Bird in Hand, Henley Town, Henley-On-Thames

Well away from the tourist hoards that infect other parts of town,this is a charming little local with a long standing and friendly couple who run it,and many years service in The Good Beer Guide.Mid terrace,the entrance opens into an L shaped single room with the bar in one corner.Everything internally is traditional,with a seating bench running along most of the wall opposite the bar,and some interesting framed pictures about past like in Henley.There were two flatscreen but turned off,this doesn't look like a sports bar.Food is just bar snacks such as pork pies,pasties,scotch eggs and my sausage roll was tasty and good value. On the bar there are 5 handpumps serving on my trip Brakspears Bitter,Hooky Mild,London Pride,Sharp's Own and a very decent Church End Goats Milk.With a few national brewers being featured you could say the choice was unexciting,but it was good to see a mild,and the condition of everything the crew tried was spot on.Closes midweek at 2.30pm ,but we were not rushed out,I liked this pub a lot and relative to the other pubs in town ,this is at the top of the local real ale scene.I would pop back when next around.

Popped in here as I was walking in the area and on beerintheevening.com - it's number 4 of the Oxfordshire County Pubs. After a fine walk, we found this place, a shortway out of town. Despite being a warm spring day, the only punters were crowded around the bar in the dark - there's a beautiful beer garden around the back. They were all friendly and made space for me to order our drinks - choice of 4 real ales on - Ghost Ship, London Pride, Brakespear's Bitter and one I don't remember. I went for the Oxfordshire classic - and it was perfect. Even nicer outside by the aviary. Some photos from my walking blog at - http://tinyurl.com/kky5a4z

Excellent little pub. It was sunny so we sat in the beer garden surrounded by rabbits and assorted multi coloured exotic birds and with regular visits from a large black labrador type dog (Monty) who simply needed his stomach tickled every so often. We tried the two guest beers Gales Happy Hog and Cottage Wessex Sup. Both were in very good form and the couple of regulars we spoke to were very friendly. Quick efficient bar staff and whilst the price for a pint around here always comes as a shock to us Northerners it appears to be about standard in the area. The best pub in Henley in our humble opinion. Well kept beer including guest beers, good friendly service, nice pub, lovely garden. What more could you want from a pub?"

Another one of Henleys gems theres plenty about nice little free house very busy to busy for us had a good pint of Wheeltappers from the cottage Brewing worth a visit will call back when in the area