For real #PubMen, there’s only one thing worse than the Christmas drinker. And that’s the “Six Nation Sozzlers”, who turn (mainly) Home Counties pubs into Hell for six weeks at the start of Spring. Just ask BRAPA. Due to UK discrimination laws, I’m not allowed to exclude Rugby Union fans from this blog, but know… Continue reading LONGWORTH – OTTERS AND OVAL BALLS
Tag: Oxfordshire
TENNIS BORES IN BURFORD
SPOILER : Contains rare praise for Greene King, so move on now if that upsets you. If you’re American and travelling the Cotswolds on the Fodor (or even the retiredmartin) recommended route, I bet that Burford looks like that “Lil ol’ England” of your dreams. Or of any Richard Curtis film, anyway. It’s very hard… Continue reading TENNIS BORES IN BURFORD
WITNEY – A MUG OF TEA AND MAGGIE MAY
Quite a few reports from our more affluent, and therefore duller, counties to come. One of them will feature England’s worst beer and best faggots and chips, so something to look forward to. First to Witney last Monday, where I hoped to find a recent Prime Minister stocking shelves in Waitrose, or at very… Continue reading WITNEY – A MUG OF TEA AND MAGGIE MAY
THE GREAT OXON PUB SIGN ATROCITIES
Odd to say, but I’m glad to have a break from telling you how good Sheffield is (and it is) and get back to moaning about the state of beer and pubs in Oxon on a weekend. But first, in response to countless requests, here’s that Banbury tart from the Chipping Norton post. I had… Continue reading THE GREAT OXON PUB SIGN ATROCITIES
WONDERS OF WANTAGE
Wantage is an ideal overnight stop for exploring South Oxon, with a couple of great pubs, decent Chinese takeaway and, vitally, a Waitrose. Hotel prices might be described as “ambitious” though; you’re best off camping on this nice bit of greenery; The town itself is neat but functional, pubs apart. Perhaps it lacks the architectural appeal of similarly… Continue reading WONDERS OF WANTAGE
CAMERON-LAND
If Essex is one of my favourite counties for GBG pubs, Oxon is well down the list. Nothing to do with Light Blue/Dark Blue rivalry, I just find the pubs too food-focused, outside a good cohort of boozers around Banbury. 20 years ago, the county was noted for some of the most unspoilt pubs in the… Continue reading CAMERON-LAND
BANBURYSHIRE
Banburyshire (source:Wiki) has more to offer than £4 roast dinners. Just down the A4260 is one of the many golden stone villages that make the Oxon/Northants/Warwicks borders a competitor for the Cotswolds. Deddington has the usual minor tourist attractions; a ruined castle, one sided football pitch, snowdrops, antique centre and gun shop. “The quietest place reading… Continue reading BANBURYSHIRE
SLIM PICKINGS IN BICESTER VILLAGE
There’s a lot of great countryside around the Chiltern counties, some attractive towns, but pretty slim pickings for pubgoers. From Watford to Luton to Bicester, there’s very few urban pubs in the Beer Guide at all, let alone characterful classics. We stopped at Bicester for a coffee. It might have been a beer, but nothing… Continue reading SLIM PICKINGS IN BICESTER VILLAGE
GOOD OLD BOY BY THE THAMES
While the CAMRA revitalisation project debates the protection of pubs, I still view increasing the quality of beer in pubs, or not serving it at all, as the fundamental challenge. It’s the not serving it at all bit that many CAMRA members will struggle with. That said, beer quality has been impressive this year, though I do… Continue reading GOOD OLD BOY BY THE THAMES
DRAUGHT BASS AND SCOUSE IN THE VALE OF THE WHITE HORSE
South Oxfordshire is rarely the most rewarding part of the Beer Guide, the new entries seemingly reflecting the dining pub’s occasional flirtation with Locales. It’s not so much the food, which pretty much all pubs rely on, as the feel of the dining pubs that I don’t much enjoy. The triangle between Didcot, Thame and… Continue reading DRAUGHT BASS AND SCOUSE IN THE VALE OF THE WHITE HORSE
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