Perch Inn, Binseyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The pub appeared in Daughters of Cain - an episode of Morse, the TV series.
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Lovely and unique approach from the Thames Path - down a sunken lane, with arches bedecked with fairly lights. Certainly an unforgettable approach.
Large beer garden with its own serving shed. They had gravity fed Old Hooky, which was much clearer than in the Trout but quickly became lifeless, as you would expect.
£8.90 for this and a lager and lime.
Nice place.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2tTyJCt
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Tucked away in tiny Binsey village way off the Botley Road, The Perch seems to have its lot very much thrown into the food camp. That said, a nice eclectic range of ale - Marstons Pedigree, Old Hooky and Pride of Pendle - the latter very good indeed - all against a very stone-dominated interior made for a welcome sojourn away from the bustle of the Botley Road.
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Apologies - this should refer to The Fishes at Hinksey
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This has now ben renamed The Fishes, given a gastropub spruce up with the emphasis now on food rather than a leisurely pint. Everything in the dining room is fine and dandy with decent food available at fair prices.
Where it falls down is the garden service thanks to a rather precious system where food is despatched to diners in dinky wicker baskets. The trouble is it isn't despatched quickly enough - on a reasonably busy Sunday afternoon we had to wait more than an hour for food that didn't even need to be cooked. Service was unfailingly polite...but the system just doesn't work. Probably best sampled on a quiet weekday.
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To describe the place as "a pretentious eaterie which has lost all its former character" is completely overegging it, as people are wont to do with such a classic. The Perch as I recall it was never exactly the perfect pub itself but it has a great garden and a great location, being the target of a classic walk out from Oxford across Port Meadow and the Thames/Isis to the hamlet of Binsey. On a warm March weekend resembling a summer's day, never mind spring, all the classic elements remain there - the beer was fine (Hook Norton Bitter), the garden was lovely, with nice little Glastonbury-style new age touches, and the hamlet is unspoiled. The interior has had a somewhat strange refit, but if the management have had to build the business model around dining, then that's hardly a surprise in this location in this day & age. If you didn't know the old Perch, don't fret, you can enjoy the new one pretty much as well as ever.
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That's really a shame, John. We had been hoping that when the Perch re-opened it would have reverted to some of its former, say 2005, character. We visit Oxford in April or May annually and have enjoyed our walks from Summertown to Port Meadow and Binsey for more than 25 years. Of course, the Perch was always our favorite watering hole.
I must say, though, in recent years after the unfortunate refurbishment of the Perch, we too have made our way to the Plough and found it a most enjoyable experience. So I expect our 2008 visit across the pond will be peppered with numerous Plough visits.
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It reopened a few days ago, apparently, but is now a pretentious eaterie which has lost all its former character. I went there yesterday while walking in the area. Took one look at the lunch menu (seems you have a set-price 2-course meal or nothing), had a quick half (again no choice, but at least it was real ale) and left to get lunch at the Plough in Wolvercote (which was quite happy to serve me food despite arriving after the advertised lunch time).
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Thanks Palias, I now know to totally avoid. Just going to check reports on one of the few unspoiled pubs left in the world, the Seven Stars in Steventon. I'll be well depressed if I see this has gone the same way.
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Actually, I don't think it burned to the ground, although the roof is badly damaged on the car park side. Hopefully it will be saved.
That being said, I must agree with baggydave. We've been fans of the Perch since 1984 when we first started our biennial treks to Oxford from across the pond.
This April proved to be much different. The Perch is now a "Gastro Pub" with high-priced unappetizing meals with sit-down service and no eating in the beautiful garden. The old bar is gone, replaced with indoor, white linen table service.
Very disappointing to say the least.
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The Perch, a thatch-covered 17th century building, was burned down on Tuesday 7 May 2007.
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I WILL ALWAYS LOVE THIS PLACE. MOST PROBABLY BECAUSE I SPENT 2 AND A HALF HAPPY YEARS WORKING. GREAT PLACE TO VISIT IN WINTER OR SUMMER
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So wonderful in the many times I visited 84 - 05
So horid last time - cold, lost all its ambiance, food awful clearly reflecting the new management.
Hope others can persuade me to go back!
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This is a great little out of the way pub, with low ceilings, a thatched roof, and a healthy dose of character inside. A great pub largely because it's not trying to impress anyone.
The beer selection is nothing special (Adnams, Guinness, Stella, and a few others), which is about the only negative thing I can think of to say. The Guinness was in top shape, well-poured, and served by a friendly and cheery barman (who couldn't have been much over 20). Overall, my group and I were very happy to have spent an evening here.
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The Perch is a lovely pub, in a lovely setting, but the service is terrible, even worse is the food service. Go just for a pint and don't bother waiting for your food.
bmf69 - 10 Feb 2006 09:34 |
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