The Oxenham Arms

Probably the best plated Sunday Roast we've had in ages, anywhere. Very friendly proprietors and staff, bags of history ranging from the neolithic stone which makes up part of the fabric of the building, (not to be confused with the 'Ogham stone' in the snug), through the Elizabethan pirate who once lived here to the photograph of Bob Geldof who stayed a few years ago. Highly recommended.

Visited during the folk festival. Fantastic range of 8 real ales for the drinkers, straw bales outside to sit and enjoy the live music each afternoon and evening. The Ox oozes character. Love it.

Set in a quiet village this inn has the most fabulous history and it’s an experience in itself to view it and learn about its provenance- I loved the building. I didn’t get the warm welcome that others mentioned and felt that had we been walkers we may have fitted in better! The room was at the front it was comfortable and clean; painted white, the four poster bed was the star of the show but for such a historic room it could have been so much more. It lacked the finishing touches to give you the sense of a special stay in a historic building. The bathroom was tiny and the vanity light was broken with bits of paper stuck in it. The bath panel just a piece of board - it lacked attention to detail. We ate in a small dining room; the menu was limited and again lacking with two choices for vegetarians a curry or pasta. I asked for a plate of vegetables from a lovely waitress and paid £17 for a portion of truffle mash, 3 sprigs of broccoli and a few chunks of rosemary carrots. A rather normal piece of sticky toffee pudding followed and again my overall impression was that it was lacking. I felt very sick after, and realised that the mash and sauce were very rich (yet they had lacked taste). Breakfast was similar with a rich sticky hollandaise sauce and a tired and unhappy lady serving it up. So overall yes a great piece of history that’s worth visiting, a clean room but maybe just call in for a pint of the fabulous monks ale and give the other bits a miss.