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ONE PUB ONLY?
Three Horseshoes
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Its as long walk so its better to do the Bird in Hand, the Bell and then the Belle View (or in reverse order) Buses go from the station to the ground.
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Three Horseshoes
|  |  Bell
5 Frogmoor HP13 5DQ Telephone 01844 452733
G John Tierney
F Traditional Thai cuisine plus English menu with tak away option 12 to 2.30, 5 to 10 Sun 12 to 2.30
CP BM
O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun.
Wooden ceilings, walls and floors, along with comfortable seating are found in this refurbished town centre pub. It is a haven of spotless tranquillity among the nearby chain pubs. Expect the chat to be of Wasps as well as Chairboys. “A great place to go for a beer - easily my favourite pub in Wycombe.” This town centre is probably the biggest disappointment in this guide. The Bell is, however, a pub that would be of merit in any town and should not be compared with its near neighbours. I spent a very pleasant hour or so chatting with the manager and locals about the demise of what once was a great town for local ales. They reassured me that all is not lost and on matchdays you will be made welcome as you make the journey from station to the taxi ranks needed to get to the ground. If coming by car use the nearby Sainsbury's car park rather than squeeze into the few pub spaces. It does of course have wonderful Fuller’s ales, consistently well served.
UPDATE: Gale’s ales will be added to the list. John has continued the traditions of this, the best town centre option. Accommodation is available from £55, give John a call.
BWV 2.11.04: Fuller’s London Pride
BWV. 30.3.06: Fuller’s Discovery, ESB, London Porter, London Pride | |  Bird In Hand
81 West Wycombe Rd HP11 2LR Telephone 01494 523502
G Graham and Debbie Curson - Tomson
F Simply great food 12 to 2, 6.30 to 8.30 Mon - Thu, 12 to 2.30 Fri - Sat No food Sun
CP SK BM P D
O 12 to 11, 12 to 10 Sun
The Bird in Hand is a family - run pub that is totally sports mad and really great for the pre - match pint. It has space for groups to meet, locals who are really friendly and a landlord who is both a Chelsea fan himself, and has his own local sporting reputation. It offers accommodation from £50 and good food in an excellent garden conservatory and also in the bar.
During the week the locals are complemented by “out of townies” that stay at the pub. At lunchtimes the office workers and local factory managers find their way here for business lunches and a pint of the usual. My visit was both interesting and enlightening because I ran into Gordon Richards and his son Ian, Gordon is a life member at Wycombe and an ex board member so we were able to chat for ages it seemed, over football issues and good pubs. The love of good pubs was mutual, so too the opinion that good fun can be had finding those great pubs. The pub is wood panelled throughout split into three distinct areas, all similarly comfortable for both individual and group drinking. The Bird is also perfect for those meetings of like minds, committees and private parties. Pictures of Osgood and other Chelsea favourites led me to conclude that after dinner speeches by football greats are a feature of the activities held here. The long drag out to the Causeway take you past several pubs, one of dubious notoriety, to the Bird, which in total contrast to its neighbour, has no novelty factor, thank goodness.
BWV 30.3.06: Courage Best, Fuller’s London Pride
UPDATE 4.10.09
All will change after the 15th October as the pub changes to Enterprise stewardship. | |  Bird In Hand
47 Station Rd Princes Risborough HP27 9DE Telephone 01494 345602
G Maggs Kennedy
F Good value traditional pub meals 12 - 3, 6 - 9 Tue - Sat 12 - 11 Sun
SP TV BM P
O 11 - 11 Mon - Thu and 11 -12 Fri and Sat, 12 to 11 Sun
The Bird is at last back to its friendly local best having been given a lease of new life by Maggs, the new landlady. This is a small one bar pub with a really special garden to the rear. The chat here is never ending with a strong leaning, towards sports, rugby leading the way on Saturdays. The quality of the beer sets it apart from the rest in this friendly town. In mid winter watch the locals playing darts, cribbage or just giving the bar staff a hard time. One such regular was the author of this guide, often relaxing after a day of real ale hunting. Weekend evenings can get very busy; a pre match visit will find a welcome and no doubt the company of my old friends and the occasional walker of the Ridgeway long distance path.
The location makes it easy to get to the ground, a ten minute drive away. It has good friends, plenty of things going on, bar staff who know the regulars and also how to make new visitors welcome. The rejuvenation includes the qiurky quizzes on a Sunday night that can only really be won by true genius. (Yesss!) and the pub having an aunt sally team and now a pub football team. More importantly the pub has regained its reputation for good quality honestly priced food. My most recent visit coincided with an excellent beer festival in August, another welcome new feature.
