BITE user comments - sloe_jane
Comments by sloe_jane
This is certainly aiming at the gastopub market, but they real ale is very decent, too (Weatherall and another local beer from Alvechurch, as I recal)! Very distinctively furnished and decorated pub. On a Sunday lunch time when I was there, there was only room for those eating. The food was smashing, very gastro, but the vegetarians were well catered for, and as one of a party of 25 odd for a family birthday do, they coped with the party remarkably well! Staff were welcoming and patient. I'd love to think I could go back and have a quiet pint of on a week day evening, but left wondering whether there would be room for casual drinkers. Would love to be proved wrong, though.
25 Jan 2010 20:15
This is a friendly, fairly busy village pub on the edge of Oxford. They serve a fair selection of real ales, usually at least two, although I'm always driving when I come here, so I've not tasted them.
25 Jan 2010 20:09
The Anchor Inn, Stanford In The Vale
It's changed management again, and is more of a traditional local pub now - not quite so foody. The beer is still GK only, though. Shame.
26 Oct 2009 21:50
The Plough was very welcoming when I visited on a wet afternoon last week. Adnams' Bitter, Spitfire, Everard's Tiger and GK IPA on the taps - the Adnams was in tip-top condition. The staff were friendly, also. When I needed directions to the railway station, the guy behind the bar went to some trouble to give me clear directions and draw me a sketch-map, too.
26 Oct 2009 21:47
This is a busy and friendly pub in a small village. St Austell Tribute was the real ale on offer when I was here last month. Food is available - ask at the bar. The pub also boast a very sweet Jack Russell who often keeps me company, even though I'm not really much of a doggy-person.
27 Jun 2009 11:26
The King's Head has a lovely suituation in a picturesque, quite Cotswold village. There is a good range of real ales, and an unusually good selection of bottled fruit juices (the proper stuff, not just orange, grapefruit etc). There's lots of food here, if you want it, too. But having not eaten here, I can't comment.
Keep an eye out for travelling morris dancers, as groups sometime make a pilgrimage here in honour of the dances that come from the village.
27 Jun 2009 11:19
This is a gem of a pub in a very small village just outside Ayeslbury. (Marsh is so small that it's not on many standard road maps, so if you're visiting and don't know it, look it up first!) When I visited a few weeks ago they had St Austell Tribute on (lovely) and (I think) Greene King IPA. The bar inside is t-shaped and fairly small. The garden (and cricket nets) out the back give much more room, and give splendid views of the sun set. Come and relax and have a drink here, but eat first as they don't serve food.
27 Jun 2009 11:08
Horse and Jockey, Stanford in the Vale
Well, as it happens, I went for a drink here this afternoon, and they had two Morlands ales (Speckled Hen and Morland) and Brains' The Rev James as a guest ale! Delicious!
20 Jun 2009 21:03
I visited during Chippenham Folk Festival this year, and the selection of real ales was great. There was even a real cider (Cheddar Valley) which might have looked a bit like flat Iron Bru but tasted like the proper stuff should do. Service was friendly, and as swift as it can be when the pub is heaving with folkies. During the Festival, there are song sessions in the pub and a ceilidh or dance displays in the back yard - and the entertainment is all free!
20 Jun 2009 16:10
Coach and Horses Inn, Longborough
I'd heard that the landlady who ran this pub for so many years had retired from the pub recently, so I was very glad to see the pub open and thriving when I visited last month. The beer is just as good as the views from the beer garden at the front - smashing!
20 Jun 2009 15:55
What a lovely selection of real ales! Smashing. I'm coming back here again! The landlord was very welcoming, the coffee was good too. And the decor is very distinctive (murals).
20 Jun 2009 15:51
I visited this pub back in October 2008. It's a quiet, friendly pub serving a selection (choice of 3 or 4 as a I recall) decent, local real ales. Very welcoming of visitors and useful for anyone staying at the nearby bunkhouse.
20 Jun 2009 15:48
The Three Horseshoes, Towersey
I've always had a friendly reception in this pub, but then I'm a regular occasional visitor (used to be more regular when I lived closer). The beer is excellent, there's lots of room and the pub is well furnished and looked after. The last time I was here in June, it was a beautiful hot Tuesday evening and the garden was full on every table.
It's even more heavingly busy over August Bank Holiday Weekend, when the pubs hosts music and song sessions and dance displays (mostly morris, but often other things too) as part of Towersey Village Festival.
20 Jun 2009 15:31
There were three Wadworth beers on when I was there earlier this month. Smashing atmosphere and the food came in v generous proportions.
20 Jun 2009 15:25
A very friendly and welcoming pub offering both really nice Oxfordshire Brewery ales and very nice coffee (well, that's I was drinking on my last visit). The landlord and lady work really hard to create the right atmosphere and I think they're succeeding!
20 Jun 2009 15:21
Horse and Jockey, Stanford in the Vale
The Horse and Jockey is a cheerful pub, with a reputation for a good standard of fairly reasonably priced food. When I pointed out the lack of vegetarian choices (there was only one option) the chap serving had a word with th chef and came up with another (and quite delicious) option. So I'd say, pretty good on that front.
As the previous reviewer says, the beer is standard Green King - mostly Morland badged, rather than GK. Since I don't much like anything Green King produce is leaves me a bit cold.
20 Jun 2009 15:18
The Anchor Inn, Stanford In The Vale
The Anchor is now styled as a bar eatery. The food is well done and aiming for the gastropub end of the market. The beer has only ever been Green King when I've been in. Service was friendly and sitting by a roaring fire was lovely on a cold December evening. I haven't been back because of the lack of decent real ale - although I notice that they were advertising a beer festival with guest beers last weekend (I'dve been there if we'd not been away).
