The Bure Farm, Woodfield, Bicester

Bure Farm is a Marstons out of town sprawler aimed at hungry young families. Located at the end of a parade of shops, there’s a large beer garden with lots of picnic tables on paving and then astroturf before children’s climbing apparatus along the rear. To the left is some covered seating and a firepit for the colder months. Inside the serving counter faces the entrance, standard and premium keg were available alongside Brixton Lager and two of the five hand pumps were in use drawing Ringwood’s Forty-Niner and Rosie’s Pig cider. High tables are found either side of the entrance and standard seating is found to the left either side of a large exposed brick chimney breast. The seating up the right is used as a dining area. The service was friendly, but nobody is walking up here from town just for a pint unless they’re stopping off on the way home.

It was a good walk out of town to this large suburban Marston's pub, situated next to a shopping arcade and large car park in a new residential area. It's primarily aimed at diners and families. But there was a good smattering of drinkers on my mid-afternoon Monday visit. Just 2 staff were managing this establishment. But the guy who greeted and served me was very efficient and happy to chat to his customers. The ale range was limited. Marston's Pedigree is the regular beer. The guest was Young's Special. But I was at least happy to find a real cider. Weston's Rosie's Pig Cloudy Rhubarb cider was the only real cider I found in the town and went down nicely, before the long wet walk back into town.