please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We used to visit the Fox & Hounds years ago when it was just a rural beer house .... and none the worse for that. Used to sit in the side room with the kids and sup Brakspears, brilliant... But times have changed and we understand why subsequent licensees have had to offer food to keep going.
After just a couple of beer-only visits in recent times we had a very pleasant visit to the Fox & Hounds last weekend for Sunday lunch. Was a little concerned by some comments seen on here but we needn't have worried.
Beers (Brakspear Bitter and Oxford Gold) were excellent. A shortish menu, it must be said, but this was more than compensated by both the quality and quantity. Service was both friendly and efficient... thanks to all.
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Since new management in May 11, this pub has improved significantly. it used to be over priced and the staff were not welcoming. That has changed. The food is of excellent quality, and the staff are welcoming. Prices are now fair and the ale well kept. A great pub both on a summer's evening and on a dark damp winter's day.
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What a difference a change of landlord makes.
"Under new management" the blackboard at the roadside boasts, because from the reviews below, that's probably the most important thing to say.
The top Fox now is a force to be reckoned with, and thank goodness. So welcome to the new landlords - it's great that there is now someone behind the bar who actually likes being there and who welcomes customers into the pub. Good luck. We'll certainly be back.
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Hoping for an ownership change!
After a long bike ride we decided to stop for snacks. The prices were exhorbitant! One Coke and a packet of crisps was £4.30, more than I have ever paid in London. We sat outside with our pricey goods and when a couple of people got out their own sandwiches the owner marched out and yelled rudely. Now we did not have a problem with someone asking they be put away and not consumed on his property, but all he had to do was ask nicely! But he did not even attempt to be friendly about it. Just flat out rude. After spending over £20 for about £2 worth (to him) you might think the patronage was appreciated. And we would have been happy to simply put the sandwiches away, if asked in a civil manner. He told us flat out he didn't care about losing our business.
I had eaten lunch here fairly recently and thought the food was good if over-priced. The atmosphere is nice in the old part of the pub... but with a rude owner who doesn't give a flying you-know-what about customers, we won't go back and have been telling our fellow bike riders not to go. Shame as it's a good location for us. (We love the Five Horseshoes nearby in Maidensgrove!)
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We ate here last year just after it had been taken over and we put the standoffishness of the owner down to nerves as we were quite a big party, however our return trip was even worse. The man in charge is rude and unwelcoming and the food of a middling standard, there's much better to be had at the Lambert Arms down the hill. We could overlook it if everyone looked like they were trying but the atmosphere doesn't seem quite right and the owner lets his fairly studious team down.
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The Fox and Hounds is in the middle of the pretty hamlet of Christmas Common - in the middle of the Chilterns, so popular with walkers.
The hills that is ... not the pub. And oh what a shame. It's a pretty building, but as soon as you walk in the writing is on the wall - or rather the beams."No tabs" it says "please don't ask". And there was me thinking I was the customer. Was there a long list of other questions which were banned in the pub?
And so it went on. A large drinks order for two families who had stopped en route walking in the hills (and don't they know how to charge?) was followed with the request to order a couple of snacks. There aren't bar snacks, but we were asking for a couple of starters to keep hungry boys' tummies at bay. The first barman referred me to the second, and the second looked at me as if I was something the cat had dragged in. No she'd have to ask the third barman. The third asked me if I was "the party of seven" motioning towards the side room we were occupying and counting seven of us I confirmed we were. "So are you ready to order then?" he asked. I was.
But the second barmaid refused to take my order at the bar and insisted she came to our table. Only she didn't. Barman number three turned up and told us we weren't the party of seven he had in mind, and he couldn't serve us food. "We can't take walk-ins" he said (I thought the term was "walkers", "ramblers" perhaps, but no, we were the restaurant equivalent of "walk-ins"). Not even a couple of bowls of chips we asked? No.
It's unsurprising the Top Fox as the Fox & Hounds is known locally (to differentiate it from the Fox and Hounds at the bottom of the hill in Watlington) has such a poor reputation amongst the locals in Watlington. Perhaps its proximty to the M40 and as the carpark proved, it can make a business out of Londoners coming out to the country. But don't go there if you're after local hospitality. Don't go there unless you've booked. And don't go there if you're after not just bonhomie, but the simple courtesy you'd expect from someone in the hospitality industry
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Just left here after a very disappointing lunch experience. I drive past this pub every week and for a while now I have been meaning to call in to see if the reputation is justified. I took my wife for lunch as we were spending some 'quality' time together and I thought it would be nice.
The atmosphere isn't right - this was the first thing we noticed. A gut feeling that something wasn't quite as it should be; hard to put your finger on but you know it when you feel it.
We ordered fish and chips. This was something we both really fancied, although we were definitely disappointed not to see any lunch deals. This seems to be a major flaw when the likes of the Crooked Billet and even the Sir Charles Napier (both within spitting distance and both exemplary establishments) offer 2 courses for 13 quidish at lunch time.
The fish and chips came very quickly. The fish was nice and fresh in a good crispy batter. The chips were greasy and undercooked. In fact they were rock hard in the middle. The waitress came and asked us if everything was OK and I stated that the fish was good but the chips weren't. She said: "I'll tell him...."
What the heck does that mean? Tell who what?? And certainly no apology...
When she came to clear the plates that were piled high with uneaten chips she informed us that the chef blamed the type of potatoes. Apparently he is knowingly serving chips that are underdone because they burn if he tries to cook them for any longer. This sounds like the biggest load of rubbish if you ask me but there you go. Fish and chips without chips is pointless....and a waste of money at 11 quid.
We were offered a desert or drink by way of an apology. Fair enough I suppose, but as we needed to leave we declined. Not a penny was taken off the bill. Not even the soft drinks we had. A free desert or drink will cost them nothing to hand out so it smarted to realise that they were only willing to make such a feeble gesture.
Under normal circumstances I would remonstrate but my wife is pregnant and she just wanted to get home to lie down.
I simply won't bother going again.
If they had seemed like they actually cared I would probably give them the benefit of the doubt, but the lacklustre serving staff and the chefs openly laughing through the pass when the waitress took our plates back has killed it for me.
I note other reviews saying similar things.
Manners cost nothing guys!!
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We are local and can walk to the pub from Watlington where we live, but on the occasions we have been we have found the staff to be rude and unhelpful. You get the feeling that they are doing you a favour by serving you. The attitude is poor and the main chap who is obviously supposed to be “front of house”, full of himself with no warmth or welcome. We have spent quite a considerable amount with them over time, both eating in the day and evening (Fathers Day, Christmas etc), wanting desperately to give it the benefit of the doubt, but each time we have left feeling like we have been taken for a ride. It is such a shame because the pub looks lovely and could, with the right staff, be a winner. Unfortunately there are many others who feel as we do and will not visit again. To have a local pub that is so unwelcoming is terrible and the owners should be ashamed. People these days are much more discerning and will vote with their feet. Pubs should not be complacent and assume that it does not matter. It is not enough to just serve good food. If the ambience is wrong and the staff unwelcoming, people will leave which is exactly what is happening. Read the blurb on the website and you get the feeling that they are a family friendly pub that welcomes children, walkers and dogs. That is not what other local families feel or have experienced. The owners should be worried that local families in Watlington will no longer visit because of the attitude of the staff.
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Nice enough pub, decent pint of Brakespears. Not overly friendly, I've found. Their website makes mention of welcoming walkers and cyclists, but unless you've walked from your BMW or Range Rover parked out front, to spend a fortune on the over-priced pub grub, I wouldn't count on it. And did it really need 2 members of staff to come out seperately to the garden and ask me rudely and officiously "Are you eating a packed lunch", when I'd given a bit of sandwich to my dog last Sunday? I half expected to get a full body search for traces of cheese and pickle sarny or a Mars Bar.....I suppose possession of a packed lunch is still punishable by ducking stool in Christmas Common.
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Visited 8th Oct 2010, Beer and wine ok (if you don't mind Sauvignon Blanc after ordering white Rioja). Chef really needs to learn how to cook pigeon, pink is good, running with blood is not acceptable. According to my wife the savoy cabbage was so under cooked it was inedible.
My fish and chips were good.
Staff did not seem to take on board the complaints, one to miss until they learn how to deal with complaints.
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Addlestones cider.
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Myself and my partner have been here a couple of times and tried it again for a third time where we felt completely ripped off. The roast, was as always, very nice, however at £13.95 you would expect it to be. I asked for extra gravy and was told I would be charged for it! This has never been a problem before. We then ordered desserts, waited for around 20 mins for them to come along whereby we had finished our coffees. My dessert, for £6.95, consisted of three slices of bananas, three slices of pineapple, a shortbread biscuit, three marshmellows and some chocolate to dip them in!! My partner had a bread and butter pudding in a sugar bowl without a spoon to eat it with which we had to ask for. Our bill came to around £50, I really would not recommened anyone coming here, please avoid.
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Went to this pub back in 2004 and to be honest after all the hype it received I was very dissapointed. I had a ploughmans lunch, which is so easy to get right except in this case the bread was stale and the cheese was sweaty. Fast Forward now to 2010, we walked on Watlington Hill on New Years Day and decided to give the Top Fox a second chance, it was a decision worth making, I had the Welsh Rarebit to start and the All Day Breakfast, which I really enjoyed. Others had the Butternut Squash Soup and Fish & Chips which were well received too. The condition of the Brakspears Beer was excellent as was the attentitive nature the staff despite the pub being packed. We shall certainly be visiting again :)
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My wife and I have been walking the Chilterns for a number of years and stumbled across this very pictoresque village pub in March (09). We were made very welcome by the Staff and provided a fireside table, in the Public Bar. I believe that there is a Restaurant, attached to the Pub, towards the other side.
