50.
Friday Night in Headington,
In an attempt to scrape through a few more
pubs by the end of the year, Dave and I had decided that it might be an idea to
have a go at some pubs in Headington on a Friday
night to see how they had changed since our last visit in 2002. However, before
setting off on the bus, we met up with Nick Gardiner for a swift pint in the
Dewdrop which is actually a very underrated pub in
Summertown and does a couple of guests. At the time of writing they had Young's
Winter Warmer on. Once this task had been completed, it was time to catch the
10C which canes its way round to Headington round the
This materialized in the shape of the
White Hart in Old Headington which is a splendid old
pub, kept in the name of Everards brewery, and does
excellent beer. On our visit, choices were two varieties of Tiger, Beacon and
Equinox, and they were very well kept. The pub itself was lively and had a
number of cosy low beamed rooms which gave it a
pleasant rustic feel. Good trough in the gents' too. Just across the way is the
Black Boy which probably wins accolade of least improved pub. Last time it was
a Morrells boozer with a good selection of barrels on
stands behind the bar. This time all we could find was IPA on pissflow. The pub itself looked far more uncared for with
some people playing pool in a room where previously there had been some old bastards chairs. At the time of our visit, there was some
sort of karaoke on, and the DJ demonstrating was actually doing a reasonable
version of a Mel C song. The toilets were given a very good mark, I assume on
the grounds of architecture as I think that there was a partitioned trough, and
some glazed bricks. And it was accessible directly from the street.
Making our way into Headington
the next stop for a swift half was the Royal Standard, one of those Morrells Olde Ale Houses last
time and actually not much changed. The beer is reasonable in range - Abbot,
Old Speckled Hen and IPA - though tasted below average. It was quite crowded in
there and we had to stand at the bar, so all in all not a place I'd choose.
Last time that we went in the Britannia, it was an absolute shithole.
Since our visit the place is unrecognisable and has
been turned into one of Headington's finest. Ember Inns,
although a chain, have given it a much needed kick up the arse,
and it now does a good set of beer - Cains IPA,
London Pride, Brew XI, Bass, Hardy’s and
Hanson's Olde Trip - though they are expensive. The
pub has now got quite a light and airy interior and although this may annoy the
real ale purist, we found it pleasant yet lively. Notably the atmosphere is
relaxed and not full of tossers.
The excursion then took us to deepest Headington, and the Quarry Gate. Not much had changed since
our last visit and it wasn't particularly nice. The beer was IPA in an
unlabelled pump, though it was a pound a pint for some reason, perhaps because
it was past its prime. Apart from the bar snacks, the only other distinctive features
are the gents which are accessible directly from outside and are sited in a
triangular room with two solo troughs at strange angles. Most
peculiar. Finally, we ended at the fine Fuller’s establishment of
the Butcher's Arms, where we were greeted with London Pride, Chiswick and 1845, which for a six-percenter
was of excellent quality. The bar is cosy, if a
little dingey, with a long plush seat down one side,
and it was a joy to be drinking there. On leaving we made our way towards
Headington to get the 10D back, only to see it whirr past 3 minutes early, thus
meaning we had to take inordinate amounts of time longer going through the city
centre, grr!
Dan
Lovegrove
dan@doctor-lovegrove.com
Last updated 21st November 2003.