Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Bull, Henley Town, Henley-On-Thames
Henley-On-Thames
RG9 2BA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Bull
Some additions to report, mainly focussed on the big posh retractable roofed diner out the back with a water feature and all sorts, which really did look the business. Interior the same as before but has been well-maintained. No sign of the brewing kit now, I read that went as part of the COVID refurb, which is a shame. So just the two standard Brakspear ales at the bar, Gravity and Oxford Gold (NBSS 3) served-up by a polite and chatty barmaid. Inevitably, it's now card-only payment. If you’re in Henley for a crawl, this one is a bit of a default choice – it’s a nice upmarket place that can knock-out a decent pint. Shame they don’t have anything more exciting at the bar now though. 6.5
October 2017
A modern ‘safe’ pub for middle aged folk that has some character, done-out in duck egg blue and stripped wood with muzak in the background and top-notch toilets. Massively long inside, so much so that there is room for a baby grand piano and at the far end past the dining section is the small brewery (‘Bell St’) that can be viewed through a glass barrier. No sign of any activity or output at the bar (it’s supposed to brew the Brakspear Special) where there were three ales on; Brakspear Oxford Gold, Brakspear Bitter and Henley Pale, the latter of which was fine. It was ok here – not a destination but decent crawl fodder. It was pretty busy on a wet and nasty late Sunday afternoon. Rated 6
May 2013
Has re-opened after a major facelift and has a small brewery at the back which is about to start producing Brakspear's Special, so I'm told.
On 16th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Bull
Surprisingly large pub with an old frontage but the interior has been done up with various modern touches and it is difficult to see which beams are genuine and which are fake. Generally a rustic feel which feels more given over to dining the further you go back, and it goes back a long way. Plenty of odd corners though, with occasional sofas amongst the tables. At the back is a large outdoor terrace, with buildings at the end housing the micro-brewery which typically brews old Brakspear's recipes you can't get anywhere else. On this occasion the ale on the bar were Gravity, Oxford Gold, Old Ale and Very Merry Christmas Ale.
On 10th December 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Bull
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.
On 1st December 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Bull
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.
On 15th June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Bull
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.
On 7th July 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]