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New pub visits 2024 with Mobyduck
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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Apothecary Tap
ORIGINAL REVIEW January 2018
Komakino's review is very thorough,I enjoyed my visit and found the guv'nor to be a very engaging and friendly host.The interior is actually larger than many micros,and there is a banquette style section to the left,a couple of high tables and enough other seating to be able to cope with quite a few punters.However conversation is the order of the day ,and there's no muzak,machines and other distractions.The strip lighting is a little unforgiving,but the 20ppp CAMRA discount is generously given to anyone drinking with a CAMRA member,even if they are not members themselves.You can also bring in your own food,while dogs are welcome and there are biscuits for them.
On my trip there were 6 real ciders,while on the real ale front there are 4 handpumps drawing from pins,to maintain freshness while the place gets established.The aim is to offer two national award winners,and two Locales.On my trip the choice was Oakham Citra,West Berkshire Maggs MILD (very decent),Gun Dog Jack Spaniels and Silverstone Pit Stop.Expect ales to rotate rapidly.
For many years Banbury was a difficult place to find decent real ale,but now this micro would always be on my list for a visit.It's only been going for 2 months but has already got some loyal followers and it deserves to succeed.In time it should be considered for the GBG.
UPDATE
The original micro pub that I reviewed above failed in late 2018,but the site was taken over by The Apothecary Tap and reopened as a craft keg outlet. Now the Apothecary Tap has moved to a new location on Butchers Row but sadly all the existing photos up to February 2023 show the old location.
The Butchers Row site is shabby chic with lots of unplaned wood finishes ,a metal corrugated ceiling ,a mix of furniture with some small high tables and metal chairs and a side room away from the bar with a small stage at one end.The walls are covered with music posters and album covers,there is a small lit shrine in one corner with changing coloured lights and a large and curious pub dog which occasionally moves voluntarily to a cage.The atmosphere is very friendly and chatty and you quickly get drawn into conversation with the couple who run the pub and the other punters.
A TV screen shows the keg options which on my trip included New Invention Coconut and Marshmallow Stout,Nothing Bound Brewing Cheeries Underground and Phantom Brewing Hop Punk's Not Dead ,an 8% IPA and superb.There is a sparkling cider and 10 rotating beers which on my trip also included output from Deya and Chadlington.There is a wide range of ABV's and a mix of styles ,but with a focus on Pales and IPA's.Beers priced in thirds ,halves and schooners but not by the pint.
Comedian perform here ,some events will be ticketed in the seperate stage area while there is also a beer garden outside.
An eclectic place but will always be on my list of pubs to visit when in Banbury ,and would probably be the first port of call ,which could easily morph into a session.An upgrade from me.
On 3rd March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Collett left this review about Apothecary Tap
Apothecary Tap is well and truly open at 10-11, Butchers Row, Banbury. I visited on Saturday and received a warm welcome from Rob and Karen, not to mention the dog! 10 keg beers on offer: sampled a stout and an IPA - both full-flavoured and interesting. Children and dog-friendly, comedy nights. Worth a visit if you find yourself in Banbury and the match has been postponed!!
On 17th January 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 6 recommendations about 6 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Old Town Ale & Cider House
This micropub sadly closed in September 2018, after less than twelve months in business. The landlord had been looking to hand over the reins to someone else, but due to a lack of interest, decided to close. A shame, when you consider the comments from my colleagues below as well as the proximity to the town's other micro, The Bailiff's Tap, The White Horse and Ye Olde Reine Deer making for a great "stumbling distance" mini-crawl.
19th December 2017
A second micro for this North Oxon market town after The Bailiff's Tap opened at the start of the year. Housed in a former health food shop premises in and among the warren of Banbury's pedestrian walkways. Neat, clean and tidy inside with an array of varied tables and chairs, hops lining the upper perimeter of the walls and bar centre-right, with four handpumps (Black Sheep Blitzen, North Cotswold Winter Solstice, Isaac Poad All Four and Saddleback Slaughterhouse), eight on stillage behind and six boxes of real ciders / perries. The guv'nor has been in the trade a while, and was previously at the Hook Norton brewery tap The Pear Tree so knows his stuff and my Winter Solstice was in fine form and a real bargain at £3.00 for a pint's worth offered in either straight or handled form. Crisps, nuts and scratchings form the limited bar snack menu, but you are allowed to bring your own food in. There's also a generous discount for Camra members. Another good edition of this new style of drinking establishment and makes for a decent triumvirate with The Bailiff's and Ye Olde Reine Deer.
On 24th October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1075 recommendations about 1075 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Old Town Ale & Cider House
Originally a health food shop, which was converted to Banbury's second micropub in Nov 2017. The now landlord, previously ran the Pear Tree in Hook Norton. There were four beers racked behind the bar on our visit, which could be dispensed either directly from the cask or via handpump on the bar, depending whether you wanted a head on your beer or not. This was quite inventive and I hadn't seen this method anywhere else yet. The four choices on the day were Salopian Shropshire Gold, Loose Cannon Gunners Gold, Manning Brewers Cave Man and Clouded Minds Scintilla. I went for the Manning Brewers Cave Man, which was a very decent red ale and it was also in excellent condition. As BF mentions in his review, I also found the florescent strip ceiling lighting to be unforgiving. The landlord was very chatty and welcoming, There was also a choice of ten ciders on our visit. I would definitely call again as the landlord knows his good beers.
On 26th June 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Old Town Ale & Cider House
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.
On 18th June 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Old Town Ale & Cider House
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.
On 21st April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]