The Black Boy Inn, Milton

We have been going to this pub for about 3 years and it has had 4 managers in that time! The second lot came as part of an extensive refurbishment. We liked it. Lovely ambience and great food. A great improvement on their predecessors. But, as someone else said, it was not really a real pub any more and the cost of a glass of wine was prohibitive. The landlady was a bit rough around the edges and was rude to customers in the "if you don't like it...' fashion. Her husband was charming and thoughtful to regulars there, though, and we went back often.

The next lot lasted five minutes after having put the prices up and cut the portions. The fourth lot are, I think, on 'death row'. They don't mow the lawn, the tables in the garden are laid out willy nilly and they are so rough I cut my hand on them on two occasions. The owner wiped our table inside at our request (it was covered in dog hair and bits of food). She used a cloth dipped in vinegar! It stank! No-one came to ask us if we wanted anything or if the food was OK. The price of the beer now is astonishing. The attention to detail has all gone, along with the charm. All we do now is go for a beer now and then but the standards have really gone down. Last week when we went, truly hoping for some improvement, all the hanging baskets were full of dead pansies. What is it with the pubs in this area? When are breweries etc. going to realise that people want to go and have a pint in a good old-fashioned pub with good honest food that is clean and pleasant to visit with friendly staff. Is it too much to ask?

28 Jul 2008 16:55

The Castle Inn, Edgehill

This pub certainly has a nice garden with a lovely view. On a good day it's a pleasure just to sit there with a pint or glass of wine and look into the distance and ponder on life. However, having eaten there many times I would say this: anything with chips is safe. Don't touch the quiche. Last time I had it and it was wet, soggy and disgusting with bits of fat from streaky bacon on top. And it was �7.95! We don't eat there any more as the time before that my fish was raw in the middle and the excuse was that they had a student in the kitchen! The chef is a bit of a tyrant and if you order food one minute after 2 he refuses to cook it. So get there in plenty of time.

It's worth going to this pub for the view and the friendly barmaid. Don't expect a lot from the food. It is also rather grim inside with fox heads on the wall that haven't been cleaned for donkey's years. Like many pubs in this region, it could be so good but is not. Shame.

28 Jul 2008 16:44

The Red Lion, Bloxham

No atmosphere inside this pub. Nice garden but quite a walk through the carpark to get to it so food can be cold when it arrives. Mediocre food - sandwiches were the most pathetic I've had in a long time. Stale value bread, one slice of ham. Rubbish. Food inconsistent in general. Chef swears his head off and you can hear him effing and blinding from the garden. Could be so good, but isn't. This review is based on many visits as it is a local of ours and we wanted to give it a fair chance. On last occasion we went I got my food 20 minutes before my partner got his and when his came bits of it were burned. At one point they were offering take away cappucino and hot chocolate! A pub! What is the world coming to! The proprietors used to run The Badger on the Heath in Wroxton. They had it for 3 months before it flopped. That just about says it all. Shame. This could be a good pub but I'd advise people to go to the Joiners next door.

28 Jul 2008 16:38