Touring the Banburyshire pubs on a bike: The Bell Inn at Great Bourton

In support of village pubs around the area after the pandemic Miles Doughty is touring them by bike. Here is his latest column.
By Miles Doughty
Published 25th Sep 2020, 08:25 BST
Updated 25th Sep 2020, 08:28 BST
A map of the route.A map of the route.
A map of the route.

Pub pedals 12 - by Miles Doughty

Determined to get fit, Gerri joined me again this week to enjoy another sunny cycle to a local pub to find out how they are surviving in the pandemic. After I tried in vain to find alternative routes we ended up going from Middleton Cheney, out through Chacombe to Cropredy. However, this time we headed out to Mollington, which meant tackling Cropredy Hill, much to Gerri’s annoyance.

Although the Green Man pub was not open we took advantage of the bench outside to bask in the sun - a bit of a theme on this ride. The climb at least entitled us to a great freewheel down the hill over the now busy motorway and down a lovely lane to Shotteswell. In the village we were confronted with an even more serious hill that reminded me of stages on the Tour de France - in fact almost at the same time on the decisive time trial riders were allowed a bike change and a push off.

Miles and Gerri ay The Bell Inn.Miles and Gerri ay The Bell Inn.
Miles and Gerri ay The Bell Inn.
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Gerri would have happily swapped to an electric bike but all we could do was get off and push. At the top the views across the valley, from another convenient bench, were well worth the effort. Sadly the village pub, closed long ago, so we carried on down the moderately busy B4100, through Hanwell to Great Bourton.

Located opposite the church bell tower, one of only 3 above a covered lychgate, the Bell Inn is appropriately named. With a great garden, we settled in to enjoy a pint of Hook Norton’s Off the Hook IPA with citrus/orange notes which rightly claims to go well with spicy food. The hot chicken wings certainly met that criteria with the sauce also enhancing Gerri’s breaded mushrooms.

Speaking to the landlord, this and the other items on the menu have been a mainstay of the takeaway they have offered from early in lockdown, plus a range of beers. With such gorgeous weather and a few hills behind us, we felt justified having another drink and a very rustic stone-baked Greek special pizza with olives, feta and oregano that was suitably tangy and cheesy. It also fuelled us on our short journey home back through Cropredy and up the hill from Chacombe.

Hopefully, you have got to grips with your gears and are not too put off by the hills and continue to enjoy our fantastic rolling countryside for the final few Pub Pedals.

Route 12 – 17.7 miles https://www.maps.ie/map-my-route/viewMap.php?route=160204