Crab & Boar

An unplanned lunch time stop in this very pretty area. The fire and comfy sofas were a warm welcome from the drizzly rain. Hosts and pup very friendly and although only originally in for a quick. Stayed for two hours and enjoyed a lovely lunch. One open steak sandwich and one open wild mushroom on sourdough. Both delicious. Lovely Xmas menu choices which we hope to return to try . Highly recommend

From the time that we arrived to the time we left we have had the most superb stay. Really lovely welcome & made to feel at home straight away, the room was nice, clean & spacious with a courtyard garden which was a bonus & a beautiful shower that was perfect as my partner is partially sighted and the entrance to shower was wide enough. In the restaurant the service was 1st class, the staff couldn’t of been more accommodating, the waitress Sophie was the best, most polite we have ever experience, huge asset to the Crab & Boar. The food was out of this world both breakfast & dinner, we will definitely go back.

We had Sunday lunch with friends and then stayed the night travelling home the following day as a one night runaway from reality. From the moment we arrived Dave and the team were so welcoming and understanding at pre-empting our needs, after a very hot, long drive. It was the hottest day of the year (over 30 Degrees). Superb, understated customer service from all the team including their friendly chocolate spaniel. They were there when we needed them but discrete when we didn’t. Spot on. Thank you for your telepathic understanding throughout our stay. Room : We stayed in a Signature Double, Popeswood which is up a short flight of stairs. This is a spacious, airy room, simply furnished with some beautifully shaped and carved pieces. Excellent double shower (rainfall and ‘ normal’ shower heads) and a huge, deep bath tub. Large, exceptionally comfortable bed. We slept so well. Wooden floor with large rugs. Tea and coffee, biscuits in the room with refills and fresh milk from the bar. Bramley toiletries, lightly but beautifully scented. Parking : Huge car park with a separate entrance and exit. The entrance has a sign saying Welcome and an arrow, the exit is unmarked. If approaching from the direction we did, you get to the unmarked turning first, keep going and the actual entrance is further along. Sunday Lunch : Delicious 3 course lunch especially the slow roasted beef which was meltingly tender and so full of flavour. All ingredients locally sourced. Goram 0% IPA on draught tastes ever bit as good as its alcoholic counter part. Breakfast : such an impressive range of choice from full English to Shakshuka, Eggs Benedict/ Florentine / Royale, avocado, pastries. In fact best just to look at their menu online . All very good and generous portions to set you up for the day. Throughout this short stay we felt like private guests of extended family in a such an historic coaching inn with so much background and its stories to tell. Cromwell stayed there before the Battle of Newbury and it is through him the Boar got its name. Thank you so much for such a relaxed and carefree stay in a beautiful room with delicious food.

This is a review of the restaurant and pub only as we didn’t stay there. The staff and the pub itself are lovely. However the food portions are small and very overpriced £7.50 inc service for bread and butter, £20 inc service for a burger. The fish and chips came with a very small portion of fish. Any good burger should just be a high quality beef patty with some cheese, and garnish served with anything the customer then requests then added as extra. The chef here clearly thinks the key is to drown the burger with so many other ingredients, relishes, pickles, onions and flavours that you wouldn’t know what you were eating. A classic case of something so simple being ruined by someone trying (and failing!) to show they should be working somewhere better than a pub! Wouldn’t put you off going here for a drink but with these portion sized and prices it was hardly surprising the restaurant was virtually empty. I hope the owners take note as this could be a lovely venue.

Beautiful location and quality and laid back. The manager and her dog were friendly and accommodating. Dave behind the bar couldn’t do enough for us and Sophie in the restaurant was charming. The food was very high quality and something different (thank you chefs!) a great place to stay just off the beaten track. Worth driving just that little further from the motorway Rooms good quality and clean

Booked C+B to host a 40th birthday lunch for my parter and the whole process did not dissapoint. Any time I called for any queries the team were more than helpful. On the day the serivce was immaculate and food was amazing. Cant thank Dave, Evie, Sophie and Rebecca enough, we all appreciate it and my Partner had a great time.

Female manager was aggressive to us, when we asked to move from Mouldy room and bathroom. Told us all the rooms need renovation. Not advertised that on website. Really disappointed. I could go on, Guinness is £7.10 a pint !! And restaurant, main meal without potatoes or vegetables:( really poor! Lovely Bulgarian bar maid and lovely chap hosting the breakfast this morning. Breakfast average, dry watery baked beans. Extremely disappointed.

The staff including the manager was fabulous couldn’t do enough for us. The room was huge as was the bathroom with a big soaker tub. Dinner and breakfast with delicious and they were flexible when we wanted additions. Views from the room were beautiful and the pub’s history was interesting too.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Crab and Boar, and I must say it was an absolutely delightful experience from start to finish. Nestled in a charming location, this pub offers a perfect blend of cosy ambiance, exceptional service, and mouth-watering cuisine. From the moment I stepped in, I was warmly greeted by the friendly and attentive staff. The manager, Rebecca, truly sets the tone for the entire establishment with her welcoming demeanour and keen attention to detail. She made sure that every guest felt right at home and went above and beyond to ensure that our visit was nothing short of perfect. A special mention must go to Dave, a standout member of the staff. His professionalism and cheerful attitude made our dining experience even more enjoyable. Dave's recommendations were spot-on, and his genuine passion for his work was evident in every interaction. The food at The Crab and Boar was also great. Each dish we tried was bursting with flavour and expertly prepared. The presentation was impeccable, and the portion sizes were satisfactory, ensuring we left feeling completely satisfied. We had the pleasure of staying in one of the best rooms at The Crab and Boar. With its wonderful view it was just as impressive as the dining experience. The room was spacious, beautifully decorated, and equipped with all the amenities one could need for a comfortable stay. It provided a perfect retreat after a day of exploring the area. In summary, The Crab and Boar exceeded all our expectations. The combination of outstanding food, exceptional service from Rebecca and Dave, and comfortable accommodations made our visit truly memorable. I highly recommend The Crab and Boar to anyone looking for a fantastic pub experience. We can't wait to return!