Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW

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

Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Wednesday, 15^th March 2017
With picture contributions to 5437 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (23 more images)

Only members may add pictures, click to receive free membership

Detail Pages

Pub map
Pub reviews (5)
Pub pictures (24)
Page updates

The Shoulder, Wantage

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw

38 Wallingford Street
Wantage
OX12 8AX

Correct details

Served areas

Wantage Town

Reviews of The Shoulder (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Blue Scrumpy left this review about Shoulder of Mutton

Situated at the eastern end of the town centre, the Shoulder as it is known locally was fairly quiet on our Sunday afternoon visit. There were a handful of people at the bar and one other customer falling asleep. This was in the room to the right-hand side after entering. We didn't try the other room to the left, but my best guess was that there were no customers in there. There was a small outdoor area to the rear too.

The room we settled in had bare boards and a skylight brightening things up. Background music was playing.

The young barman was friendly and knowledgeable. There are 5 handpulls on the bar. These were clipped with Derby Pomona, Utopian/Topsham Full Motueka Jacket & Butt's Barbus Barbus. A fourth handpull had a Verdant Bissoe clip turned round, with the fifth handpull unused. Behind the bar, we spotted 3 boxes of Tutt's Clump ciders - Berkshire Diamond, Scrumpy & Traditional Farmhouse. Craft beers also seem to be popular here, with a board to the side of the bar listing Brew By Numbers 18 Biere de Garde & 11 Mosaic, Beavertown Gamma Ray, Burnt Mill Beyond The Firs, Burning Sky Petite Farmhouse Saison, Otherworld Erysia & Arbor Wish You Were Beer.

After much deliberation, I opted for the Pomona, which was enjoyable. Combined with the King's Arms diagonally opposite, it's well worth the 3-4 minute stroll out from the Market Place to the Shoulder of Mutton.

On 2^nd March 2025 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Quinno _ left this review about Shoulder of Mutton

First visit since Pete’s departure and I have to admit the interior felt very bare and stripped-back as his décor has not been replaced. A few less ales than before but a good selection of styles and strengths nonetheless and my Oakham was fine. Still doing well but not quite the top dog it was.

November 2013
What was once an excellent little corner local has now become a quality drinking emporium (note the outsized Kitchener 'ale HQ' recruiting poster hung outside the pub). Taken over by Peter Fowler (he of Pitstop - now Betjemin - brewery), the pub has had a brightening-up internally (but the snug thankfully remains unmolested) with a lick of paint, new seat covers and various homely touches such as the fresh flowers on every table. Hearty, home-cooked from fresh vegetarian food is now served (ironic, given the pub’s moniker) which is top quality (he was on Masterchef in 1993!). The welcome is first-class and there’s plenty of enthusiastic chat to be had with the landlord about the range and styles of beer on offer (10 in all; a combination of local and regional ales, across a variety of strengths and styles). I did wonder initially whether a small pub in a rather cut-off town could support so many ales and have made a heroically selfless point of trying as many as possible. Each one of the ten I’ve had so far (including Dark Star Imperial Stout!) was either very good or excellent. For the fruit-drinkers there are a good collection of proper ciders and perries, ten in total. Prices are sensible and I could easily spend all day in here especially as there is a selection of board games too. Also goes to lengths to be lady-friendly and there’s been a pretty mixed crowd on both occasions. The pub has since gone on to make the last 16 of CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition; that’s how good it is. If you like excellent ales, ciders and a warm welcome, this is the pub for you. A clear 10 based on my last two visits. Superb. Rated 10

February 2008
Brilliant, a Gene Hunt timewarp pub. Apart from the (thankfully switched off) flat screen TV, nothing about the inside looks to have been updated since the miners strike, including the punters. Two bars (smaller on left), a screened snug-type room and a bar area that interconnects all three. There’s a decent, very well kept, choice of local ales (two Butts brewery and Loddon on last Sunday). Had some good banter with the locals by the bar (got told I was a 'troublemaker' for ordering a lemonade for Mrs Quinno) plus a pub dog and proper fire all made for a good hours worth of drinking. Apparently the place used to be even more heritage (CAMRA heritage standard, apparently), until Greene King fiddled with the interior. Thankfully, there's enough been saved to keep the basic old style pub atmosphere alive. Oddly, there’s also an old bone shaker computer that has internet access for the punters – unique! I won't claim that this pub will suit everyone but it’s recommended if you like your experience old-skool. Rating 8.

On 22^nd April 2017 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Mark Davey left this review about Shoulder of Mutton

I suspect that this place has changed little since Quinno's report of 11/13, however, it was very quiet on a Saturday lunch with just 4 locals and our party of 5. Nice selection of ale on tap with about 8 hand pulls. unfortunately I was driving so limited myself to a pint and a half, both of which were excellent. I understand that the current landlord is leaving, I hope this fact doesn't lead to the demise of the Shoulder of Mutton.

On 7^th May 2015 - rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]

View more reviews of The Shoulder (5)

External web links for The Shoulder

Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.