The Folly Inn, Buckingham

Although this pub is located on the main A413, it's on a dark stretch of road, set back on a bend and barely illuminated, so it's quite easy to miss it. In fact, I almost missed it even though I was actively looking for it. Whether it's worth the trouble of seeking out is another matter... It's a fairly traditional pub with a large car park and a L-shape main bar. The flooring here is part cream tiles and part wood strip, whilst the walls are a mixture of cream wood panelling with cream, mustard or burgundy paintwork. There is a brick fire-place to one side and an unusual L-shape picture of a country scene that runs along the top of the bar counter and down one side. Unfortunately it's somewhat dated and there was very little atmosphere with no music and initially no other punters on a recent Tuesday evening visit, although one local did wander in later. It almost felt as though someone had just moved in, with one table containing a kettle and pint of milk, and old TV perched on another and a football on the floor. A further smaller and carpeted room was off to one side, although this was in darkness. The friendly landlady explained that the pub had been closed for a while, re-opening a week ago. Prior to that it had a somewhat chequered history, being open as often as it was closed. It's currently for sale, and she works for a holding company who are just looking after it prior to it being sold. Whilst obviously not wanting to spend too much money on it, there are plans to put a pool table and darts board in the smaller room and start offering a basic food offering such as pies. One of the potential buyers apparently has plans to make it a ticketed venue with events such as live music, drag queens and lots of neon lights, consequently it's future as a pub is somewhat uncertain. With only about a dozen punters having been in since it re-opened it's clearly not sustainable in it's present form and is only kept going by the attached B&B business. Beers on tap were Spitfire and Tring's Side Pocket for a Toad. The solitary cider was Strongbow unfortunately, which is no doubt the main reason for the complete lack of any clientele.

Official site of the Folly Inn, contains menu - www.thefollyinnadstock.co.uk

Official site of the Folly Inn, contains menu - www.thefollyinnadstock.co.uk

This pub is being re-furbished at the moment and will be re-opened shortly by Punch Taverns