The service was made available, whenever required and the Brakspear Beer was as refreshing as ever, after a glorious walk. I had a Ploughmans, with all the trimmings and Susan (My wife), opted for a hearty Steak and Ale pie. Both were reasonably priced and served in an efficient manner. I regret not trying the desserts, but will be returning to Christmas Common in June, when I introduce my growing flock of grandchildren to the Oxfordshire countryside.
As a supporter of real ale over the years, I urge you to support country pubs, like the Fox & Hounds.
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Went a few weeks ago as part of a walk.
Service was appauling, the staff didn't seem to care if we had a good time or not. The food is massively overpriced for what you get, especially the ploughmans which was laughable. Staff made no effort to rectify any negative comments we made, and we really are not the type of people to openly complain about things (typical British!)
The recession is a good thing when it comes to sorting out the good places from the bad. Customers will and should vote with their feet.
I really hope this place fails, it thoroughly deserves to.
-Kevin.
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First visited this place a couple of years ago as a 'walk-in' when they couldn't even provide a packet or crips when there was no room to sit down for a meal. Bar staff were unfriendly and unhelpful. Decided to give it another chance 2 weeks ago as we like walking in the area. Ushered straight in to the 'walk-in' area like a bad smell. Had an £8.95 ploughmans which took half an hour to arrive and had hardly anything on the plate. Bought drinks at the bar and paid seperately but when paying the food bill they tried to charge for drinks and then looked like they didn't believe me when I said we'd paid already even though it was the bar maid who'd served me. Complained at the time only to be told they were busy (not especially) and laughed when I said we were still hungry. Won't be going back. Walkers obviously not welcome, they'd rather cater for the hunt.
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The landlords have changed again ( July 08) and the pretentious menu has gone, a sandwich menu suitable for hikes and cyclists is back on offer. And they actually make you feel welcome if you show up on foot.
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Unfortunately new licensees 2008. Restaurant now dreadful. Avoid.
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Re the comment about it being renamed The Treacle Well, that's because it was used under that name in the BBC2 reality TV show "The Restaurant". Now back to its true self. Lovely place for a beer on a sunny late summer's evening. Attached restaurant is excellent.
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Attractive pub. Staff were friendly enough but seemed a bit disorganised. We sat out in the garden and the waitress brought our food in dribs & drabs. If I was serving, I would have loaded as much as I could on one big tray! Our lunch was tasty, nicely presented, but a bit expensive. Expect to pay £13 for Sunday roast here. The restaurant looked very smart and seemed to have a good, lively atmosphere.
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Our visit today confirmed the rightness of the last three posts. Pretentious menu of rubbishy overpriced gastro grub. Bitter was acceptable but only one flavour of J2o on sale, what planet are these people one. If you can convince yourself that £25.65p for a pint of bitter, a J2o, a lump of pork pate, a veggie salad(thats it green salad)and two coffee's is fair price then you will be happy here or at any of this outfits other pubs,
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Regrettably, the heart and soul of this wonderful old pub has been ripped out in the name of gastro-pub world domination. It has been re-named The Treacle Well (WTF???) and is now utterly and completely without salvation. Our regular visits years ago were to a tiny cottage inn with no bar - just an open door to the cellar - and no pretensions at all. Just great beer, conversation and restitution for the weary walker/cyclists/etc. It had a makeover some years ago including the addition of a "proper" bar, but managed to retain a lot of its charm.
No more.
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We went in to eat but there was very little on the menu other than restaurant type main courses. We heard a cyclist in the garden on his mobile saying he was having Octopus Salad.... probably not what he wanted to eat.
There was Welsh Rarebit or Salmon sandwiches for £5 each so we left.
Would efinitely go back to try a proper meal but no point going in for a standard pub lunch.
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Unless you arrive in a Chelsea tractor sporting Prada do not expect much of a welcome here. In a torrential downpour several groups of walkers and cyclists were turned away hungry and thirsty by exceptionally rude and arrogant bar staff
anonymous - 26 Apr 2006 11:05 |
Great, mainly organic food, well kept beers (Brakspears) and good wine list.
Roaring fires in the winter. A classic Chilterns/Oxon country pub/restaurant for the discerning punter. Good service, well positioned for local *bracing* country walks.
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I haven't actually sat in the pub but I have eaten in the restuarant. The beer is well maintained and the food is excellent. What really makes this place is the service!
I ordered my meal and was told by a waitress later that it wouldn't come with the rest of our meals and would be a couple of minutes after. I was offered a drink on the house? No problem I gratefully accepted the drink. A few minute later I was approached by the chef who said that my meal wasn't done to his satisfaction and asked would I mind waiting while he re-cooked it? He told me my meal would be free and would I like to select a dessert on the house.
When it arrived it was perfect, as where the other 5 meals on our table that had already been consumed. My dessert was excellent and when we came to pay my whole meal, including hor d'oeuvres and drinks had been removed from the bill.
Will I be going there again? Yes in a couple of weeks.
Jon Floyd - 28 May 2004 14:00 |
Really great country pub at the top of the escarpment. Small, cosy bars, with massive fireplaces. Lovely well kept brakspears with simple but good pub grub. Great for nearby walks.
pete - 21 Oct 2003 12:33 |
