Body

Oxford Canal - South

(all locations are listed as though travelling from Wigrams Turn to Oxford)

Pubs & Restaurants

Location What's there Comments Date

Bridge 111

Napton Bridge, Napton Menu looks good, beers are good December 2003 (CA)

Excellent with wide & interesting menu. £50 for two including wine etc. July 2004 (MG)

Bridge 113

Folly Pie, Napton Recommended for food December 2003 (EF)

Seems reluctant to open at lunchtime. December 2003 (CA)

The menu was quite extensive and having made our choices the barman told us that all the pies were off the menu. It then transpired that the ONLY thing ON the menu was steak and chips. Anyway the steak was tasty and bill was cheap (about all we can say for it really). March 2004 (PK)

An odd pub - excellent Hook Norton beers - menu doesn't have much if you don't fancy a fancy pie - mixed clientele. Next time I'll just grab a pint and head to the beer garden. What are they building around the back ? it looks big - much bigger than the pub itself. August 2004 (CA)

Bridge 136

Wharf Inn, Fenny Compton Excellent quality food, at reasonable prices in restaurant or bar. 3 good real ales December 2003 (CA)

A good meal and lively company was enjoyed but it was very busy and booking in advance is recommended. Not very memorable though. March 2004 (PK)

Trying to go upmarket, very good, £50 for two including wine July 2004 (MG)

Bridge 152

Red Lion, Cropredy Food looks expensive, smashing pub though with a choice of real ales. December 2003 (CA)

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal in the Red Lion which we can recommend. March 2004 (PK)

Great friendly pub, two course. Sunday Lunch £9 July 2004 (MG)

Good lunch at The Red Lion – a very attractive thatched pub. May 2009 (CH)

Bridge 164 Banbury Good choice of Indian / Thai / Chinese restaurants plus some great pubs in the old part of town. December 2003 (CA)

Banbury Whatley Manor Not a great gastronomic experience but the surroundings are well worth a visit and the oak panelled dining room, even if sparsely occupied, created a superb atmosphere. July 2004 (MG)

Aynho Wharf Great Western Arms This looks like a fine pub but in reality it's yet another gastro pub. April 2009 (CA)

Enslow Rock of Gibraltar Greek owner hence some Greek options on menu - good garden alongside own moorings - although he tries with his beers and food a lack of custom makes it something of a struggle. April 2009 (CA)

Upper Heyford, Allen's Lock Barley Mow It's a 10 minute uphill walk to the pub - a fine friendly place selling pub grub including toasties as well as more substantial "fayre". Aunt Sally is played in the back garden on Summer Wednesday evenings. April 2009 (CA)

Lower Heyford, Bridge 206 Bell Inn Just a couple of minutes walk to pub; over lift bridge and bear right at junction. Busy with diners - once they go home it's a great place for a relaxing evening. April 2009 (CA)

Thrupp Boat Inn Excellent pub with great beer garden - good food - good moorings are adjacent. April 2009 (CA)

A good lunch at the Boat at Thrupp – they do child sized roasts as well as larger portions for the hungry (male) adult! May 2009 (CH)

Shopping & Facilities

Bridge 113 Folly Pie Pub This is a new canal side shop which is in the grounds of the Folly Pie pub. They sell milk, bread and some other foodstuffs and will order a morning paper - they deserve our custom. August 2004 (CA)

Between Bridge 136 & 137 Fenny Marina Gas, canal gift shop and chandlery - nice place December 2003 (CA)

Cropredy, Bridge 153 Spar A rare opportunity to shop - but don't expect any more than the basics - and don't expect it to be open when you most want it to be ! December 2003 (CA)

The shop is small but reasonably comprehensive.
May 2009 (CH)

Bridge 164 Banbury There's all the shops you could hope for within 5 minutes of a canal - Marks & Spencers, Debenhams, Somerfields plus many more department stores and traditional high street shops. December 2003 (CA)

Good & Bad Moorings

Cropredy Lovely village Well worth a walk around. March 2004 (PK)

Banbury - park just town side of Bridge 163, Ten minute stroll into town, very quiet (avoids bakery noise and smell) bridge gives access to small industrial estate with easy car parking for visitors July 2004 (MG)

Banbury, Bridge 164, Castle Quays

Shops, pubs, restaurants The moorings in Banbury centre are great, directly outside the shopping precinct and around the corner from traditional Banbury. Because the new Castle Quays precinct has no leisure facilities it's very quiet after the shops have closed. December 2003 (CA)

Be careful at the moorings right in town centre because the canal edge stones are made from gravel and these tend to rip the paint work to pieces as the boat gently rocks backwards and forwards at rest - even with pipe defenders in place. March 2004 (PK)

Navigation Notes

Twisty ! Mr. Brindley excelled himself - loads of sharp bends, most of which seem to have a bridge creating many blind bends so much hooting on the horn required. Shallow in places so risk of grounding if you drift from the middle line. Don't expect to get above about 2 mph - it's fun though ! December 2003 (CA)

