Thetownend.com

Whilst 4D is away on honeymoon I figured I'd turn this section into something useful and start a list of country pubs that serve good food and beer so he knows where to take his mrs for an evening out

First up...


The White Horse Inn, Compton Bassett.
Landlord/chef can be a bit of a dick (ask grubby) but it's a free house, is nicely refurbished and serves excellent food (rumoured to be heading for a Michelin star).

The Crown Inn, Broad Hinton
Nice atmosphere, great landlady, good food... Only downside is that it's an arkells pub so the beer can be a little off putting

Easy.

The redlion Cricklade.
Won camra on numerous times. Now has it's own brewery. Beer can be bought to be taken home. Food is spot on. All local produce. Instead of a wine list that goes with the food, they have a beer list! Can't recommend it enough.

Very much a dying breed sadly :no:

Exactly why the goods ones should be lauded

The Greyhound in Siddington is also very good and quite reasonable.

Very true.

Never tried it but will now give it a visit... see? it works!

Another vote for the Red Lion at Cricklade, a cracking pub.

Good to see that the Crown Inn at Broad Hinton gets a mention as I drive past there everyday and keep saying that I should go in, so decent food is a definate draw!

I'd give a shout out to The Horse and Groom at Charlton too, though it's a little fancier than normal pub food.   Also the Vale of the White Horse Inn at Minety used to go good food, though I haven't been there for years.  Both decent pubs in their own right with car parks, outside space, decent beers etc too.

I always head to the Royal Oak at Bishopstone for an above average meal if I've got a bit of extra cash

I dont think poncy Country Pubs that make a big deal out food and glorify real Ale like its fine wine are a dying breed there are plenty of them.Its local pubs that are the dying breed.

Round my way (Essex/Suffolk) even 'poncy' pubs in 'poncy' villages where people have stacks of money are closing down. It's actually quite shocking.

'local' and 'country' depend on where you live...

Can anybody confirm or deny that the Trotting Horse at Bushton serves a decent meal?

DeniedIt's just been taken over - haven't been in there since then so can't comment - was a bit of shit hole before...

The Bell at West Overton isn't bad and neither is the Wagon and Horse's at Beckhampton

I am going to the Blundson House Hotel for my nan's 90th birthday on Saturday, what's this like? Is there an alternative to cooking lager available?

Not often I am in Swindon, when town are at home and I am not at the football!! Have to borrow my gf's internet to keep up to date with goings on at the CG.

Might be a few Orient fans on my train from London thinking about it.

BHH is ok - as you would expect from a 4 star hotel but can be a bit presumptious.  Are you eating in the carvery or the a la carte restaurant.  Reasonable range of beers available, three bars if I remember correctly, although one of them may only be open when the function room is in use.

You know exactly what I mean.

presumptious or pretentious?

Think its more a buffet style thing that we are doing. Just a small family gathering.

The White Hart in Ashton Keynes is worth a visit.  New owners last year, got a proper chef in and a good choice of beers.  Current winners of a regional award from the trade press.

Do quite a lot of 'themed' food events.

Me too. Can't beat the sight of a potatoe dressed in a 60s outfit

Smashing.

 The problem here, is the high rate of change in these places, so what might have been really good a while back, may not be so now....unless you went in there yesterday.

 Places which were decent say a couple of years ago, were the Crown at Crucis (Ampney Crucis), Golden Heart in the dip on A417 prob the best I've been in, Chequers Inn, Brize Norton...Bear at Bisley. Foston's Ash....which is between Birdlip and Painswick.

Fuck knows what any are like now or even if still open...I'm a bit with Yeovil on this, bag of pork scratchings and a pickled egg, will do for me in the right setting.

How timely.

My eldest has his French friend over and I'm taking them to dinner on Sunday with enfamile. She apparently wants to eat good English food. I told her good, English and food were not usually found in the same sentence.  

So where shall I take them all on Sunday?  :please:
Bolingbroke seems favourite at the mo.

Dan Quale tribute potatoes !

I read that and have deduced you are Penelope Keith, still locked in character from The Good Life.
Do I win a prize?

every time i try to go to the golden heart it is closed. went for a walk once and got there at 4pm only to find i had to wait around beerless until 6 or press on to the george in birdlip. will give it another go. Green dragon in cockleforf is worth a visit if in the area. more of a restaurant really but a good bar and, er, the best serving of butcombe ive ever had

No, fuck off you patronising cunt!

The Old Royal Ship in Luckington, (if anyone knows where that it i'd be pleasantly surprised.)
Really homely and great food.

Weighbridge Brewhouse it is!

Been there a few times, used to take a detour coming back down the fosse way on a Sunday for lunch.

iif you ever overheard a drunk Scotsman in there that would be my father-in-law (to be)

I remember a high profile MP used to live in or very near the village. Luckington was often crawling with police/ firearm units and used to stop anyone looking lost or suspicious. Not a good pub to think about drinking and driving. Haven't been there for a while now but glad its still being recommend.

All the land is owned by the Duke of Beaufort , and i believe a member of the Royal Family has a house very near by. Not to mention Sheila Hancock (Widow of John Thaw) lives there too.

I do indeed, if only I'm sad to say, 'cos Mrs Ghanimah, wanted to see the Bennet family's location for BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. So we stopped off for lunch

Wasn't there a big fire in Luckington on Friday? Some manor house belonging to a sheik.

yup, filled the whole of the in laws garden with smoke, was a big one thats for sure.

The Barge at Honeystreet.