Horse and Jockey, Stanford in the Vale

Been an occasional regular here for about a year.
Proper local pub, well used by the villagers, but also very friendly (both staff and locals). Impossible to go in on your own and stand at the bar without being invited in to conversation, but if you sit at a table with the paper you're left alone. Just right.
Food is excellent value. Full-time chef strikes a good mix between solid fare and gastro-pub adventure, but there's generally something to suit all tastes.
Beer is mostly Greene King (always Moorlands Original and Speckled Hen) but often with a non-GK guest beer too (Hooray). It's well kept and they take their ale seriously.
Understand they're in the Good Pub Guide for 2012, and rightly so.
Children and dogs very welcome, in our experience. Can't say anything about the accommodation as we've not stayed there.
All in all a great local pub in the English village tradition, without being either cliquey or too yokely (you know what I mean).
Heartily recommended.

17 Oct 2011 16:42