Apothecary Tap, Banbury

At last, somewhere that serves a decent pint in Banbury and long overdue. As mentioned, a micro-pub in a converted shop which has a bar at the back on the right hand side. Unlike some micros, this place feels decently furnished, comfortable and established with dog biscuits and the odd board game kicking about. The governor has a reputation for being a little taciturn but I found him friendly and engaging and he recognised us on subsequent visits. Beers rotate with the four on when we visited being Bakehouse Liquid Bread, Windsor and Eton Windsor Knot, Surrey Hills Albury Ruby and Pilgrim Progress in addition to seven ciders. Everything that we tried was in good shape. An excellent addition in a town which has struggled on the ale front for decades.

Decent micro-pub down a pedestrianised alleyway in a converted shop, with four tables and a few other chairs. Compact bar with four handpumps drawing from casks on the stillage behind the counter. Wide selection of styles, with Bowland Pheasant Plucker, Wentworth Yankee Doodle APA, Clouded Minds Luppol and something very tasty with a name like Delamere Dark (£3.80). Also had four boxed ciders and a perry. Everyone else in was obviously a regular, but the welcome was friendly and the banter good-natured.