The Birdcage, Thame

A building in Thame's High Street steeped in history - as well as being an inn, it's also served as a market house, a courthouse and a prison. Parts of the building date back to the 13th Century and the most striking feature is the overhanging storeys, reminiscent more of old York than an Oxfordshire market town. Inside, it's been chopped and changed around over the years, the bar moving positions over different incarnations. The current layout is bar against the far right-hand wall, with fireplace stack bisecting it. There's a squarish room through an opening to the left of the bar, and seating opposite on either side of a side entrance. Exposed beams and trusses are painted over in a mushroom colour, the floor is bare-boarded and an interesting feature is the Perspex-covered well that you walk over on the way to the Gents. Tables had menus for Pieminister pies and accoutrements, but tables aren't set for dining, rather you can choose to eat at one of the tables if you're occupying them. Beer-wise, Sharp's Doom Bar, Rebellion Smuggler and a "coming soon" Wadworth beer. The Rebellion was £3.80 and was OK-ish. More could have been made of this building's history, albeit the well and a framed history of the inn in the room beyond the bar are nice touches, but R&B muzak was unnecessary as are the numerous screens showing sporting channels on mute.

Official site of the Birdcage, contains menus, wine and beer lists - www.birdcagepub.co.uk

Official site of the Birdcage, contains menus, wine and beer lists - www.birdcagepub.co.uk