Fox & Hounds Hotel, Oakham

Attractive limestone coaching inn opposite the tree studded green in a prosperous looking village close to the renowned Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland. As Alan says, two bars.An airy main bar to one’s right, mainly laid up for dining, with a couple of comfy sofas, and an ancillary, and pleasantly cool room to the left. We’ve visited on a couple of occasions on our way north-quite handy for the A1, and about half way for us. The food is the attraction here,drawing (at lunch at least) a comfortably middle aged trade. On our most recent visit, we all enjoyed sizeable and authentic pizzas. Being in Rutland, I was pleased to see Ten Fifty from Grainstore on the bar, a beer that I consider to be the spiritual, if not direct descendant of Ruddles “County”, one of the early heroes of the real ale movement. It was accompanied by something from Cornwall and Greene King IPA, together with an Italian lager and the usual fizzy concoctions. To the back is a garden,used on our July visit,by a number of diners. I understand that the pub also offers a number of letting rooms.Service was friendly and efficient on a busy lunchtime, and we plan to return.

This pub faces the village green there are two rooms the one on the right has a couple of settee's the rest of the tabels are laid out for eating.The beer was very good but expensive £3.20 for a pint of Grainstore Ten Fifty the others were Oakham White Dwarf and greene king ipa,dont rate the pub that much but the beer was good.