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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum

Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Tuesday, 7th May 2024
With picture contributions to 27173 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Bull, Henley Town, Henley-On-Thames
Henley-On-Thames
RG9 2BA
Served areas

Reviews of The Bull (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bull
Some additions to report, mainly focussed on the big posh retractable roofed diner out the back with a water feature and all sorts, which really did look the business. Interior the same as before but has been well-maintained. No sign of the brewing kit now, I read that went as part of the COVID refurb, which is a shame. So just the two standard Brakspear ales at the bar, Gravity and Oxford Gold (NBSS 3) served-up by a polite and chatty barmaid. Inevitably, it's now card-only payment. If you’re in Henley for a crawl, this one is a bit of a default choice – it’s a nice upmarket place that can knock-out a decent pint. Shame they don’t have anything more exciting at the bar now though. 6.5
October 2017
A modern ‘safe’ pub for middle aged folk that has some character, done-out in duck egg blue and stripped wood with muzak in the background and top-notch toilets. Massively long inside, so much so that there is room for a baby grand piano and at the far end past the dining section is the small brewery (‘Bell St’) that can be viewed through a glass barrier. No sign of any activity or output at the bar (it’s supposed to brew the Brakspear Special) where there were three ales on; Brakspear Oxford Gold, Brakspear Bitter and Henley Pale, the latter of which was fine. It was ok here – not a destination but decent crawl fodder. It was pretty busy on a wet and nasty late Sunday afternoon. Rated 6
May 2013
Has re-opened after a major facelift and has a small brewery at the back which is about to start producing Brakspear's Special, so I'm told.
On 16th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Bull
Surprisingly large pub with an old frontage but the interior has been done up with various modern touches and it is difficult to see which beams are genuine and which are fake. Generally a rustic feel which feels more given over to dining the further you go back, and it goes back a long way. Plenty of odd corners though, with occasional sofas amongst the tables. At the back is a large outdoor terrace, with buildings at the end housing the micro-brewery which typically brews old Brakspear's recipes you can't get anywhere else. On this occasion the ale on the bar were Gravity, Oxford Gold, Old Ale and Very Merry Christmas Ale.
On 10th December 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Bull
This is one of only seven remaining Henley Brakspear pubs from the eighteen listed on an old brewery produced list from the mid 1970s (one is still claimed as being their pub but is a Mexican restaurant). Of the six on the outskirts of Henley only one is still open. Of the hundred plus ones in towns, villages and countryside around Henley dozens have closed or are restaurants.
This one is quite clearly an old coaching inn as can easily be identified from the outside. Inside it's an open plan area with a step up to a bar at the back. the floors are wooden and there is an assortment of seating. The "coach" area on the right has been knocked through to create a conservatory. Live music was advertised for the Friday evening.
The bar has four hand pumps with Brakspear Bitter and Oxford Gold from Wychwood and Brakspear Special & Old brewed behind this pub. I came here to see if the Brakspear Special brewed here bore any resemblance to the beer from the old days so ordered a pint (£3.70). It came as no surprise that it didn't although it wasn't unpleasant in any way. I didn't have time to try the Old which was never actually all that commonly found.
I was here before midday so it was quiet but it seemed pleasant enough.
On 1st December 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
View more reviews of The Bull (5)
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Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _