Fleur De Lys, Didcot

This pub in the pretty village of East Hagbourne has quite a large seating area and a lengthy bar with two sets of handpulls. Service wasn't the most efficient, in spite of quite a few staff. The house beer is the local LoveBeer Wibbly Wobbly Whippet, with Morland Original also a regular. Guests were Greene King Spring Break, Loose Cannon Recoil, Timothy Taylor Landlord & Theakston Old Peculier. There were plenty of kids and dogs inside. The dogs were well behaved, whilst the kids seemed to be on the noisy side, which detracted from the experience. At the rear is a large covered (and possibly heated) seating area. There is also a small grassy area at the rear of the car park. Family friendly and dog friendly village local that is worth a visit, with a slightly larger selection of real ales than most surrounding villages.

Aged pub in a pretty village close to the perennially awful Didcot. The feel of distinct drinking areas remain despite a little opening-out at some point. Quite traditional ‘cosy’ furnished with some tiled flooring, carpet, dark varnish beams, red wall, bench seating and various equine prints. Very nicely done darts area and the trophy cabinet attests to the locals’ skill at the oche. A pair of garden areas out the back, one of which hosts Aunt Sally. Five ales on during my weekday early evening visit and unfortunately that was a couple too many; Morland Original, Tim Taylor Boltmaker (NBSS 3), Twickenham Naked Ladies (2), Loose Cannon Recoil (2.5) and LoveBeer Wibbly Wobbly (the pick of the bunch and the one the locals were drinking, 3.5). Overall it’s a nice pub with some good selling points but needs to be a bit more clever keeping the ales fresh during periods of slow turnover (or pulling them through after late afternoon opening?). Oxfordshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2019, which I found a little surprising.

Official site of The Fleur De Lys - www.thefleurdelyspub.co.uk

Official site of The Fleur De Lys - www.thefleurdelyspub.co.uk