Prince of Burford, Burford

This is an 18th century coaching inn, situated in a commanding position overlooking the A40 roundabout, which affords bucolic views of Dutch drivers hauling their caravans through the Cotswolds. The choice of yesterday’s venue was the result of a planned visit to Clarkson’s pub a couple of miles east, reached by my friend shortly before to report that there were 1,000 cars in the car park, the pub full of ‘…awful people’, so a hasty change of venue was convened. Situated on the edge of beautiful Burford, the interior is your typical corporate fairly posh hotel-cum-pub, the interior modern boarded, conventional furniture with grey/green paintwork; customers weren’t your typical Chipping Norton set and a small child was running around the bar area early afternoon. I decided to sit outside to better appreciate the JustFabrics megastore opposite (see photo) and watch soggy fag ends bobbing around in an ashtray. Cask amounted to three from Butcombe, a half of Gold shandy – I was driving – coming in at £2.95, served by a friendly barman. This pub is ok for what it is, but I know from historic experience – 1994 – that there are better pubs in the centre of town.

Facebook page of Prince of Burford - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Prince of Burford - www.facebook.com

Official site of Prince of Burford - butcombe.com

Official site of Prince of Burford - butcombe.com

Hotel located on a roundabout on the A40 which is also at the top of the hill which descends down into Burford. This is a Wadworth house with an ale range limited to 6X x 2, IPA and Horizon (£2 for a half of the latter). The bar area is generous, forming an L-shape, and although modern, the bar is a nice, dark wood, there are numerous old photos of Burford past on the walls (a theme with all the establishments in Burford), what looks like a former pub sign affixed to one of the walls (a wooden sign with a Crown painted on it) and pump clip label wallpaper on one of the walls. Food isn't on the cheap side with roasts offered at £14.95 a pop, but this is Burford. Pleasant enough, and if you started a Burford crawl from here (which I'd suggest) then made your way down into town, it's not the worst start you could make.