At Active England Tours, we take our mid-afternoon pub stops very seriously and 2017 has been no exception. Our guests, typically from North America are introduced to the inner working of the hubs of our communities – the village pub. We delight in helping guests discover English beer, pork scratchings, pickled onions and other delights unique to the English pub.
Our winner for this year is the Chequers in Churchill, which we have been visiting on a Monday afternoon, every week for the last few years. Few pubs are even open late on a Monday afternoon when we arrive and our guest marvel at the range of beer available whilst chatting to the eclectic locals. Only 8 miles from our hotel, the Manor in Moreton in Marsh and after the not so gentle hills up from Chadlington the pub is the perfect stopping point.
Also on the shortlist in 2017 are the following:
The Ebrington Arms, Ebrington
Currently England Pub of the Year, according to the Sunday Times, we visit on a Tuesday, normally blocking the car park (sorry) and have a pint. With the most amazing late afternoon light which gives real atmosphere, this pub is right up there.
The Eagle and Child, Oxford
Maybe more of a tourist trap than a pub, the Eagle and Child is the Tuesday hangout of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. It is notable for its tiny little rooms which partition the pub giving a unique homely feel
The Trout at Tadpole Bridge
Another winner of the English Pub of the Year, the Trout has the most idyllic garden with its beautiful “pop” bridge over the Thames which is no wider than your average B-road.
The Plough at Kelmscott
Another favourite with our guests, the Plough at Kelmscott, is normally visited after they have embraced the home of William Morris. The garden is just made for sitting back and relaxing with a pint.
Active England Tours depart every week from a London pick-up and visit all of the following places, Windsor, Stratford, Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge, Blenheim Palace, Highclere Castle and the Kennet and Avon Canal in a week of relaxed cycling mostly through the stunning backdrop of the Cotswolds.