At The White Horse - Cherwell

Went back to this pub after more than 20 years and was pleased to see that it was as good as it was the first time I visited. I also love that it’s dog friendly!

Impromptu early evening get together with our new neighbours almost thwarted by being unaware of ‘locals night’. Place fully booked out inside for their first Thursday of every month, great value menu. Offered outside dining as only option and luckily weather just good enough. Lovely garden tables nonetheless. Told supplier had let them down and only the regular menu steak options and limited other available for walk-ins. No problemo! Two rib-eyes and a flat iron later, plus I can’t remember the fourth choice, and we were extremely well fed, well watered and very happy with our lot. Great service as always.

What a find. We are both real foodies but rarely add reviews good or bad. But today’s roasts were frankly fantastic and I wished to pop a note of recognition. The pork belly was so tender and tasty as was the lamb shoulder succulent. Loads of accompaniments too. Loved the red cabbage. Randomly fell on The White Horse Inn as we were stating in Lower Heyford but glad we came across it.

We booked in for Sunday lunch here and although the pub and location are lovely, the food was disappointing. We live locally and have dined at nearly all the pubs in the area and sorry to say, we found this the poorest so far. It's not that the food was badly cooked, it just seemed to be basic in comparison to the meals we've had elswhere at similar price. Other issues were no vegetarian option on the roast dinner menu and the roast sirloin option priced at an eye watering £28.

Eleven of us for Sunday lunch. Nine served before they realised they had forgotten two guests. Those two meals came when everyone else had finished. Food no better than passable. Little in the way of an apology. Will not be going back!