Pub News from the Vale and beyond
White Horse Drinkers - Pub News
On Monday 16th February 2009, the Vale of the White Horse Drinkers made a foray towards Oxford, and first visited the Plough at Appleton, which had always been a proper locals’ pub. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the high quality of the beer had been maintained under the new management. Four Greene King beers were on offer that night - Olde Trip, IPA, Morland’s Original and the rarely seen but eminently drinkable XX Mild. The lXX Mild, although a mere 3% ABV, was particularly moreish and we could have all quite happily sat there all night, and drunk the barrel dry.
Not much change has been wrought in the pub itself, apart from the opening up of the third bar and the introduction of a wide-screen television in the lounge bar. Although it was a Monday night in mid-February, quite a few locals had braved the wintry weather for a convivial pint in front of the two open fires. In more clement weather, the Plough is a rewarding watering-hole in which to relax after a pleasant walk down to Northmoor Lock via Badswell Lane. Halfway down the lane on the right, look for the rather attractive Badswell, a healing well after which the lane is named.
We then went on to the Blue Boar at Longworth, a pub which we confess we had not visited for quite some considerable time. It did not appear to have changed all that much since our last visit. Although there were not so many customers as there had been in the Plough at Appleton, this charming pub would no doubt be full to the gunwales with both diners and drinkers during the summer. At the time of our visit, the beers on tap were London Pride, Brakspear’s Bitter and Ringwood Fortyniner.
The Thames Path is not far away and the picturesque ford at Duxford is within easy reach of the Blue Boar. However, you may only wade safely across the ford when water-levels are low and the river is not in full spate. If you do succeed in negotiating the ford without mishap, you will find that the Bucks, Berks and Oxon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve is only a mile or so across the fields at Chimney.