The John Barleycorn (the Jb Pub & Rooms)

A traditional pub in a picturesque English village. Lots of interesting architecture but tall people may have a problem! It has a small beer garden with a layout that is somewhat...random! Has a food menu. Sandwiches were fine but nothing special. Other dishes feel a little pricey for what is proposed. Parking might be a problem.

My boy, 16, and I were pedaling King Alfred's Way and our day three lodging was the JB. Of our four accommodations on the trip, our room above the pub in Goring was the most comfy, well-appointed and just plain pleasant. Richard could not have been more gracious, chatting us up in the early evening, patiently showing us how to play bar billiards after supper then sending us off with good cheer the following morning. The rustic pub has charm to spare and the beer garden is a winner as well. (Do beware the black skittle on the billiards table as my son found out to his chagrin. Twice.)

Really great pub! I'd visited once before but failed to realise there is a bar billiards table and a pub garden (tbf it was middle of winter and pitch black when I arrived and we sat in the little room on the left which I had no reason to leave all evening). It's a really quirky building with little seating nooks as well as some larger spaces, but all divided into separate rooms so it is cosy rather than open and noisy. There was a good choice of beer and cider and all were well kept. We're excited to come back for a visit when the kitchen reopens!