Not having been punished enough by the 10 mile walk yesterday, the Crazy Pandas set out on another 8 mile pub walk (number 15 in the Coventry Way Circular Walks), although AR was under the impression that it was only just over 5 miles until half way to the start point! Parking in the beautiful Hawkesbury Junction, we walked along the Coventry Canal and through fields until we finally reached the Oxford Canal and headed over to the Rose and Castle. The pub was lovely (with very considerate warnings on the door regarding the challenges MJ would face with the low ceilings and even lower beams – AR was unaffected!) and the bar staff were very friendly. The bar had three beers, a guest ales from Cornwall (Cornish Mutiny brewed by the Wooden Hand Brewery), Yorkshire (the ever popular Black Sheep) and a local ale (Mad Goose by Purity in Stratford) and we partook of some rather well earned and delicious chips. Although the walking book had served us well up to that point, it then tried to send us over a demolished bridge and then, after we found our way back onto the towpath, it promised us a stop at the Elephant and Castle pub on the last leg which was now sadly closed. We reached the end of the walk and were looking forward to a well earned drink and meal in the beautifully placed Greyhound Inn which has won several awards as the best pub in the area. The bar was very well stocked with a great selection of real ales on tap and MJ opted for the very nice Portal by Tunnel Brewery as it was the only one he hadn’t tried before. Sadly our experience wasn’t the best there with a very long wait for food which ended in one incorrect meal being served and one cold one. After an hour and a quarter, several attempts to send them back, including the cold meal coming out highly microwaved and inedible, we managed to get our meals but really wish we’d stayed at the Rose and Castle for food. Although a great location and good bar, we definitely wouldn’t recommend eating there.
AR
Crazy Panda Pubs 