Mr Hanbury's Mason Arms — Restaurant in West Oxfordshire

Having moved into the area only in January 2018, we have been trying a number of the local places. We’ve been all around and only found this place accidentally by word of mouth. We booked a table for our wedding anniversary and really couldn’t believe our luck.

On arrival they provided us with drinks and lead us out into the garden where we played a quick game of table tennis. Then we were taken to our table where the waiter brought us champagne, on the house, to celebrate our day (great touch). My wife had the salmon starter which was delicious and I had the British charcuterie. Quality slices of meet and sourdough bread. For main I opted for the Pork Belly and my wife went for the Flat Iron steak. We both got a little jealous of each other’s meals because the meat was so good. The steak chargrilled on the edge and perfectly medium rare in the middle. Accompanying peppercorn sauce and fantastic fries left my wife saying this was the best steak she’d had in years. The Pork was delicious, served on a bed of creamy mash and whole roasted carrots. The light crispy crackling and the tender pork melted in the mouth.

For dessert we had the Chocolate and Raspberry slice and the Lemon Meringue Mille Feuille. Delicate and flavoursome. The chocolate slice (I forget it’s proper name) was creamy and yet bitter enough not to make it sickly, flecks of homemade honeycomb and raspberry’s balanced the sweetness to perfection. The Lemon Meringue Mille Feuille was a taste sensation, light fluffy layers of flaky pastry that simply fell apart on the tongue. Zingy lemon and a light fluffy Meringue made this one of the most memorable desserts I’ve ever had.

Had a bottle of the Rose from Provence which is an unusual choice for me but it wrapped the meal up perfectly.

On top of all this the service from start to finish was perfect. I will definitely be going back and cannot recommend the place enough.

By far the best restaurant we have come across in the area to date, excellent food, wine and service.. The locals...

My wife and I had an overnight stay and meal here for her 30th birthday and I have to say we were both very impressed on all fronts from location, accommodation, service and of course food.

The first thing that hits you is how beautiful the building is with its thatched roof and beautiful surroundings. Inside is just as beautiful and is defiantly a one of a kind place with fascinating and unique artworks throughout and into the more intimate and relaxed restaurant area.

The bar has a great choice of beers on draught and has a big emphasis on local ales.

The meal we had was simply out of this world, A one off special 8 course taster menu that was put together by their very talented Head chef Leon Smith and his team, presented at the table with service you would expect to see in a michelin star restaurant with a brief description of the methods used and where the produce was locally sourced. To pick my favorite course would simply be impossible as each and every dish was cooked to perfection with perfectly balanced flavours and presentation to die for.

The room we stayed in upstairs was very impressive, again all completely refurbished with some absolutely stunning features like exposed roof trusses and roll top bath. The room was also well equipped with a roberts Internet DAB radio, Wi-Fi and a mini bar so well stocked you could survive a few days on that alone!

Remembering they have only been open less than a month and delivered on such a high standard, I believe this place is heading for a future star!

All in all there has been alot of though into the renovation and detailing of the whole building and has been executed very well for an enjoyable stay. That coupled with friendly staff and amazing food makes for a place I highly recommend. I can't wait to go back and do it again and I urge you...

A once-loved pub falls short with steep price hikes

I've been a loyal patron of this pub for years, drawn by its charming atmosphere and consistently delicious lunch offerings. It was a true hidden gem, a place where one could escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a hearty meal at a fair price.

Unfortunately, my recent visit left me feeling disappointed and concerned about the pub's future. The lunch prices have skyrocketed, with a burger now costing £18 and an additional £3 for bacon. This significant increase is not reflected in the quality of the food, which remains unchanged. It feels as though the management is taking advantage of its loyal clientele, price gouging without delivering a commensurate improvement in the dining experience.

Given the abundance of competition in the area, I fear that this pub may struggle to maintain its customer base if it persists with its current pricing strategy. I urge the management to reconsider their decision and bring their prices back to a more reasonable level. Otherwise, they risk losing not only my patronage but also that of many other loyal customers.

In its heyday, this pub was a fantastic spot for a satisfying lunch. I sincerely hope that it can recapture its former glory by addressing the issue of...