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Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Friday, 5th May 2023
With picture contributions to 5000 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Bird in Hand, Henley Town, Henley-On-Thames
Henley-On-Thames
RG9 1SB
Served areas
Reviews of Bird in Hand (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about Bird in Hand
The only real change here is the sad (but perhaps inevitable) departure of Hooky Dark from the pumps. Beware that it keeps traditional hours and therefore closes for a while on a weekday afternoon. Soon filled-up a few minutes post afternoon opening with a mature and chatty crowd. Five ales at the bar, mainly local with London Pride remaining as their ‘outsider’ beer. One small downside was that there wasn’t much style variation to be had - Golden or Bitter. Pints of GBG quality beer from the two Rebellion sticks rounded-off a lovely hour or so, which included chatting to the former headmaster of the local College. It’s a super little pub and I must get back here more often.
February 2018
Remains the best pub in Henley, with good beer, a friendly crowd and lovely garden. A couple of stop-offs during the Reading CAMRA Ale Trail found enjoyable pints of the Hooky Dark. Consistently excellent, so up a point. Rated 9
January 2013
A long-overdue return visit found four ales on the go, with Pride and Hooky Dark remaining from previous. My Church End Winterval was fine but the Hooky Dark was a bit flat, which is unusual for here. Place was absolutely packed out and I couldn’t find a seat. At least it now has some real competition! Rugby was being shown (almost silently) on the TV. Rated 8
May 2010
An unassuming local, two minutes stroll from the immediate town centre. The beer (five ales, with some interesting local choices – staple beer is Pride) and the surroundings are still the best in Henley by a stretch (the cigarette cards are an interesting feature). The interior is cosy and convivial, it’s easy to strike up a conversation but also no worries about sitting quietly with a book or newspaper. TV is available for sports but only seems to be switched on when the event is taking place – good! There’s a lovely garden out the back, ideal for the summer months, a real sun-trap and it has an aviary too.
On 16th May 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Bird in Hand
A nice traditional pub on the way out of town, with a good and changing selection of ales (note the pump clips on the ceiling). An unassuming front bar with a larger room behind, all with old-school furnishings. Garden at the back too. We were a little bemused by the oche facing a flatscreen TV, until we noticed a hinged cover to carry a dartboard! Appears to be popular with the locals but note it does not stay open all afternoon. Beers on today were Braks Gravity, West Berks Good Old Boy, XT no.4, Windsor Guardsman and London Pride.
On 10th December 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Bird in Hand
Well away from the tourist hoards that infect other parts of town,this is a charming little local with a long standing and friendly couple who run it,and many years service in The Good Beer Guide.Mid terrace,the entrance opens into an L shaped single room with the bar in one corner.Everything internally is traditional,with a seating bench running along most of the wall opposite the bar,and some interesting framed pictures about past like in Henley.There were two flatscreen but turned off,this doesn't look like a sports bar.Food is just bar snacks such as pork pies,pasties,scotch eggs and my sausage roll was tasty and good value.
On the bar there are 5 handpumps serving on my trip Brakspears Bitter,Hooky Mild,London Pride,Sharp's Own and a very decent Church End Goats Milk.With a few national brewers being featured you could say the choice was unexciting,but it was good to see a mild,and the condition of everything the crew tried was spot on.Closes midweek at 2.30pm ,but we were not rushed out,I liked this pub a lot and relative to the other pubs in town ,this is at the top of the local real ale scene.I would pop back when next around.
On 21st July 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
View more reviews of Bird in Hand (7)
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- Official site of the Bird in Hand, includes menu and beer details - www.henleybirdinhand.co.uk
- Facebook - Bird In Hand
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Bird in Hand - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes - Bar snacks,heated - last updated 21 July 2016 by Bucking Fastard
- Jukebox : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 16 May 2023 by Quinno _
