The Vine Inn, Cumnor

There are two pubs with playgrounds in Cumnor; the Vine Inn and the Bear and Ragged Staff. 

I confess: I haven't been here. A friend sent me these pictures but after reading that there is an open fire I am determined to go. It doesn't take much to make me visit a pub!

The Vine Inn can be found on this map, which I made for you, here.

The menu is here. Children can have either smaller adult portions or order from a separate children's menu. 

There are more pictures on the website.    

                     

The Highwayman 

To get to the Highwayman drive towards Reading from Wallingford. It is off the A4074 and is well sign posted. You can access Exlade Street either from the road into Checkendon or if you miss the turning a bit further down the road.

The Highwayman can be located on this map.

When I visited, the pub was closed, but I did manage to take pictures of the playground. 

The grounds are lovely indeed and you can tell they take pride in their garden.

Yikes! It appears that I forgot to take pictures of the front of the pub. Their website has good photos.  

The Four Points Inn, Aldworth

We stumbled across this pub en route to Hampstead Norreys recreation ground. It is along the road from Compton, although you can also get there by driving up the steep Streatley Hill, the right turn next to The Bull pub on the Wallingford Rd.

The Four Points Inn can be located on this map.

This is a lovely 17th Century Inn, really quaint inside. However it is right on the main road and the seated garden area with play equipment, although enclosed, is separated from the pub by a small car park.

The Four Points website.

I think it's great that the garden has been utilised like this. 

A very odd layout for a townie to get their head around:) 

Gorgeous, right?! 

The Bear and Ragged Staff, Cumnor, Abingdon.

Cumnor is really easy to find. From the A34 take the perimeter road which passes the police station, opposite Mcdonalds. Follow all the way around until you get to the roundabout near Abingdon College. Turn left going under the A34. Continue north along the B4017. Follow the sign to Cumnor. 

The Bear and Ragged Staff is on Appleton Road and can be located on this map.

This pub has a really lovely feel. It is quite large inside - no low ceilings in here. 

The management welcome children. High chairs can be booked in advance. 

Menu

New Inn, Kidmore End

If you didn't know this pub existed you wouldn't be alone.  So, where is it and where is Kidmore End for that matter? It might sound like the end of nowhere, but it isn't that far from the main road from Benson to Reading - the A4074. Turn left into Horsepond Rd, just before The Packhorse. Take the first right into Wood Lane and follow all around into the village. Continue passed the well on your right. There is a pond on the left and the pub is then just a tiny bit further up on your right. 

The New Inn can be located on this map.

Food: there is no children's menu. It is half the size - and price - as the adult menu. 

This pub has a really nice garden.

Equipment

Contact details 

Website

I will update this page soon, including if dogs are welcome and if there is a baby changing facility. 

The Reformation, Gallowstree Common

This pub isn't that far from the main road from Benson to Reading - the A4074. Turn left into Horsepond Rd, just before The Packhorse. Continue on down. Eventually you will see this pub on your left hand side: 


The Reformation can be located on this map.

It has loads of parking. 

The garden is quite big and accessible from the dinning room conservatory, so if you have little children who cannot yet sit through dinner I imagine it is less of a daunting prospect when there is somewhere they can go and you can see them at the same time. 

Contact details

http://www.therefpub.com/

Other info

There is no childrens menu on the website, so you might want to call in advance to find out. 

Toilets - no sign of changing facilities. 

For Fun...

Fron the blog Anglotees...

Don’t Be a Pillock in the Pub – Do’s and Don’t’s of British Pub Etiquette. 

This tickled me. If I didn't like pubs I wouldn't write this blog, although admittedly I need to get a move on and do more! 

103 Reasons why British People go to the Pub 

Another funny one! 

The Swan, Sutton Courtenay. 

The Swan is next to Sutton Courtenay church (which is pretty spectacular) and near the Abbey. There is plenty of parking but if you have trouble there is more free parking signposted clearly. 

The Swan can be located on this map.

This garden is a child's heaven. I have rarely seen so many toys outside of a play school! There are two houses, innumerable scooters/ bikes/ Little Tykes cars. There are toys for very small children, a wigwam, a kitchen placed inside a house and a football table!

The garden is big with many tables and chairs, but they are not all crammed together. 

At the weekends, when it is not raining, there is a bouncy castle. 

There is a changing mat in the ladies loos. I don't know if they also have one in the gents, but I hope so - in the interests of equality an' all:) 

Pics

My son was enamoured with this table football. 

I liked this wigwam structure.

The Swan's website.

The Plough, Long Wittenham

The Plough can be located on this map.

The garden from the car park.    

I'm not sure where to start with the Plough! It is a FUN place at the weekends! Over the summer they have a bouncy castle out on Saturdays and Sundays, and this is in addition to their playground. I'm pretty sure that the bouncy castle is also out on a Friday but I will have to double check this. 

Perfect!

The Plough backs on to the Thames. It has a very long garden and a brand new landing area for boats etc. There is currently no gate separating off the garden from the river but the landlady assures me that during the two years they have been there there have been no accidents. 

View from the considerately placed bench.

Long garden.

 Apple tree. 

The Plough is easy to get to. It's the first pub on the left hand side as you are coming from Didcot, on the High Street. If you are walking from Didcot, just continue along the path, passed The Pendon Museum. It is a little further on. 

The new landlords have made a huge effort with the place. Even since I last visited three months ago there have been loads of improvements. I am told they are going to add more play equipment, too. 

Aside from this equipment there is also a collection of children's books and colouring books in the front room. I really like this as it shows a thoughtfulness towards children which is rarely seen. 

Graham, the landlord, told me that because there is not enough room in the w/c for a changing mat parents can instead use a room attached to the pub. 

There is no children's menu - there is something better: really good quality mini portions of the adult's menu. 

The Plough's website - you can see the menu and events . 

 

The George and Dragon at Upton 

The George and Dragon at Upton a great little family pub. If you live in Didcot and have children who can ride a bike, you will appreciate this pub as part of a family day out. 

The George and Dragon can be located on this map.

Ken, the landlord is welcoming of children, but not so much of dogs. The playground at the George and Dragon is all about enabling your children to have a good time.

Here are some photos of the equipment. Mostly suitable for older children, but there are baby swings, too.