From the outside you would be forgiven for thinking that the Punch Bowl is just another ordinary pub and probably part of a chain complete with ‘happy meals’ and non descript lagers. This mainly comes about because the building is fairly new. If you can get past your preconceptions and make it into the car park then you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The Punch Bowl, like many renovated pubs in the area, has been decked out in a ‘gastro pub’ style. Seating around the edging of the walls has been achieved through the use of pleated leather and a scattering of cushions ensures comfort. The bar has a good deal of space around it and is separated from the restaurant part of the pub merely by a change in décor.
Outside, a garden area is provides with well a covered seating and eating area, and there is plenty of car parking.
We dropped in for a spot of early lunch on a bank holiday Monday. We chose from the bar/sandwich menu and sat in the bar area. I had a pint of local favourite Hook Norton with a meat ploughman’s and my partner had a beef wrap with a glass of the house dry white. The Hook Norton was well prepared and the wine was reported to be excellent.
Its common these days to go to a gastro pub and get a collection of overly described dishes presented for the lunch menu. However in the case of the Punch Bowl, I think the dishes are under described. The beef warp came with chunky jacket chips and the beef was reported to be tender and succulent. I think the ploughman this dish was designed for would definitely have at least one parent of continental heritage: roasted tomatoes, thick cut ham, salami, prosciutto, gherkins, spring onions, sticks of carrots, coleslaw served on a bread board. The waitress failed to offer me any bread but an attentive bar man quickly offered a choice of breads, of which I chose superb black olive bread.
The pub was soon filling up and the few tables in the bar area were quickly in use.
Overall I found the lunch excellent and would hope to visit in the near future for dinner.
LetsGoThere’s BT visited on the 30-May-2005 | 
