The rugby had long finished when we arrived for dinner at The Plough in West Hanney, but the marquee, connecting the garden with the pub, was still packed. As was the dining room and bar, diners spread out as far as the eye could see.
In short, business is booming in this thatched historic pub, thanks to charismatic duo Owain Llwyd-Jones and Luke Mayor, and their passion to bring this village hostelry back to life.
One look around confirms they’ve achieved this, one diner who I chatted to on our way out, said he visited once a month from Abingdon because “we’ve never had a bad meal here and it’s always this much fun.” Praise indeed.
We were a huge party though, on one of The Plough’s business nights of the year, a big ask, but they made sure we had a mighty fine time.
Owain is a host incarnate, jollying us along, cracking jokes and serving some mighty fine wine as we perused the menus.
The Plough doesn’t have any airs and graces thankfully, the menu following suit, packed with fun and interesting dishes, pub classics (steak, burgers, fish and chips, risotto, sausage and mash or pan fried chicken breast) and even a pizza offering, Luke concentrating instead on elevating the food.
Just want you want from a village pub – comfort food and a few surprises.
Such as the bread bhaji with mango chutney, coriander yoghurt and chilli sauce (£8) which arrived as tiny fried sandwiches, more like a samosa, the spicy potato and pea filling squeezed within.
Or the crisp pork belly bites with a Coca Cola BBQ glaze and sesame (£8.50) from the small plates menu, the spiced carrot soup with carrot bhaji, or the roasted nut squash with pickled walnut jam (£8), which some of the vegetarians also had as a main.
More traditional dishes such as the pork and duck liver pate came with the delicious accruements of pickled onions, burnt orange and toast (£10).
The moules mariniere with sourdough, (main or starter, £9.50 or £6.50) was another favourite, as was the grilled onglet steak with a duck fat hash brown, celeriac puree, pickled mushrooms and a red wine jus (£32).
Filled to the brim with fine food and wine, and a few shots administered by Owain, we managed few puddings, but succumbed to the Creme Catalan with an orange and pistachio salad (£8.50).
And then sadly our taxi arrived and as we wound our way back home, reluctantly leaving the bonhomie and revelry behind, we knew the fun would continue until closing time, and the next day and the next…….
So no wonder The Plough in West Hanney is heaving. And if it’s a guaranteed good night and some great fun you’re after, then I’d head down to The Plough where the fun times reign. Everything a village pub should be!
The Plough, West Hanney is at https://theploughathanney.co.uk
