Address: The Street, South Stoke, Oxfordshire RG8 0JS

Telephone number: 01491 872 415

Website: http://www.perchandpike.co.uk/

Date of visit: 4 March 2010

Approximate cost per head for 2 courses: £15

Comments on wine list/beer: Brakspear and a pretty good wine list for a pub.

Summary:

This is a 17^th century pub in a small village off the B4009 Goring-Wallingford road.

It’s a walkers pub – there is always a stack of wellies and boots outside the front door. I strongly recommend that you book on a sunny weekend – lunch time.

There is a circular walk at the north end of the village (approx 4 miles) along the Thames to North Stoke and back . Access  to the river is via ferry lane. During the wet seasons, the path can get very muddy and you will be better off with wellies. Park at the pub and walk down The Street towards the North End. Ferry Lane is on the left at the end of The Street.

The best way to describe this place is that they serve large portions of good basic home cooking. On the day we went, I had the steak and parsnip pie – top crust pie with a thick strong gravy, lean pieces of meat – and chips for £9.45. Beer is around £3 a pint.

Another table was full of walkers who had the beef baguette (£7) which could easily feed 2 – per portion.

This pub has changed hands several times since I first visited in the 80s. The current landlord is a charming man and I wish him the best.

Eddie