Rose & Crown, Banbury

Official site of Rose & Crown - theroseandcrowncharlton.co.uk

Official site of Rose & Crown - theroseandcrowncharlton.co.uk

The Greene King livery unsettles, but it's assumedly part of the Local Hero scheme as the two (out of three) options were Abbot Ale and Cotswold Windrush Ale (£1.90 a half), with Becks, Peroni, Guinness and Aspall Cider appearing as the keg heroes. Internally, it's a pleasant three-roomer with plenty of exposed stone and low beams, as is the style in these parts. Entering from the front, there's a choice of left or right: left takes you to a dining area served by a small bar, there is an extended area which branches off from this (on your left as you enter the room) with a handful of further tables. To the right is a larger room which houses the main bar. There's more tables and chairs, but not all are laid out, so there's no truck with drinkers. Agricultural paintings and photos abound on the walls, along with a couple of old school cricket bats, complete with authentic cobwebs as well as an interesting display about the Rollright Stones. To the rear is a large flint-style gravelled car park and a generous beer garden which soaks up the rays when the weather's clement. The only bum note was a Spotify playlist that was perhaps a little too loud, taking away some of the Sunday lunchtime ambience.