Touring the Banburyshire pubs on a bike: Crewe Arms

Pub pedal column by Miles Doughty

The last pub pedal of the holidays and some of the best food yet in my post pandemic visit to local pubs. Since Jane was on a road bike we avoided the bridleways between Hinton airfield and Purston (shown) which you can use at the start or end of the ride to miss out Farthinghoe. We headed through Farthinghoe to Charlton and on to Croughton. The name of which means between two rivers and it was originally important for milling. Now it is important as for the military with the original WWII airfield used by the United States Air Force to control US communications. Bypassing the airfield we went to find the unusual wall paintings in the church only to find it shut. Apparently, there is also a rare mosaic showing Greek hero Bellerophon, slaying the monster Chimaera buried at a Roman villa north of the village that we also, sadly, couldn't see.

Continuing to Hinton-in-Hedges we soon found the pub and I couldn’t resist their own Crewe Arms ale, a lovely golden, malty beer. This was followed by a tasty Chequered Flag from Silverstone Brewery, a darker, caramel beer with citrus notes. Neil the owner has been busy supplying the locals with produce and entertaining them with a fortnightly Monday quiz. He has also improved the garden to increase capacity. We had to try several starters and were not disappointed. The Potatas Bravas were nicely spiced and the Frito Misto included lovely tender yet crispy coated Calamari and prawns. I would definitely have liked to have had a main but would be torn between Khaboulleh salad or Moussaka.

Leaving Hinton the road skirted another WWII airfield now used for gliding and skydiving. One of it’s most famous visitors, Nigel Farage, nearly ending his career, and life, when he crashed with a UKIP banner that became entangled in the plane’s controls. We narrowly avoided a similar incident when Jane’s laces got wrapped around her pedals! At the end of the road there is the option (shown) to take the bridleway to Purston. We chose to avoid the mud and return via Marston St.Laurence. Lets hope the end of summer remains dry. Despite the weather, the end of holidays and Eat Out to Help Out I hope you continue to get out on your bikes and support our local pubs and see you next week for another pub pedal.

Route 9 – 18.8 miles https://www.maps.ie/map-my-route/viewMap.php?route=155655