The Hampden Arms, Great Missenden

Official site of The Hampden Arms - www.thehampdenarms.co.uk

Official site of The Hampden Arms - www.thehampdenarms.co.uk

This pub enjoys a very rural location in the Chilterns and was the highlight of an 8-pub Buckinghamshire crawl on a Sunday. The interior feels quite small with a seating area to the left as you enter and another smaller room to the front right containing a lit stove. Dogs are allowed in. Plenty of Chelsea ephemera was scattered around. Greek & Cypriot flags possibly give clues to the heritage of the landlord. There are plenty of comical signs on the walls, whilst the gents toilets were some of the most unusual I've seen in a while. There was a random chair against one wall and a large dresser topped with lots of photographs. It felt like a parlour that contained a few urinals. Very odd! There are 3 handpulls at the bar. Rebellion IPA is the regular beer. Chiltern Beechwood Bitter was a guest with the third pull unclipped. There is also an old Addlestone's cider handpull with a Kicking Goat Medium Dry cider clip on it. It was only after being there a while that I spotted an advert for the local Grover's Cider. So, I hastily ordered a bottle of their Happily Appley which was most enjoyable. Food is also served here and this clearly a family business with some friendly owners and a loyal local customer base. Last in the Good Beer Guide in 2017. Whilst I didn't try the ales (perhaps that is the reason it hasn't appeared), it ticked plenty of boxes for me.

Another rustic pub in the Chilterns wilderness that combines village pub and food pub well, although the space is rather confined, especially if the locals are in attendance. The bar is to the right, with the area to the left set for dining, a cramped bar area in front of the bar and a small anteroom to the right of the bar. Two ales on - Rebellion IPA and Chiltern Beechwood Bitter (£1.90 for a half and decent) with a further pump not in use.