The Plough, Oxford

A former Morrell’s house overlooking the canal and Port Meadow, which dates from the 1860s, used as an overnight mortuary following the Christmas Eve rail crash of 1874. The pub has apparently been in the same hands for over 20 years, so may have seen the transition from Morrell’s to GK. It’s well described and unchanged since the previous reviews, with the green and white colour scheme and traditional, comfy furniture. There’s food, but it isn’t gastro. The pub wasn’t that full on my Wednesday visit (it’s closed Monday – Tuesday), but on arrival, to my horror, I found out that it’s table service only, being glacially slow (me being regarded with more than a soupçon of suspicion), with a half of Tribute (£2.25) and fine. This isn’t a great pub, but with traditional pub atmosphere removed as a result of table service only, this is a big no-no for this reviewer and the superior White Hart is a short walk, so I’ll not be back. Note: the pub hosts frequent bouncy castle events (!?).

In quite a pretty location near the canal, with a front garden taking advantage, here we have two different buildings mashed together to create a multi-roomer GK pub. The main bar is quite nicely done with a racing green and white interior with traditional furnishings. There's a really nice library room round to the right with a Morrells glass chair back divider. Generally, there’s a nicely worn feel which is probably explained by the licensee having been here for over 20 years. The pleasing dark varnish slatted bar with squared glass topper hosted three pumps with two on; GK OSH (utterly GK but fine) and GK H&H. Also two proper ciders. Mrs Quinno ate here and enjoyed the food. I quite liked it; a non GK ale would have pushed it higher.

The Plough is an attractive, traditional, brick built building set beautifully on the green with a garden and play area to the front which overlooks the canal and distant wooded hills. The only flaw is that the view is partially broken by the fence running alongside the railway but it's still a super spot for an alfresco sherbert on a sunny day. Inside is all dark wood which matches the building and the lunch menu is decent value with a very acceptable fish finger sandwich proving a good choice. The real fly in the ointment is that this is a Greene King pub with only Hardy and Hanson's Kimberly Bitter and Old Speckled Hen clips gracing the three handpumps on our visit. Lager for me and a note to avoid the place in the future.