The Nags Head, Moreton

A picturesque old half-timbered pub on the main cross roads in the pretty village of Moreton, about 5 mins drive north of Chipping Ongar. Has a large slightly moth-eaten car park. Opposite an even older (I think) pub called the White Hart. Originally 2 cottages believed to date from the 1600's or earlier, it's been tastefully restored inside by the current Pubmaster chain with seemingly authentic old beams and has a real "cosy old pub out in the country" feel to it. The local old timers can be found propped up by the bar, maybe with their dog, and the local youth
maybe playing pool in the side bar. The food is actually fine, and priced OK for the average middle class couple, and I've now eaten there four or five times in 2004-6 and found it quite OK. The beer I couldn't comment on! - as I only drink a pint of bitter shandy or three as it's way too far to walk there from my home town 15 miles away. But I've found this pub always worth the trip - in winter it's especially welcoming, with a log fire in the fine old brick hearth, and no traffic noise or hassle in this very quiet village. In summer you can hear the birds sing as the sun sets behind the flower-basket be-decked side garden with pub tables and parasols. Don't listen to these uninformed 'student' reviews elsewhere about this pub. OK it's not the most expensively fitted-out or the cleanest, but it's still my favourite country pub (2006) in Great Britain.

9 Oct 2006 13:26