Royal Standard, Headington, Oxford

Situated in [New] Headington, this pub is at the corner of New High Street, home to the Headington Shark (Google it). The interior is contemporary modern, with bare boarded floor and tiled bar apron, modern bare wood and shiny white tiled bar back, grey paint or trendy printed wallpaper; there’s a recessed area to the rear, with a pool table. Flashing away, there are games machines aplenty and sport TV with the sound off, so as not to interfere with the mood music. Décor comprises prints, many advertising meal deals, with complimentary laminated pictorial menus to tables and predictably, lighting coming from caged filament bulbs. Customers amounted to harmless locals, many enjoying the pool (as in table rather than infinity edge). The ale line-up amounted to GK IPA, Abbot and Old Speckled Hen, me plumping for a half of San Mig at £2.35. This isn’t a great place but it could be so much worse (White Horse), the Britannia next door offering an all-round superior (though not great) pub experience. Rated 3.5.

Official site of Royal Standard - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Official site of Royal Standard - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk