The Trout, Buckland Marsh, Faringdon

Facebook page of The Trout - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Trout - www.facebook.com

An extremely pleasant, traditional stone, Thamesside boozer with all the fixings: friendly staff, nicely decorated and furnished, large, waterside garden and a gastro menu. A quick stop from the river on a hot day found Marstons EPA, Trout Bitter - brewed by Ramsbury - and Loose Cannon Rascal. None of those were going to cut the thirst so a well chilled Shipyard IPA on keg flew down. A very nice spot for a swift one.

Also styled The Trout at Tadpole Bridge, this is a former Hall's charge, which retains its former master's plaque in its facade. Now firmly in the gastro camp, this nonetheless does offer four ales - Bank's Amber, Marston's EPA, West Berks Good Old Boy and something called 'The Trout Bitter' - brewed by Ramsbury and 3.6%. I played it safe and stuck with the GOB at £2 for a half and in excellent shape. This retains the vestiges of a rustic country pub with exposed stone walls and pleasingly undulating flagstone floor, but it's very much a "is there anything else" type of place, and the car park is expectedly gravelled.