The Greyhound, Brackley

A long thin locals' pub with several areas arranged down a central passageway alongside the bar counter. Seems quite old, although the stone floor is probably not original and much of the woodwork is hidden under grey paint, so the overall effect is not great. On a Sunday lunchtime, it was very popular with the regulars for lunch, with nearly all tables reserved, although certainly not a foodie sort of place. A Greene King pub, with IPA, Abbot and a well conditioned Olde Trip on.

Looks like a traditional pub, but the inside has been refurbished in a semi-modern way that doesn't altogether fit with the remaining parts of the original layout. The main part of the counter runs alongside a narrow corridor, so bar seating is restricted to one end, and most of the other tables areas seem aimed at those dining. Three real ales on handpump: Greene King IPA (£3.90), Hardy & Hanson's Bitter and Abbott.

Official site of the Greyhound Inn - www.thegreyhoundinnbrackley.co.uk

Official site of the Greyhound Inn - www.thegreyhoundinnbrackley.co.uk

Across the road from The Bell, it certainly looks the part of the old English pub, low ceilings, flag floors, a multi room layout and even an outside Gents – but all a little too gentrified for my bucolic tastes, for example blue fairy lights are fitted into the floor in places. There are all sorts of seating styles available from tables and chairs in the dining area to leather sofas at back. A popular pub but not as busy or relaxed as the Bell, more dining going on here of course and the customer mix was mainly diners and older beer drinkers although that was mid-evening. The cask beers are all from Greene King and are well kept; the keg choice much as you would expect. There appears to be a pool table in the upstairs rooms and a beer garden at the back, the back of the pub does suffer a bit from cooking smells and camera shy nicotine irregulars are fond of the tables on the front pavement.