BWV August 2009 Greene King Abbot, IPA, Hardy and Hansons guest
BWV 30.3.06: Greene King Abbott, IPA, Ridley’s Prospect
BWV 2.11.04: Greene King 1799, Abbot, IPA | |  Belle Vue
45 Gordon Rd HP13 6EQ Telephone 01494 524728
G Alan Hedgecock
SP TV JB P D
O 12 to 2.30, 5 to 11, 12 to 12 Fri 11 - 1am Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The Belle Vue is highly recommended by local football fans that recognize it as a genuine real ale alternative in close proximity to the town centre. It is perfect for the Station; one might argue the odd layout of platforms is just to get easier access for those heading back to London. Go out of the back entrance, turn right and the pub is just along the road. The sign is curiously around the corner.
The shell of an early Victorian terrace has been modified inside to create a single room bar with real street boozer appeal. The pub has three separate areas, all cosy plus a small courtyard area for the occasional barbeque. One room tells the sports heritage i.e. set up for serious locals darts, the others are better for the meeting of mates for a good session. The beer list is ever changing and in total contrast to that on offer in the town centre. Chas has been here for six years and has built up a clientele of local professionals and CAMRA members, some of whom support both the Wanderers and Wasps. One such local joined in our conversation. Mark, the season ticket holder, gave me the typically instant friendly welcome the pub has for new friends. Live music and jam sessions vary the activities in the pub. The pub is best in the evening when it is truly a regular’s local. The residents have returned from London and Wycombe life has to be mulled over in the company of really good ale.
BWV 30.3.06: Hop Back Crop Circle, St. Peter’s Golden Ale, Titanic Lifeboat
Ronnie, John and the chaps visited on 29.9.09 They report that is is a really good pub, no food but very friendly locals and a good juke box. Sad!
BWV 29.9.09
Adnams Bitter, Hook Wychwood Hobgoblin, Morrisey Fox Aussie IPA, Maxim Sampson
UPDATE 4.10.09
The pub is in the process of changing landlord. Alan Hedgecock will be taking over.
He reports that "he has been managing the cellar there since 2003 alongside Chas.Also we will offer food soon as well as tea/coffee and free WiFi internet (all without damaging the traditional feel of the pub). We will also have handpulled cider/scrumpy/perry soon as well as a 5th Ale pump (if all goes well)." | |  Three Horseshoes
Burroughs Grove Marlow Bottom SL7 3RA Telephone 01628 483109 W www.rebellionbeer.co.uk
G Nigel Douglas
F Very popular world wide menu available at all times, booking is recommended 12 to 2.30, 5.45 to 9 Mon - Thu,12 to 4, 5.45 to 9.30 Fri - Sat, 12 to 4 Sun
CP BM D
O 11.30 to 2.45, 5 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11.30 to 11 Fri - Sat, 12 to 5, 7 to 10.30 Sun
The Three Horseshoes is a great pub which is quickly building a reputation for top quality food and ale (both locally produced). It has a brick and beam theme to complement a flag - stone floor and fire, making this large pub even more welcoming. It is what many imagine a Wycombe pub should be like, if only! Denise of Marlow says it’s great “because the Rebellion brewery is only 500 yards down the hill” and the choice is fantastic, “real ale for every occasion” (MRJ of High Wycombe)) Six of their beers are always available. “If playing in Wycombe and the weather is warm then I would live in this pub garden.” In winter this is the place to graze and chill out before negotiating the Causeway traffic. This pub has recently won the local CAMRA award for best pub and this is quite an achievement given the quality of rural competition in the surrounding Chiltern villages. Get there early!
UPDATE: As last year the all Rebellion choice has four regulars plus a seasonal and a monthly special. Food is very popular, so much so, that it is wise to book ahead. It is, however, still a proper pub and at its best when the locals are chatting in the small spaces near the front door.
BWV 16.5.06: Rebellion Blitzed, IPA, Mild, Mutiny, Smuggler, Zebedee
BWV 2.11.04: Rebellion IPA, Mild Mutiny, Storm, SmugglerUPDATE 4.10.09 Rebellion Blitzed, IPA, Mild, Mutiny, Smuggler, Zebedee | | | AYLESBURY AND HIGH WYCOMBE CAMRA | | 
ADAMS PARK | | 
LOCAL BREWERY
Rebellion Brewery
Bencombe Farm
Marlow Bottom
Marlow
Bucks
SL7 3LT
Tel: 01628 476594
www.rebellionbeer.co.uk | | WETHERSPOONS
The Falcon 9 Cornmarket High Wycombe HP11 2AX Opening Times: Mon-Sun 9am-midnight
The William Robert Loosley 120-123 Oxford Road High Wycombe HP11 2DN Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-2am
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