The Bull, Henley Town, Henley-On-Thames

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.

This pub had changed hands just before our visit. The place was a bit bare as the previous incumbents had taken a lot of stuff with them. Has a huge fireplace in the lounge which is planned to be used once the chimney has been swept which will be great on a cold winter night. Lot's of caricatures on the walls. A huge pub, but very quirky, something needs to be done about the carpet in the non-smoking room it's a mess, but overall, we liked it. The Brakspear bitter was a decent pint, if not in top notch condition.

Very comfortable large pub with extension to the back for eating.Lots of exposed beams and brickwork.3 Breakspeare beers and a decent beer from the in-house Bell St brewery.Liked it a lot.