Last week, an attempt was made to move from the cosy back-room seats at The Bear Inn to the newly opened St. Aldates Tavern approximately 200 metres away. The justification? Although great in the summer, The Bear has a lack of seating on a Friday post-6.00pm. Simple enough, but a cause for concern amongst many of the regulars who gazed with a mixture of fear and bewilderment at the new establishment.
The result? A success for some, disappointment for others. I was in the former camp, enjoying the Tavern's space, clean feel, hustle and bustle atmosphere, and choice of beers. I opted for The White Horse Brewery Bitter (3.7%). Disappointment stemmed from the overzealous use of the heating and the lack of ketchup for chips - seemingly trivial, but clearly important factors for some.
We may be back next Friday...
