9pm.
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What a country pub is all about......lovely village full of thatched cottages.....excellent bedrooms.....village was reputedly the favourite village of JRR Tolkien in the country
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If you get the chance and you see the sign between Banbury and Chipping Norton, it's well worth the effort of turning off. Lovely cosy atmosphere, friendly staff, great range of well-kept beers. An absolute cracker!
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Visited on a rainy day in May and very pleased I did.Dangerous damson wine!A tasty and filling steak and kidney pie good pint of Wadworth 6X.They have a pump for Weston's traditional cider.The barmaid said it is very popular.Highly recommended,but no mild which is a shame as so close to Hook Norton.I rate it 8,if it had mild it would be 10.
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Fabulous pub. We need more pubs like this. A real gem.
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Good range of beer, but the food service was just a little bit slow, especially bearing in mind that the pub was not particularly busy (early on a Tuesday lunchtime)
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Great pub. Good food, real cider, ridiculously picturesque location.
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This is a message for Beowulf. Yes we do look at these sites and yes we do act on these types of reviews. the concept of coustomer service has been explained and mobiles have been banned. If you tell me when you visited i will persue further. Thankyou for writing your review. Hope to see you soon.
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I've been visiting this pub for over twenty years and have always left feeling I wanted to return. That was until recently. The barmaid's mobile telephone rang and she held up her hand gesturing to the customers to wait while she chatted away for five minutes. The other barmaid standing behind the bar said she'd love to serve but she wasn't 'due on' for another five minutes.
I don't know if the manager of the pub reads these comments but if he/she is, could the concept of customer service be explained to these women?
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This pub came as a glorious surprise as it is the finishing stop on the Treasuredays Cotswolds Treasure Hunt - and what a place to finish! Huge log fires burning, more beers than I can remember, a good selection of wines by the glass and lovely food. I can see why it has won all those awards, it is the best pub I have ever been to bar none. What a brilliant day, I want to go back and spend the night there now so I don't have to drive.
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Great pub, good cask real ale well kept, food is above average and we go for Sunday lunch once in a while
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Pricey yes a little, a tourist trap yes .... but heh this is the great Bristish thatched picture postcard pub. Visited last weekend for the first time in 10 years and nothing has changed. Superb range of ale, good food and as quaint as ever. If you're ever in the area look this place up, it's a must.
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The beer (6X) was great, the bar food good if pricey, and the pub is wonderful; however the customer "service" offered to overseas visitors was poor (they walked out) and the pub wasn't busy at 7pm on a Friday night.
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Last two comments do you live together as you were on here at the same time 3/4/08 22/20 and 22/29 ???????????
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Amazing - what a treat.
Lucky people who can call this pub their local.
Great range of real ales, friendly staff, friendly customers and a welcoming feel to this chocolate box pub in a really picturesque village.
Didn't sample the food but what I saw going out looked fantastic.
Will be back, and looking at earlier comments it may be worth booking a room.
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Wow! what a pub.
Have been in for lunch and a drink before and its picture perfect. Last weekend, my partner treated me to a room and was amazing!
Great food, service was brilliant.
FANTASTIC.
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Visited 4th Jan. Sarah-Jane and Paul have left and temporary managers are in place until the new Landlord starts next week.
The beer was of the usual high standard and the now smokefree atmosphere is fantastic. The pub was rammed right through to closing time with a great buzz. We tend not to go too often because of the 'Green Wellie, BMW' Brigade but these were not much in evidence last night. i love the place, lets hope the new Landlord appreciates what has made it a great pub, namely good choice of beer (there were 3 guests on last night) and no piped music or anything else to interupt conversation.
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Coincidentally, I read last night that Micheal Palin mentions this pub in his diary (he visited on November 24th 1977).
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Decent beer at this pub (all Wadsworth's ales are). The main thing about it is the setting and the structure of the building itself. Great Tew is a 'chocolate box' type of village and it seems a little 'too perfect'. It is undeniably a wealthy village in terms of it's inhabitants. The pub is semi-thatched.
A great place to sit outside. The bar staff were ok on my visit.
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We live a few miles from the pub. Great place to bring visitors, especially from overseas, because the whole set-up (including the village) is like a film set. Beers are usually pretty good. Dogs welcome ---children, well-behaved or not, are unwelcome. The bar staff are not particularly sociable and never have been since the place became managed rather than owned. Referring to a previous comment about parking --- there is a free public car park only 100 yards away. Best of all is to sit outside the front of the pub on the rickety seats on a fine summer's evening and watch the sun set.
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Fantastically OVER-RATED! Lovely building. Rear garden is difficult to get to. No carpark. Run by managers for Wadworths (heard they were leaving soon) who are miserable. Sometimes you get a good pint and sometimes you don't. Watch out for the wasps in the summer.
