|
| |
The Albion
Tavern (90 Burford Road, Oxfordshire) (01608) 642860. Well worth
a visit since being taken over by enthusiastic tenants. Re-furbished to
include spacious restaurant and flagstone bar. Hook Norton Best Bitter served on
handpump.
Emphasis on freshly prepared, home-cooked food. Friendly welcome. No
accommodation here but try: Southcombe Lodge Guest House, Southcombe, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5QH.
(01608) 643068. Single from: £25,
double from: £44 per room per night.
map.
Cotswold View Guest House, Nether Westcote, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 6SD.
(01993) 830699. Single from: £25,
double from: £42 per room per night.
map
 
The Chequers
(Goddard's Lane, Chipping Norton) (01608) 644717. Josh and Kay Reid have been Landlord
and Landlady of The Chequers since 1991. The Chequers (next to the theatre) was one
of a group of Allied Domecq pubs sold off to Fullers in compliance with the now-infamous
Beer Orders. Always a popular town pub with the cognoscenti in Chipping Norton, the pub,
in the 3 years prior to its sale to Fullers had a somewhat chequered (!) history, running
through a series of licensees in comparatively short order. Following the untimely death
of the popular Peter Heritage, who with his wife Rosemary, had taken the pub after their
employer had retired from the business. Some changes were made to the interior at that
time, and the tenancy was taken over by Allen Drage - still resident in Chipping Norton
and a well-known postman. Allen was followed within a short time by Frank Frangiamore, who
locals recall had a somewhat unfortunate and abortive experience in the barn, consequent
to which the pub closed for some nine months - by this time the interior had been painted
a uniform clinical white, and the customer base had declined to what could only be
described as the dedicated local and the morbidly curious. With Fullers came great
changes. The pub was extensively altered internally, with the removal of some part walls,
the opening of old fireplaces (for winter use), previously non-public rooms and
considerable redecoration. This redecoration was the subject of much local speculation,
but Fullers managed a magnificent job, and succeeded in making the pub appear as if its
decor was the result of a long period of use. When it did eventually reopen, with Josh and
Kay in place, it was immediately obvious that it was a welcoming pub, and it rapidly
became a major meeting place for locals. It's probably the most universally popular pub in
the town. The Chequers operates a 16-cover restaurant in the back room, as well as
offering bar meals (with menus changing daily) in the main bar areas. The cuisine is
predominantly Thai, and is overseen by Kay, who has even been to Thailand on extended
courses to ensure the validity of their menus. Quiz teams have been popular and
successful, competing in the Oxford Mail's quizzes. Other more traditional pub games are
available. The Chequers has the full range of Fullers' cask-conditioned beers (and for
those who insist on fizzy pop, the nitro-keg) as well as Golden Pride in bottles. Beer
Garden, no music.
|
