The Kings Arms, Bicester

With time for just one more pub before my train departed from Bicester Village station, it was a toss up between the Lamb and the King's Arms. I was stopped at the door of the Lamb by a rope. So, I couldn't see what ales are available. But a helpful lady soon came over and advised that Landlord was on alongside a Lancaster beer. But the latter was nearly finished. Armed with this information, I decided to take a gamble and head to the King's Arms nearest the station instead. The gamble backfired! I followed a couple of tourists into the building. The front bar is fairly cosy and also serves as the hotel's reception. The 2 ladies in front of me were asked to scan the NHS app. They tried to scan it, but clearly didn't have the app. The two staff members failed to provide an alternative solution for these potential customers. So, being unable to scan the barcode or download the app, they departed, leaving me on my own. There are 2 handpulls. Both had Doom Bar clips. So, I reluctantly ordered a Doom Bar, only to be promptly informed that they had none. I was offered Sharp's Atlantic from keg instead and politely declined. Other options were Orchard Thieves (my choice), Pravha, Guinness, Amstel & Birra Moretti. The staff here were a good example of "the customer is always wrong". Other customers arriving were berated by failing to adhere to guidelines, whilst somebody on the phone was told that they didn't have a reservation as they must have sent their request to the wrong email address! How businesses like this survive is beyond me. Although, the hotel is very close to the nearby Bicester Village outlet mall, which must keep it afloat. A very disappointing end to a disappointing set of pubs in Bicester.

Hotel with a bar to the right on entrance. The bar room is quite decent, a small square space with third length varnished wood panelling and wedgewood green wallpaper. To the right is a larger lounge and food area with function room facilities beyond – the bar began to be flooded with the spill-out of a wedding taking place further in the bowels of the building. Four pumps with two ales and a cider - GK IPA, London Glory and Lilleys Lemon & Lime cider. The London Glory was in decent shape. No real complaints from me, it was a decent stop in the context of Bicester.

Thoroughly refurbished hotel reopened in 2015 featuring a small and square-ish bar with just four tables on the left-hand side of the main entrance and a much larger dining room to the right. Modern furniture and decor throughout. Also has some wooden tables out front, but it was hardly the weather for that when I stopped by. Disappointingly, only Hook Norton Hooky (£3.95) available from the four handpumps.

Official site of The Kings Arms Hotel - www.kingsarmsbicester.co.uk

Official site of The Kings Arms Hotel - www.kingsarmsbicester.co.uk

Called in on the 9th of July our last pub in Bicester its a chain pub could not find out which one asked the lad on the bar said he did not know he had only been there a week it was run down and not over clean. not one to rush back too