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my favourite pub in the country, wirked here briefly & loved every minute (except maybe the folk music). simply the best
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We have visited this pub for going on 20 years now. It is by far the best pub I've ever been too. We used to go every Sunday (before we had kids) and we live approx an hour away. It has a marvellous Olde Worlde atmosphere. The owners and staff have always been polite and friendly. Think I've more or less collected all the pipes and snuff by now. The beers and there are always loads on, are first class. You have got to visit this pub but is very very busy on a Sunday.
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My favourite pub in england!!
Keep up the good wwork SJ and Paul
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I grew up a miles from here and revisiting it over the years I am never disappointed. The beer is never les than perfect and the food is excellent and good value. Sure it gets busy but there is plenty of space outside. The only downside is when you have to drive. Visit soon.
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Popped in on a Saturday lunchtime recently for a beer and some food.
Hard to add much to the praiseworthy comments already, but the fire was burning, there were 7 different bitters on, including excellent 6X and Timmy Taylor's Best. They had 3-4 Wadworths specials too.
Food was very good, reasonably priced and prompt, friendly service. It does get busy at peak times, as you'd expect.
Hard to see how it can be improved, 10/10
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Treat yourself and stay the night but make it a Monday to avoid the crowds. Now do evening meals which are excellent. Beer choice equally as good. Treat yourself to a clay pipe plus half an ounce of one of their great aromatic baccies. Good low key incidental lighting and no jukebox. If there's a better pub in England then I've yet to find it.
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I would certainly echo what people have said about the great selection of real ales, fine food and wonderful setting. The only downside is that it has become a victim of its own success in that if you pitch up at 1pm on a Sunday you might barely be able to squeeze in the door let alone get to the bar given the popularity of the place. So if you're up for a great pint and a bit of a scrum at busy times then I'd heartily recommend it.
anonymous - 23 Oct 2006 15:11 |
This has to be the pub worth moving home for, it is a beautiful pub in an idealic setting. As has been previously said, excellent beer and food. The staff as well as the locals are really friendly. It is about 500 years old and must still look much like it did all that time ago - no plastic restaurant built on. Loads of atmostphere, which has always been great. Unfortunately it is not my end of the country but whenever I am within 75 miles or so, I will go there. Well worth the diversion. I cannot imagine a nicer pub, just wish I could move it down here then I would really enjoy my retirement.
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Splendid Cotswold gem situated in a picturesque thatched-roof village, not too far from Chipping Norton. This pub ticks all the boxes as far as I'm concerned and there is little to add to previous contributions that hasn't already been said. Make a point of going there if you're anywhere in the vicinity - you won't be disappointed.
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A fantastic real pub. They don't even serve lager. They do have a fine array of beers, local cider and country wines. The food is also fantastic. the staff are friendly and the accommodation is delightful. It is a wonderful romantic setting. I got so carried away that I proposed to my girlfriend there. She said 'yes', so I give it the big thumbs up. If you like real fires, snuff and clay pipes this is your pub.
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I have only been to this pub once (about 5 years ago) but my memory of it has not faded. Superb to say the least - great beer and terrific atmosphere. Snuff said!
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A gem, situated in a classic village "untouched by time" great ale selection - well done Wadsworth for letting the landlord have a choice over guest ales (take note Greene King!)
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This is as good as pubs get. Situated in a classic village, untouched by time this inn offers excellent food (except the crusty rolls aren't crusty!) a great selection of ales, well done Wadsworth for allowing the publican to retain a free choice over the beer on offer, Greene King and Hall & Woodhouse should give their landlords this freedom too!
No concessions to the 21st century here, just good old fashioned service and choice. A GEM
Barry Quinnell - 21 Oct 2005 14:01 |
Perfect perfect perfect!
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This pub is fantastic! Lovely real ale, excellent food and friendly efficient service.
Jo - 29 Aug 2004 12:35 |
Nice summer pub.Impresses visitors.Shame it doesnt serve food in the evening.
Gordon - 17 Dec 2003 07:46 |
Situated in an idyllic thatched village, this award winning pub is a haven for drinkers who enjoy an unspoiled relaxed atmosphere. Four guest beers, a large range of country wines, malt whiskies and real cider too. There were clay pipes on offer and a huge range of snuffs too for those who are inclined! Mobile phones are banned. The food is excellent too, I believe last time I visted it was listed in the Michelin guide!! The village and local church are worth a look around too if you can manage it after treating yourself to a visit here!!! Nice if you are not the driver!!!
Andrew - 3 Nov 2003 23:13 |
