BITE user comments - nwingfield
Comments by nwingfield
The Knights Templar, Chancery Lane
Stumbled across this by accident and it was a gem of a find. Could only stay for one drink as they were about to close the place for a wedding but the beer was great and the surroundings very impressive. I'm not usually very keen on pub chains but Weatherspoons do seem to do a good job at retaining these old buildings.
28 Apr 2008 17:19
The Rose and Crown, Huish Episcopi
Recently launched to fame as a result of Ian Marchant's book The Longest Crawl, this is one of those pubs you just have to visit. The beer and food are excellent, but what really makes this place stand out is it's unique character. One of the few pubs in the country without a bar, you order your drinks in a tap-room which has numerous rooms and crevices radiating from it, the whole being furnished and decorated in an eclectic, antique style. The landlord couldn't have been more charming or helpful, and the regulars were equally as friendly. I can't think of anywhere else in the world I would rather spend a couple of hours.
5 Nov 2007 18:05
Splendid traditional, thatched, country pub, providing the best of both worlds with good food and excellent ales. Both reasonably priced.
Beer is served straight from the barrel which makes a rare and welcome sight. Crackling open fire provides a warm welcome on a chilly day.
30 Oct 2007 12:12
Came in very handy when I was looking for somewhere to have breakast and they did a great Full English that was good value �4.99. I liked the atmosphere so much we returned later in the day to sample the beer which went down extrememely well after a day pounding the streets of London.
15 Oct 2007 10:07
Brilliant pub with an abundance of atmosphere, only let down by the limited choice of just one Real Ale. A better selection would make this a Real Ale Mecca that would no doubt be worthy of a 10-out-of-10.
15 Oct 2007 09:59
The Lord Nelson, Burnham Thorpe
Loads of atmosphere thanks to the Nelson connection, (it was his local) and therefore a busy tourist destination.
Called in for lunch during a suprisingly busy week-day, in fact the place was heaving. Perhaps because of this the food was a big let down. The worst ploughman's lunch I have ever had, my fiance and in-laws didn't do much better. Hobbit sized portions that looked like they had been thrown together from something out of a packet, for which they were charging top prices.
Being a tourist trap doesn't excuse it being a tourist rip-off.
2 Oct 2007 17:13
Splendid old country pub in a lovely village. Excellent choice and quality of real ales, which, if you order a four pint jug you get a discount. Great idea.
It's just such a shame the landlord's attitude towards non-locals is so unfriendly. We spent a week in Blisland in April and, reading in the CAMRA guide that our local was a previous Regional Pub of the Year, we looked forward to making this our nightly haunt. However, the atmosphere was so hostile we only managed a couple of evenings.
Unless I hear there has been a change of attitude or management, I won't be making any plans to go back there.
2 Oct 2007 16:40
There's certainly no shortage of pubs in Witney, and while there on a recent day trip, we chose this one more or less at random. I'm glad we did because the landord and barmaid/waitress couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming. The ham, egg and chips (my benchmark dish) were excellent and the Wychwood (well you have to when you're in Witney) went down a treat.
I can understand the previous reviewer's comments that this more of an eating than a drinking pub, but as a place to stop for a lunch or evening meal I don't think you could do much better.
1 Oct 2007 15:52
People wax lyrical about this pub and with good reason. This is the standard by which all other pubs should be judged, it doesn't get much better than this. A couple of weeks ago I was on holiday in Norfolk and fulfilled a long standing ambition by visting The Fat Cat pub for the first time. It was everything I had hoped for and more. I only wish I lived in Norwich so I could go there every week.
1 Oct 2007 14:43
The Shepherd's Rest, Swindon
It's had a chequered history due to various changes of management, but at time of writing not a bad place for drink and food. Suffers from being somewhat off the beaten track so you have to drive to get there, but very handy for The Ridgeway. Head down the hill into the village of Wanborough and you have the pick of six pubs, the best of which are The Black Horse and The Plough.
14 Jul 2008 16:30