The Baskerville, Henley-On-Thames

A pleasant pub in a backwater, handy for the branch line station. Majoring on its restaurant and hotel status but still acting as a local with some good beers on. Two large areas to the rear were laid up for diners, with the small front bar kept for drinkers, with some high tables and stools at the bar. Large garden at the rear. Ales on pump were Loddon Hoppit and ferryman, Rebellion IPA and Windsor Guardsman, in good condition (Cask Marque accreditation).

A large early 20th century pub that sits handily adjacent to the branch line rail station and a short walk from the Thames path. There’s a drinker’s bar at the front of the pub with a large restaurant to the rear and accommodation upstairs. The interior is quite cosy and a good amount of wood trim and general countryside ambience has been retained, along with rowing and rugby union memorabilia. Four ales on; Timothy Taylor Landlord (fine), Loddon Hoppit (fine), Rebellion IPA and Sharps Doom Bar. We ate here and the food, whilst being expensive, did at least justify its price tag. Staff were friendly too. I quite enjoyed it here, overall. 6.5

Rugby shirts and various sporting prints around the small but comfortable front bar area. Pride, Landlord and Loddon Hoppit on handpump. The rest of the pub is geared toward ding – it is, after all, the GPG Oxfordshire dining pub of the year and, although I didn't eat this time, for a change I was there with a vested interest in the food set-up. In addition to a reasonably priced a la carte menu there was a fabulous, fortnightly changing, table d'hote style menu offering a good variety of choice and excellent value at £11.50 for two courses. Nice, also, to see some good non-turkey alternatives on the forthcoming dec/xmas menu (eg pan-fried pigeon breast or roast halibut) but disappointing that it is offered only for bookings of 4 or more. If it does/did, as suggested, have some connection with Loddon brewery, then a choice of their beers would be a welcome change to the usual suspects.

Official site of The Baskerville - www.thebaskerville.com