The Swan, Pangbourne

I visit here regularly in the early evening. The 'Old Speckled Hen' ale (Morlands) is almost invariably good, though the available 'wine by the glass' card has contracted somewhat over the last year. The staff are personable but tend to be transient and service can be a little on the slow side. The clientele is varied (as it should be). It is a popular eating spot (though I have eaten there only once). The interior has two open fires (welcome in winter) and the seating is comfortable and varied. Equally, it succeeds as a splendid summer riverside pub. However, it is not an idyllic unspoilt country pub and has the omnipresent one-armed bandits and muzak (though they seem to have only one tape). There are 'No Smoking' areas (though I expect that that will be irrelevant soon with the changes in legislation). One tip - the car park is inadequate and difficult (two entrance but one is very steep with a risk of 'tail scrape'). Park in the station car park opposite (nobody seems to check for fee paid tickets in the evening) or travel by train. Overall, a good pub.

22 Dec 2005 15:57

The Pot Kiln, Frilsham

Just a point. This place does not work as a restaurant either. The food is adequate but nothing special. The 'restaurant' would be fine as a pub room but, when I am paying �35 a head for a meal (without alcohol), I do expect somewhere with a little more 'ton'. My abiding memories of the place were the over-spiced (cloves?) game pie, the grease stains on the walls and the fact that the punters seems to be expected to drink their wine from water tumblers (I've never seen that before). It falls between two stools (or better between two pine chairs of the variety that are used to furnish the 'restaurant'). I'll stick to the nearby Royal Oak in Yattendon (fine as a pub or as a restaurant) and The Swan in Pangbourne for beer drinking in future.

22 Dec 2005 15:32