A delightful riverside hostelry served up a right royal treat for Katherine MacAlister on a sunny Bank Holiday weekend

It’s not easy being all things to all people and many restaurants and pubs make the mistake of over-compensating by offering too much on the menu and not cooking anything well.

The alarm bells always start ringing as soon as I glance at a round-the-world-in-one-meal menu. This wasn’t the case at the Black Prince in Woodstock, even though it caters for a vastly differing crowd, made up mainly of tourists. Because although there is something for everyone, it’s not a crowded selection.

We had happened across the riverside pub by chance, on a sunny day which couldn’t be wasted, perhaps the only one of the year. We wanted a pub garden and some nice food and a walk, so headed down the river until we came to the Black Prince which seemed to tick all the boxes – a pub garden, riverside tables, children’s meals, a full Sunday lunch board and a nice looking menu. The sun was shining, the ducks were quacking, it was a Bank Holiday weekend – what’s not to like?

We took the in-laws who like their food and creature comforts. They wanted to eat indoors but luckily it was full, as the rest of us were keen to enjoy the glorious sunshine and fresh air outside. The riverside pub garden isn’t enormous but it is tranquil, and although the pub backs onto the main road, you’re a world away from the rat race and luckily there were a few tables spare which we managed to drag together.

It’s a bit of a hotch potch out the back of the Black Prince, but inside, where you order, has been refurbed and the bar staff and waitresses looked very efficient. Drinks in hand we all perused the menus, taking our time for once and between us tried a bit of everything from the roast beef with all the trimmings which weighed in at a very moderate £7.50, to the nachos and two of the specials, the salmon and the Oxfordshire sausage and mash. The kids chose sausage and chips, but there were healthier options available.

We expected to wait quite a while due to our large party and the busy service, but the food appeared in good time and took us by surprise. I think we’d been expecting a chicken in a basket type set up and instead were greeted with some really proper food.

The nachos for example weren’t the usual assortment of crisps with a nasty smearing of industrial processed cheese and some dry black beans, but a big bowl of fresh homemade chilli with all the trimmings.

The roasts were equally as impressive. Good quality meat, veg, great Yorkshire’s, lashings of gravy, plates cleaned, job done. The kids’ sausages were rather undercooked, which was a shame because they are fussy eaters at the best of times, and we would have sent them back except for the time management skills involved.

The specials were also a big hit – the Oxfordshire sausage and creamy wholegrain mustard and mash with gravy, and the delicate salmon with creamy mash and fresh beans, suiting my in-laws. Having eyed up the dessert menu, we were all far too full to partake, but with drinks, the bill came to £80 for 10 which I thought was brilliant value. We’ll be going back!

And as The Black Prince boasts a £5 value menu running all the time, which includes ham, egg and chips or pork loin with mash, greens and gravy, beer battered fish and chips, or a greek salad to name but a few, perhaps you will too.

The Black Prince,
2 Manor Road, Woodstock
Call 01993 811530