King Alfred's Head, Wantage

Like many Wantage pubs, this looks quite the sight on approach. However this one, whilst retaining some multi-area’d ambience, has been modernized and has a slight gastro slant. The bar was busy with a young crowd on my Saturday afternoon visit. Four pumps with three ales on; Brill Gold (so-so), Doom Bar and Bombardier. It’s OK without being particularly memorable, but the locals seem to like it. 5.5

Official site of King Alfred's Head - www.kingalfs.com

Official site of King Alfred's Head - www.kingalfs.com

A mix of wine bar, candle powered restaurant, and bar but it does it well and the mix works, helped by friendly, efficient staff. A multi space layout, with a number of interesting little spaces, the front section is fine for casual drinking, the seating is on facing pairs of settles with a table between, a good old style that works really well for a quiet drink. It has a nice tiled floor and is decorated with 1930s cartoons and some prints, tellingly the bar is decorated with hops not grapes. Open mic night on some Mondays. There is a changing selection of guest beers on the four pumps, well kept in my experience, with ales from Blue Bear, Quantock, St Austell and Black Sheep. The keg selection is a bit more predictable, Bulmers, Hoegaarden, Staropramen, Fosters and Guinness. The menu is not too eclectic even though the food is of the sort that resembles sculpture. Obviously not a pub but a pleasant and civilised place to eat or drink.