The Black Bull, Kidlington

Looks promising from the outside but actually this is a pretty basic L-shaped boozer which seemed to double-up as an old folks home for the Irish crowd. A weird atmosphere with half the lights off, no heating, a troglodyte barmaid and gloomy ambient techno coming from the speakers, along with myriad TVs fuzzily tuned showing Paul Scholes’ goals back catalogue. Only thing missing was the duelling banjos. No ale on, with glasses over the pumps. Went for a Guinness which in fairness was superb, one of the best I’ve ever had. A weird, weird place. If it wasn’t for the Guinness, I’d have gone proper rotten on this.

A featureless pub situated on the main road through Kidlington,the large open plan interior is drab and dreary.By the entrance from the car park is a darts board,opposite the bar are an array of gaming machines,Sky Sports plays on three screens around the interior while a dog leg section contains a pool table in a dark corner with another dart board.There is a large banquette running below a front window,but most of the regulars were pertched on bar stool,liberally effing and blinding.The food menu is identical to a takeaway menu from a Chinese,and it did make me wonder if orders are just supplied from the chinky over the road. Muzak consisted of ballards which didn't uplift the spirits,and several of the locals gave me a good looking over,as an obvious stranger.It felt a bit uncomfortable and although there were two handpumps,only one was dispensing Olde Rosie Cider,so with no real ale I had a quick half of Stella and called it a day.Best left to the regulars.