The Spade Oak

We love the Spade Oak. Whether you take the 15 minute walk along the river or drive there it's sufficiently off the beaten track enough to get a little surprise when you stumble across it.

Inside it's large but cosy. An open fire and wood burning heaters with lots of comfy chairs and lounges make it most comfortable even in the nastiest weather. They have a lovely long bar which is quite a feature. 

 

The menu is currently being updated but there is still enough to choose from even for pseudo vegetarians like Neil. He ordered mushroom risotto but received two mushies on a plate with a piece of bacon and not a grain of rice in sight. This was quickly rectified though and when he received his risotto it must have been good by the looks of the very clean plate. He also got a free beer for his trouble so he was happy.

I had fishcakes. The menu is usually a little more upmarket than other pubs but they also have usual pub fare like burgers etc.

The wine list is mainly European with some Chilean and Australian. Neil enjoys the Doom Bar bitter beer which is from Cornwall. Other bitters include Hobgoblin (but only for Halloween), London Pride and Brakspears. Lagers are Fosters (seems to be omnipresent), Staropramen, 1664, Peroni, Grolsch and of course Guiness.  They also have Strongbow and Aspall cider. There is a fine selection of single malts.

Dogs & cats are welcome in the bar and the staff are very friendly.

The Christmas dinner menu looks YUMMY but is expensive almost 50 pounds a person.