Miller & Carter, Stroud Park, Banbury

Just off the M40 Motorway. Pretty standard Toby Carvery with wood fittings dividing the large pub into smaller areas. Dining area to the left as you enter but there is a large pub area to the right if you just want a drink. Two real ales on our visit. Plenty of comfy seating, good barstaff. Food is OK, carvery is cheaper if you get there early (before 19.30 I think?).

As you come of the M40 and head for Banbury it is left at the second island. It shares the area with a Holiday Inn Express and a Frankie & Bennie's Italian bar/ diner.Wheel chair access from the flat car park needs care on the flagged pave but it is on the level. Once inside you can have problems. The disabled toilet is at the opposite end to the carvery and dinning area.This means you have to negotiate the bunches of people who stand at the bar not wanting to move in case someone gets served before they do.It is a real choke point because it is the main entrance and exit right opposite the bar.There can be a delay in being served but its not the fault of the staff.One customer will order his drink then decide he will get the rest of the round.He has no clue what his friends drink and they have no idea what they would like.Meanwhile they all clog up the bar and the way to the dinning area.Bad design so try to go in the quieter periods. The staff are always friendly no matter how many indecisive customers they have to suffer and the beer ,mostly keg ,is kept well.It has a large fenced patio area ,reached from the bar, which overlooks a busy traffic island so it is not a really relaxing place but it will do for a smoke. Worth a visit if you are hungry but do not go at the busy periods.