Your essential guide to dining out in Banbury. We feature the top-rated restaurants, traditional pubs, and unique bars across the town centre and surrounding areas.
Also Known As is a vibrant lounge bar and live‑music venue on Parsons Street in Banbury. It has a trendy, youth‑oriented atmosphere with quirky furnishings, DJ booth, and occasional bands. The interior combines high seating, pod‑style booths, and a long bar, making it feel like a modern urban bar rather than a traditional pub.
The Banbury Cross Inn is a traditional town‑centre pub on Butchers Row with a friendly and lively atmosphere. It has a large main bar, sports screens, a pool table and darts, and a tucked‑away courtyard garden that’s a sun trap in summer. The venue also hosts live music and regular quiz nights, making it a local social hub.
J T Davies is a historic, ivy‑clad pub in Banbury housed in an 18th‑century building near the old site of Banbury Castle. It went through several incarnations over the years and now offers a relaxed, community‑friendly atmosphere. While it once operated as a tapas-style venue, it has returned to more traditional pub roots under its current format.
Tap Social Movement at Lock 29 is a craft‑beer bar and social enterprise based in Banbury’s canal‑front community hub. It combines a relaxed, modern vibe with a strong social mission – the organisation creates training and employment opportunities for people currently or formerly in prison. Alongside its ten taps of rotating craft beer, the venue hosts live events like music and comedy, making it a lively meeting place.
The Apothecary Tap is Banbury’s only specialist craft beer bar and bottle shop. Run by a husband‑and‑wife team, the venue offers a curated selection of small‑batch beers from independent brewers, plus cider, spirits and wine. It also doubles as a live music and comedy venue, making it a social hub for craft-beer lovers and creatives alike.
The Barley Mow is a welcoming family‑friendly pub on Warwick Road in Banbury. It has recently undergone a stylish refurbishment, with bright new furnishings and a comfy dining area. The pub maintains its laid‑back, community‑pub charm, making it a great venue for midweek meals, Sunday lunches, watching big sport on screen, or enjoying quiz and bingo nights.
The Bell in Banbury is a lively, modern‑pub venue combining classic pub charm with a relaxed social vibe. It offers a welcoming interior, a raised patio / rear area, and a menu that leans into burgers, pizzas and bar food — making it a great spot for food, drinks and casual get‑togethers.
The Chatsworth is a modern, community‑focused pub situated on Chatsworth Drive in the Cherwell Heights area of Banbury. After a substantial refurbishment in 2019, it relaunched with a fresh, modern interior that includes a spacious dining room, a bar lounge, a sports area with large TVs, and a garden with seating and children’s play area. It aims to be a hub for the local community, combining a pub feel with restaurant comfort.
The Church House is a beautifully restored 19th-century former church hall in Banbury town centre. It retains its architectural grandeur — including a vaulted, barrel-like ceiling and a large gallery — while functioning as a café, bar and restaurant. The venue balances its historic charm with contemporary hospitality, serving everything from coffee and light lunches to evening dinners and cocktails.
The Coach and Horses is a spacious, friendly town‑centre pub tucked away on Butchers Row. It has plenty of cosy corners and window seats, giving a warm and relaxed vibe. The venue features live music every weekend, quiz nights, karaoke, and cocktail deals, along with a lush courtyard garden that’s perfect for relaxing on warmer days.
The Easington is a welcoming and spacious Ember Inns pub located on Bloxham Road in Banbury. It recently underwent a refurbishment to give it a fresher, more modern feel while retaining a cosy, friendly atmosphere. It features a large dining area, a comfortable lounge, and a generous beer garden, making it a great place for families, friends or local meet‑ups.
The Musketeer is a warm and community‑focused pub located in the Ruscote area of Banbury. It offers a family‑friendly atmosphere, making it ideal for catching up with friends, having a casual meal, or watching a game. The interior is welcoming and relaxed, and the pub is complemented by a spacious beer garden where dogs are welcome.
The Old Auctioneer is a historic and atmospheric pub in the heart of Banbury, housed in a building dating back to 1596. It combines original timber beams and reclaimed wood with a relaxed, welcoming interior. The menu features comfort-food classics including wood-fired sourdough pizzas, dry-aged steaks, burgers, and their famous buffalo wings.
The Swan is a historic ironstone pub in Banbury, located just a short walk from Banbury Cross. Despite its old‑world exterior, the inside has a lively, modern sports‑bar feel, with large TVs for live sport and a relaxed, social atmosphere. It’s a local favourite for both watching games and having a drink in a friendly setting.
The Three Pigeons is a charming 17th‑century thatched coaching inn in Banbury, with low beams, exposed wooden beams and brickwork giving it a warm, historic feel. It blends old‑world character with a contemporary twist, hosting street food vendors, live music and events in its courtyard, and offering three en‑suite bedrooms for guests.
The Wheatsheaf is a Grade II‑listed stone pub in central Banbury, known for its strong live music heritage and local‑band nights. The venue feels authentic and classic, with a historic interior and a reputation as a go-to spot for real ale lovers and music fans alike.
The White Horse is a friendly, community‑oriented pub tucked away on North Bar Street in Banbury. It has a warm, relaxed atmosphere with a courtyard garden full of plants and candles that gives it an intimate feel. The pub is known for its live music — particularly on Friday nights — and regular quiz events, all while keeping a genuine local charm.
The Wine Vaults is a stylish and lively town‑centre pub located on Parsons Street in Banbury. It blends traditional charm with a modern, vibrant atmosphere. Inside there’s a wide selection of wines, beers, cocktails and spirits, backed up by a serious food menu. The venue also hosts live music and DJ nights and has a spacious garden.
Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn is one of Banbury’s oldest coaching inns, with roots going back to around 1570. Inside you’ll find a charming, traditional interior with exposed wooden beams, open fireplaces and historic wood‑panelled rooms – including the richly decorated “Globe Room” which dates from the 17th century. The inn serves hearty, classic British fare alongside a fine selection of real ales from Hook Norton Brewery.