I went for a meal at Banbury's revamped Barley Mow pub – and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular
Reporter Jack Ingham was impressed with his visit to the Warwick Road pub following its revamp. Here is his review.
The Barley Mow, run by UK-wide pub chain Sizzling Pubs, reopened in November after undergoing a three-week makeover.
Since Sizzling Pubs took over management, the Barley Mow has been rebranded as a family-friendly local pub with a good selection of food and drink.
It was the first time I had visited the Barley Mow, but after spending a delightful evening there on Tuesday (January 13), I will be sure to plan to visit again.
Walking into the Barley Mow, I was surprised with how busy it was; almost all of the tables were occupied by couples or families enjoying a midweek meal out, and there was a healthy throng of punters around the pool table and bar areas.
My partner and I were shown to our tables by the welcoming bar staff, who seemed to be untroubled by the busyness of the pub and still able to treat each patron’s request with time and respect.
Despite the pub being busy, there was a relaxed atmosphere, and it wasn't noisy or chaotic, so we were able to hold a conversation at a normal volume.
We ordered the house favourite sharer platter, which included a tasty selection of beer-battered mushrooms, fried-cheese doughnuts, panko prawn bites, onion rings and garlic bread.
The sharing plate was huge and well-presented and perfectly whetted our appetites for the main course, along with our pints of cider, of course!
My partner, who follows a vegan diet, initially ordered the rainbow lasagne; unfortunately, however, this was sold out, so she opted for the veggie flatbread with citrus pea bites and sweet chilli sauce.
Judging from the speed it disappeared before me, I can only assume it was a worthy replacement for the lasagne.
I chose the lovely beef and red wine lasagne and was seriously impressed by the rich flavours of the sauce and the delicious cheeses.
We ended the evening by tucking into the Bramley apple pie and lemon and raspberry mousse, which were both delightful and left us feeling full-up and more than satisfied.
My conclusion is that the Barley Mow is a great choice for anyone looking for good food at an affordable price in a warm and friendly environment.