The Trout Inn, Wolvercote

This pub had a long-established tradition as an excellent pub, in one of the most beautiful locations in Oxford, serving well-kept beers and superb traditional pub grub, and a friendly staff -equally welcoming in both summer and winter. Sadly, since it has been taken over by a chain, all that has disappeared. The historic interior has been gutted and replaced with an identikit open plan. The sub-standard bought in catering is advertised on over-sized plastic menus moure suited to Happy Eater. The beer is limited to poorly kept fosters and Smiths draftfow, and over-priced tepid Chardonnay. Customers are seen as units to be processed with long queues at the bar. This has not however, reduced the clientelle - if anything numbers have increased, but mostly by foul-mouthed fake-Burberry becapped yobs and their equally ill-behaved off-spring. It saddens me deeply to see such a well-loved Oxford institution decline in such a way, but I shall never visit it again and would recommend that others who are looking for a pleasant evening out look elsewhere.

7 Apr 2005 14:44