The Spade Oak, Well End, Bourne End

The Spade Oak can be found down the bottom of a country lane off the A4155 Marlow Road between Marlow and Bourne End. It’s also accessible from the Thames Path but you do need to know the correct footpath to access Coldmoorholme Lane. It clearly is more restaurant than pub and being one of the Mitchells & Butlers Country Pub chain tells you all you need to know about what to expect when you enter. The majority of the interior space is laid out as a restaurant and let’s just say the usual gastro pub interior designers with their farrow and ball colour charts were clearly involved. Fortunately there is a small comfortable bar area to the left with some nice leather seating if you are only interested in a drink and there is some pleasant outside drinking areas to the front and side for when the weather is a bit more welcoming than it is during this cold snap. The bar supports the usual draft suspects and three handpumps although only two of these were in operation for my visit with the local Marlow Rebellion IPA and Doombore available. It was a passable pint of Rebellion and the bar area was comfortable enough to enjoy it, but it’s not really a traditional pub experience. If you are walking the Thames path on the North bank and can’t go between Marlow and Cookham without a drink then it is an option, but I would recommend trying the proper pubs in these two locations for just a beer. I have never eaten here and cannot pass judgement on the food and would suggest for this you take a look at the Trip Advisor listing for the Spade Oak where the reviews are not quite so gushing as that from the member of the Mitchells & Butlers publicity office below.

Official site of the Spade Oak, includes ale and wine list as well as a menu - www.thespadeoak.co.uk

Official site of the Spade Oak, includes ale and wine list as well as a menu - www.thespadeoak.co.uk