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Detail Pages
The Old Orchard, Uxbridge
Harefield
Postal town: Uxbridge
UB9 6HJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Old Orchard
A large pub with well described, spectacular views across the Colne Valley.
The grounds, gardens and terrace are established, attractive and extremely well kept. It's more like approaching a private country house here than going to the pub and many were enjoying the views from the terrace even on a chilly October lunchtime.
Inevitably food is a strong draw and many were lunching on our visit although the dining area to the left doesn't impinge on drinking and we didn't experience the all too common "are you eating with us today?".
Inside is comfortable, helped by two open fires, both lit and boards giving brief descriptions of beers available on the beams.
Our visit found Malt Dark Ale and Tring Side Pocket for a Toad, both regulars I think, alongside Saltaire Blonde, West Berkshire Mister Chubb's, Oakham JHB and Burning Sky Aurora. One handpump had a cider on with another unused.
Staff were happy to chat about the beers available, offer tasters and point out those beers on most recently and those due on. A nice touch and the Aurora was in great nick although the Blonde wasn't the best I've had. Nonetheless a real effort is being made here to provide good beer.
Not very long ago this would have been a highly unusual oasis in the area and is well worth a visit.
On 20th October 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Old Orchard
An excellent review from Steve hits all the high points.Brunning & Price have done a great job internally with warming real fires,a lobby area around the bar,more of a dining area to the left and a pleasant seating area to the right with panoramic views.A smart beer garden is another plus in good weather.There are 8 handpumps with a real cider and ales from some leading micros such as Burning Sky (my Aurora was spot on),Saltaire (Blonde a bit tepid) ,with up next several Oakham ales and Dark Star brews.Care has been taken with the selection although prices are sky high ,most pints £4.40.
The food menu seemed much more mainstream pub grub rather than fully gasto with light bites £8-10,mains £11-20 but unadventurous sounding dishes.However I didn't eat so cant comment on quality,but drinkers were made very welcome from an enthusiastic barman.
It's a stiff uphill walk from Black Jack's Lock on the Grand Union,but well worth it for the view and decent real ale.Worth a detour if in the area.
On 16th October 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Orchard
The Old Orchard is one of the Brunning & Price chain of Gastro pubs, which locally includes the Cricketers in Sarratt,
This large secluded building has only been functioning as a pub since 2010. It was originally built as a country house, later becoming a B&B and then a restaurant called Edwins before being purchased by Brunning & Price and opened as the Old Orchard in 2010
Firstly let me try and describe the unique selling point of this pub. I had read that the vista to be seen from the pub terrace and large beer garden is quite impressive, but to be honest ‘quite impressive’ doesn’t come close to doing it justice. The Old Orchard must have one of the finest views of any pub I have ever visited. It has superb views of the Colne Valley stretching across the pleasure lakes of Broadwater Park and Denham Country Park and taking in the River Colne and its tributaries and the canal on which you can make out the moored canal boats and barges. In fact the scenery is so good and unspoilt that you cannot see another building in the whole of the panoramic view, which is amazing when you consider this all lies within the M25.
The inside space has been extended from its days as Edwins and the internal space has been decently made over to keep a traditional pub feel with original parquet flooring now revealed again and three open fires in each section of the pub, and an abundance of pictures and photographs of a local and pub theme to give the place a bit of character. The layout is open plan with the main seating areas being both sides of the central bar area. The bar area and the section to the left is oak floored and perfectly fine for just drinking, and dogs are welcome in the bar area. And a large bloodhound, that could be the pub dog, was in residence for my latest visit. The area to the right has rugs on the floor, and a more raised ceiling which gives it a bit more of a restaurant feel.
The pub has a decent ale policy that has seen it become a regular entrant to the GBG and there are always 6 real ales on offer and the three regular beers and three guests are described on chalk boards on the wall by the bar area. The three regular ales are Brunning & Price Original , a house beer brewed by Phoenix Brewery, Tring Side Pocket for a Toad and Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde. And additional last night were Burton Bridge Alien Ale, Buntingford Little Hurricane and Mighty Oak Little Nipper.
The only niggle I do have is that this is a very expensive pub, with most of the ales currently at a wallet hurting £3.90. But there is a 60p reduction on all beer and wine sold between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays, which brings it down to something more reasonable.
In conclusion, this food led establishment is clearly not a destination pub in the context of one of the best pubs in the land. But as a decent pub and gastro restaurant existing under the same skin, then I think Brunning & Price should be complemented.
For last night’s visit the Oscar Wilde was on fine fettle, and as the sun was out, the views from the terrace were to die for.
On 31st July 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2125 recommendations about 2001 pubs]