Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury

A classic pub interior with some great wood panelling,two real fires serving the front bar with a cosy rear snug with it's own access the the island bar.The exterior is pretty special too,so well worth an inspection for historical and original features.Owned by Hook Norton,it will have the largest selection of their real ales in Banbury but it's very much a tied house with no guest beers. Food is served from a corporate looking pub grub menu,but the quiz night brought with it a good crowd and real pub atmosphere.If you like the malty house style of Hook Norton beers you may well want to stay longer than I managed on a Thursday evening visit.

This is a classic and historic Hook Norton pub in Banbury's town centre and as such is thoroughly deserving of a visit. We looked in on Thursday evening, quiz night, which was well and enthusiastically attended. Despite this service was fast, friendly and efficient. Beers were all from the Hook Norton range: First Light, Old Hooky, Lion, Mild and Half Orr Pint. The First Light wasn't going down especially well with the locals and my Old Hooky took a fair bit of getting through. The Half Orr Pint was better received. I liked this pub very much but am not overly keen on Hook Norton's, generally very traditional, beers hence a lowish rating.

Ancient Hook Norton pub in the pedestrianised area of Parsons St with two bars, the rear one up a step or two and more snug than the front bar. Five pulls in the front and three in the back bar on a central servery. Looks like the full range of hooky beers including MILD and nicely kept. Properly furnished with settles and bench seating. With decent beer and a superbly competent barmaid this is classic pub and definitely the best I found on a short visit to Banbury.

Ok its a bit pricey but the old saying you get what you paye for and thats what you get here very good old pub unspoilt oozes the old world charm as you walk in, Stayed a good while had 3 pints of old Hooky. Called in every day of our 4 days in Bambury. ITS A PUB YOU HAVE GOT TO CALL IN WHEN IN BAMBURY