14/01/17 - Banbury Pub Crawl

Mrs Mappiman and myself find ourselves in the Premier Inn, Banbury and in need of a way of toasting our success at completing the Millennium Way.

There's only one thing for it.  Consult Tripadvisor for the finest place to eat (her).  Dust off the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for the finest places to drink (me).

The Three Pigeons, 3 Southam Road, Doombar

The taxi delivers us to the first of three GBG pubs in town.  The first calling point of the evening will set the tone for the night.  Will it be a boozers paradise full of old men with dogs, delighting me and making Mrs Mappiman wonder what she is in for?

We are dropped off in a courtyard car park, where the outbuildings (former stables?) have been converted into rooms.  If I had known, we could have booked here.

Three Pigeons from the Font

Inside, its been decorated to an incredibly high standard, with a fair proportion of tables dedicated to dining.  Mrs M heads off to find somewhere suitable to sit.  I fight my way past the bar to see what delights are on offer to get this into the GBG.

Slightly disappointed to find only two real ales - Purity Gold and Doombar.  And as much as I like Ubu, I didn't fancy a gold.

Purchases made and then I discover what is common to all 400 year old hostelries.... low beamed ceilings.

The very pleasant ambiance is very slightly tainted by a 6ft brummie swearing about having cider all down his strides and a very sore head.

Traumas are forgotten as we slump into very fine wing backed chairs in front of a lovely woodburner.

Mrs M Sympathetically informing Facebook that I've smacked my bonce.

Mrs M checks the menu.  She may have regretted not booking our meal here.

Bruises apart, a fine start.

The White Horse, 50 North Bar Street, Lecons Affinity & Everards Tiger

We move on towards the town centre into a pub that I am going to file under "unique".

No photo from outside as there are a couple of smokers who I am sure would appreciate their anonymity.

Inside, its a mixture of styles.  First impressions are that it looks like some has ramraided an auction house.  Full of trinkets, ornaments and pub related paraphernalia.  Seating wise, its just as eclectic - large chesterfield in front of a open wire, standard pub tables and oddly out of kilter American diner style booths.

View from a Chesterfield

Before ordering drinks, my eyes are drawn to the signage.  I always worry about pubs that need to tell you how to behave.

I'm nice.  As long as I don't bang my head

To the bar, which is unmanned and guarded by some very refreshed men, who hardly move to let me peak through to see the wares.  Eventually, one of the more refreshed men asks the group why his watch is saying "6:20".  They all gather around for a look, presenting a gap for me to squeeze in and try a rarely spotted Champion Beer of Norfolk - Lecons Afinity.

By the time I have been served, my new gentlemen friends have collectively agreed that it is indeed 6:20 and all is good in the timepiece world.

Another View from the Chesterfield

The distraction had stopped me from checking my change and I was slightly concerned that a pint and a half of cider had resulted in only shrapnel from a tenner.

Are we talking London Prices here?

2nd round proves it - £5.80 and as much as I enjoyed the Affinity, I decided to go for the equally lesser spotted Everards Tiger.

Great beer.  Interesting decor.  Characters.

The Exchange, 50 High Street, Nothing

No matter how much I plead that my visit will not be complete unless I tick off all the GBG entries in a town, I just cannot convince Mrs M to cross the threshold of a Wetherspoons.

The Coach and Horses, Butchers Row, Old Hooky

GBG Pubs done (sort off), it's Mrs M's booking for food.  I'm delighted she has chosen a Hook Norton tied house.

My Sort of Pub

Not one, but two Birthday parties are in full swing - so we had to join in the signing twice.

Tripadvisor had come up trumps here - the food was exceptional, the service was that good that I added a cash tip to card payment and the beer was outstanding.

A proper result, if you are looking for good food.

Ye Olde Reinde Deer, 47 Parsons Street, Old Hooky

And we arrive at the best pub of the night.  Lets admire its qualities;

• History - Medieval Building, with ties to the English Civil War
• Architecturally stunning
• Full range of Hook Norton Real Ales
• Old Hooky was superb
• Live Music
• Busy, but easy access to a well staffed bar

And its not in the 2017 Good Beer Guide.

Ye Olde Reine Deer

See, I haven't spelled it incorrectly

If you had foreign friends and wanted to show them a perfect example of an English Market Town pub, this would be it.

We sit and take in the Americana live music - Seastick Steve crossed with early Johnny Cash.

I could have stayed all night but Mrs M declared that we had done enough to declare Banbury a success.

To Banbury - where its an average of £3.80 per pint