Ah, Oxfordshire, a curate’s egg of a pub county for a county of curates.
You might be wondering how I pick five pubs from the thousand in a typical GBG chapter.
Well, I could use Artificial Intelligence. Here’s what Bing’s version of AI suggests;
Yes, Irish-inspired food, super soft drinks, and “tranquillity” are the key according to Bing. I think I’ll use one of those.
Actually, I tend to flick through the current Beer Guide and then type the county into the search facility on my own blog and see what comes up, then get Alfie, Baa Baa and Charlie to deliver the casting votes.
They came up with this five;
Not necessarily my first choice in the county town, that would be the Lamb & Flag, but I can’t deny the tourist charms of the Chequers, and with Pedigree in the news it’s worth reflecting how good it was in 2018, a hug of a pint I wrote.
But it’s the building with outside loos and dramatic entrance you come for.
“With cobbled courtyard, breweriana and proper pub sign, the Chequers was an instant highlight (again). Mrs RM was reminded of the alleyway to the Coopers Tavern, I thought instantly of the rather less impressive Eagle in Cambridge.“
“Almost baronial is style, it’s clearly a big tourist draw on the High Street, and probably listed in Fodors as well as a certain beer guide.“
Table football, too, as there has been since the Chequers was first recorded in 1605.
Pedi in Oxford, Hooky near Bicester.
Historically one of several rural classics in the Home Counties serving the old family brewers beer (often just the one), but feeling like a world apart one when I went back a decade ago.
The first photo you find on Google tells a tale;
Classic seating, farming banter (quite sweary from recollection) and a stunning Hooky.
I just want to go back this year and get a photo as good as Darren Burling’s.
ONE fatal error in that shot, Darren.
Another simple country pub (and you thought Oxon was all craft bars on industrial estates and posh gastros in placed with Norton in the name) just south of Banbury, next to the world famous Fired Earth factory shop.
“I love basic community pubs like this, even though the music choice (Simply Red – Stars) comes from the same era as the prices. Oxfordshire isn’t all Chipping Norton.”
“There were literally dozens of OAPs in for the £4 roast giving the pub an atmosphere you don’t get at the “Restaurant with Rooms” places a few miles east. This meant there were more takers for the cask than I’ve seen midweek for ages, and the Wadworth IPA (NBSS 3.5) was as good as Alan Winfield said it is on this blog recently. Nice head too.“
That was 2017, but you can see the sort of pub grub served up in this shot;
We’ll overlook the fluffy cushions.
Just this once.
There was great seating in our next pub, right on the Berkshire border, in 2021.
Oh well.
“Every room filled with “stuff”. I can see some purists having a problem with this, to be honest, but the seating at the bar was more conventional, the beer range sensible, and the Landlord an Old School legend.“
“He entertained us for half an hour with talk of gammy knees, live music leading the post-pandemic recovery and bees while we got slightly sozzled on local beer and bottles of Tally Ho.“
“Just at the point we wondered what a wonderful pub like this was doing without custom, the whole village poured in, and it became that slightly upmarket boozer that’s a bit of a dying breed.“
And finally from me, a perennial award winner in a town near the Vale of the White Horse famous for its “Novel Library” and abandoned bookshop;
Sometimes these rural beer houses can be a bit, er, beery.
But I remember the Royal Oak being incredibly friendly; the Landlord brought round a tray of artisan cheeses to share on the Sunday,
and this recent beer board shows a 10.4% pint at £4.80, which even Stafford Paul will see as a bargain.
But just as importantly, they’re still a 6X stronghold.
Pedigree, Hooky, 6X, Palmers in this five; back to the 90s. Over to you for No. 6. What’s great in Didcot ?
retiredmartin 
“and this recent beer boar shows a 10.4% pint at £4.80, which even Stafford Paul will see as a bargain”.
Yes indeed, and there was no 10⅖% beer on when I used the Royal Oak in 1988 and 1991. The first time I had Glenny Hobgoblin before it changed to Wychwood. The second time I had Hall and Woodhouse Best Bitter and Tanglefoot.
I also got in the Shoulder of Mutton ( the liveliest pub ), the Bell, the Kings Arms and the Blue Boar.
Being only about half the age for a bus pass I walked from and to Didcot Parkway both times.
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The food at the C&H looks bang on.
After a day’s hedge-laying you don’t want to waste your time and remaining energy eating wet green stuff with zero restorative calories.
Nor on any other occasion come to that.
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although a more generous serving of chips might have been nice.
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It was a relief to see the pie beside, rather than on top of the chips too, Paul.
I’ve been served an entire Sunday lunch in stratified form before now – Yorkshire pudding at the apex.
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Who was that chap who complained about the number of sausages (six) in the Deansgate pub in Manchester 5 years ago ?
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Too many sausages or not enough?
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“an entire Sunday lunch in stratified form – Yorkshire pudding at the apex”.
Yes Etu, some businesses don’t deserve to succeed.
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I don’t much like stratified food either but I can live with it. Mrs B on the other hand detests it and goes right off on one if she’s served one. It’s not a pretty sight.
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Some beauties there:)
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I fell like I should be qualified to comment on Oxfordshire after living in Oxford for a couple years, but I dont think I can add anything. Not to say that all the pubs in Oxford are terrible, just not great.
The approach to the Perch at Binsey across Port Meadow was memorable because of the views it gives of the dreaming spires (behind you). But the pub itself was mainly food led.
The Eagle and Child on St Giles was memorable not because of the ‘pubbiness’ or the association with CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, but because the landlord at the time seemed to have been a stuntman on the “Last Remake of Beau Gest” (Marty Feldman) and the pictures of the production behind the bar.
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Just not great is spot on Prof.
Plenty of good pubs, I actually liked the Turf despite them playing on the Bill Clinton connection.
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Yes I liked the Turf as well.
The Old Bell in Harrogate also plays on the Bill Clinton connection. Apparently he went in after a visit to the nearby US air force base RAF Menwith Hill whilst he was president.
Cheers. Robin
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Thanks Robin. Vital detail. I thought the Old Bell (lovely pub) had a fair few Americans.
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Some good choices there, Martin.
My sixth would probably be the Rose & Crown at Charlbury. Or perhaps the Cross Keys, Thame.
I’m not sure you’d make the Chequers your city pick if visiting more recently. It had a great spell a few years back but never quite seems to have recovered after lock-downs. And that table football is long gone.
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