Location	What's there	Comments	Date
Bridge 111	Napton Bridge, Napton	Menu looks good, beers are good	December 2003 (CA)
Bridge 111	Napton Bridge, Napton	Excellent with wide & interesting menu. £50 for two including wine etc.	July 2004 (MG)
Bridge 113	Folly Pie, Napton	Recommended for food	December 2003 (EF)
		Seems reluctant to open at lunchtime.	December 2003 (CA)
		The menu was quite extensive and having made our choices the barman told us that all the pies were off the menu. It then transpired that the ONLY thing ON the menu was steak and chips. Anyway the steak was tasty and bill was cheap (about all we can say for it really).	March 2004 (PK)
		An odd pub - excellent Hook Norton beers - menu doesn't have much if you don't fancy a fancy pie - mixed clientele. Next time I'll just grab a pint and head to the beer garden. What are they building around the back ? it looks big - much bigger than the pub itself.	August 2004 (CA)
Bridge 136	Wharf Inn, Fenny Compton	Excellent quality food, at reasonable prices in restaurant or bar. 3 good real ales	December 2003 (CA)
		A good meal and lively company was enjoyed but it was very busy and booking in advance is recommended. Not very memorable though.	March 2004 (PK)
		Trying to go upmarket, very good, £50 for two including wine	July 2004 (MG)
Bridge 152	Red Lion, Cropredy	Food looks expensive, smashing pub though with a choice of real ales.	December 2003 (CA)
		Thoroughly enjoyed our meal in the Red Lion which we can recommend.	March 2004 (PK)
		Great friendly pub, two course. Sunday Lunch £9	July 2004 (MG)
		Good lunch at The Red Lion – a very attractive thatched pub.	May 2009 (CH)
Bridge 164	Banbury	Good choice of Indian / Thai / Chinese restaurants plus some great pubs in the old part of town.	December 2003 (CA)
Banbury	Whatley Manor	Not a great gastronomic experience but the surroundings are well worth a visit and the oak panelled dining room, even if sparsely occupied, created a superb atmosphere.	July 2004 (MG)
Aynho Wharf	Great Western Arms	This looks like a fine pub but in reality it's yet another gastro pub.	April 2009 (CA)
Enslow	Rock of Gibraltar	Greek owner hence some Greek options on menu - good garden alongside own moorings - although he tries with his beers and food a lack of custom makes it something of a struggle.	April 2009 (CA)
Upper Heyford, Allen's Lock	Barley Mow	It's a 10 minute uphill walk to the pub - a fine friendly place selling pub grub including toasties as well as more substantial "fayre". Aunt Sally is played in the back garden on Summer Wednesday evenings.	April 2009 (CA)
Lower Heyford, Bridge 206	Bell Inn	Just a couple of minutes walk to pub; over lift bridge and bear right at junction. Busy with diners - once they go home it's a great place for a relaxing evening.	April 2009 (CA)
Thrupp	Boat Inn	Excellent pub with great beer garden - good food - good moorings are adjacent.	April 2009 (CA)
Thrupp	Boat Inn	A good lunch at the Boat at Thrupp – they do child sized roasts as well as larger portions for the hungry (male) adult!	May 2009 (CH)
Shopping & Facilities
Bridge 113	Folly Pie Pub	This is a new canal side shop which is in the grounds of the Folly Pie pub. They sell milk, bread and some other foodstuffs and will order a morning paper - they deserve our custom.	August 2004 (CA)
Between Bridge 136 & 137	Fenny Marina	Gas, canal gift shop and chandlery - nice place	December 2003 (CA)
Cropredy, Bridge 153	Spar	A rare opportunity to shop - but don't expect any more than the basics - and don't expect it to be open when you most want it to be !	December 2003 (CA)
Cropredy, Bridge 153	Spar	The shop is small but reasonably comprehensive.	May 2009 (CH)
Bridge 164	Banbury	There's all the shops you could hope for within 5 minutes of a canal - Marks & Spencers, Debenhams, Somerfields plus many more department stores and traditional high street shops.	December 2003 (CA)
Good & Bad Moorings
Cropredy	Lovely village	Well worth a walk around.	March 2004 (PK)
Banbury - park just town side of Bridge 163,		Ten minute stroll into town, very quiet (avoids bakery noise and smell) bridge gives access to small industrial estate with easy car parking for visitors	July 2004 (MG)
Banbury, Bridge 164, Castle Quays	Shops, pubs, restaurants	The moorings in Banbury centre are great, directly outside the shopping precinct and around the corner from traditional Banbury. Because the new Castle Quays precinct has no leisure facilities it's very quiet after the shops have closed.	December 2003 (CA)
Banbury, Bridge 164, Castle Quays	Shops, pubs, restaurants	Be careful at the moorings right in town centre because the canal edge stones are made from gravel and these tend to rip the paint work to pieces as the boat gently rocks backwards and forwards at rest - even with pipe defenders in place.	March 2004 (PK)
Navigation Notes
Twisty !		Mr. Brindley excelled himself - loads of sharp bends, most of which seem to have a bridge creating many blind bends so much hooting on the horn required. Shallow in places so risk of grounding if you drift from the middle line. Don't expect to get above about 2 mph - it's fun though !	December 2003 (CA)