20 Jun 2009 15:11
Pleasant and welcoming atmosphere, and a choice of three real ales: 2 Fullers and 1 Gale's.
30 Oct 2008 22:35
The Moon Under Water, Milton Keynes
Good selection of real ales and prompt service at the bar. It's easily the best pub in Central Milton Keynes (but that's not saying that much).
17 Oct 2008 20:29
I really hope they make a good job of the refurbishment. For the record, I've always been well served here, and didn't think that the staff were unattentive at all. On the contrary, I found them friendly and helpful. Plus the beer (real ales from Vale Brewery just down the road) has always been on good form.
My one critism was the limited choice of food for vegetarians, but what I had was always good quality.
14 Sep 2008 23:33
The Gate Hangs High, Hook Norton
It was nice to come back here again, after not visiting for a few years. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Food was lovely, and generous portions. I would recommend the treacle tart which was very treacley, and more of a deep-fill pie than a tart!
The Hooky Best and Old Hooky were both on. The Old Hooky was nice, but there was something slighly different about the taste to usual. Perhaps it was just fresh from a new barrel. If I didn't know the beer quite well, I probably wouldn't have noticed, as it wasn't unpleasant, just a little bit different. Perhaps I should have checked it with another pint. Sadly, I had to go before I could do that.
I shall save the second pint for another time, instead, and shall certainly come back again.
14 Sep 2008 23:27
The General Elliot, South Hinksey
Friendly and quite quiet on a Wednesday evening, with a choice of four really nice real ales. I was drinking a lovely dark beer the name of which I forget (sorry) and Nethergate Augustian, also v tastey and quite dark.
Really looking forward to the beer festival from 26th - 28th Sep.
11 Sep 2008 21:32
No great shakes, I'm afraid. For a start the beers are standard Green King fair, and the summer special (I forget the name) was boring and one-dimensional.
We were there mid afternoon on an overcast Sunday in September. Clearly the pub was busy, and the person serving was busy too, apparently the only person serving, and somewhat grumpy.
Shame. It looks like it could be a terrific pub.
10 Sep 2008 10:31
Good choice of beers (Taylor's Landlord, Brakspeare's Best and Wadworth's Horizon), and I can vouch for the first of these - v good.
Pleasant and friendly atmosphere. Lots of different places to sit inside and out.
Will certainly go back again - looks like a good place to break a walk.
6 Sep 2008 20:29
The Waggon and Horses, Southmoor
I dropped by for a very quick drink on a Saturday lunch time. Pleasantly busy and fairly friendly. Beer looked okay for a Green King pub (GK IPA, Moreland and Ruddles Country), but didn't try it. The blackboard menu appeared to lack vegetarian options, but I didn't see the printed one - so check before you go if you're vegetarian and looking for food.
I'd visit again for beer if I'm in the area.
6 Sep 2008 20:26
A smashing pub serving consistently good beer. They were in the CAMRA's Good Beer Guide last year, and deservedly so. The front bar looks reasonably small and cosey, but packs in a surprisingly large number of people when required. They have a good reputation for food too, but I've not eaten here before.
4 Feb 2008 22:07
The Elephant and Castle, Bloxham
A really nice village pub with excellent beer. (With ref to snert's review of 22nd July 2007) they've not done Sunday lunches within memory - perhaps they don't want to compete with the Joiner's Arms for food trade? Don't know. If you want a drink in Bloxham, go the Elephant and Castle it's the best by far.
4 Feb 2008 22:02
Another good Hook Norton pub, and a proper village pub too! Good selection of well prepared food, with a good range of options for vegetarians, too!
3 Feb 2008 19:20
Very good beer - they had Hook Norton Best and the guest was Slaters' Queen Bee when we were there. This pub is known for its food, but there are regular drinkers at the bar, too. Food is on the pricey side (this is definitely a gasto-pub) but good quality. There was only one vegetarian option, but given notice, the Chef is happy sort something out. Service is friendly and welcoming. Well worth a visit.
3 Feb 2008 19:17
Smashing beer - the Adnams was spot on! They have comprehensive bar menu with a fair vegetarian selection - although perhaps they have a somewhat eccentric interpretation of vegetarian cusine (eg vegetable curry was made with sauce, the same veg as you'd have if you'd ordered the roast and garnished with lettice and kiwifruit slices). Portions are generous and service is always friendly, however. I shall certainly continue to visit this pub.
26 Jan 2008 23:39
A quiet and small village pub with friendly landlord and landlady. Two real ales - the Spitfire is nice and sharp!
26 Jan 2008 23:29
I was greeted with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere when I went here recently. There's a decent amount of room and a good choice (including several vegetarian options) of reasonably priced food from the bar menu. The beers were all all Green King which I didn't drink, so I can't comment on the quality of the beer other than to say I've never had a good pint from Green King and that's why I didn't have any beer here. I didn't see any real cider either. But they do a good black current and soda.
One of the rooms of the pub features a wall completely covered with book shelves, which may for entertaining reading!
I'll certainly come back again, but I'd be much happier if they'd put the Bateman's back on that they had in 2005 when the last review of this pub was written.
26 Jan 2008 23:24
The Shoulder of Mutton, Wantage
A smashing pub - very friendly. The choice of ales and cider is amazing, including some brewed on the premises. Top quality and certainly my favourite pub in Wantage.
14 May 2012 22:01