This is a proper rural pub. It is run by a really good landlady and has a considerable and friendly…read moreclientele. The local shoot meets here as does the local farming community from estate managers to labourers. The local horse racing and cross country community is well represented too.

A proper pub in Swindon. On my second visit, Dave the landlord, shouted my name and welcomed me…read moreback. With a nod towards the real ales, he poured a proper pint and served it with an "Y'alright?". The Donkey is a perfect pub to meet your mates, make some new ones, or have a quite time next to the working fireplaces. There's dart and poker nights for those that play, and live music one night a week. Located just off of Wood St, the Donkey makes a brilliant stop before or after dining at Swindon's best. Can't recommend the Roaring Donkey enough for those who like pubs, proper ales, and great company.

I know why it is called the "roaring donkey" if anybody is interested. At least according to one of…read morethe elderly locals called Robin when I used to drink there in 1996. He said a donkey was tethered outside the pub always in the same place and when it was time for it to go home and be fed it would roar to make sure its owner knew. And when donkeys want to make a lot of noise they can and it is a bit like a roar. I have heard this. He said the pub is haunted as well and he has seen an old lady sat at the table by the window.

What a lovely little pub. Had a meal there & it was so nice. Great value for money. Food came out…read morewithin a reasonable time. The staff are very nice and welcoming. I will definitely be going back.

This is an amazing place. Old school pub but with lots of tv's to watch your favorite team. The…read morefood is outstanding and the owners were awesome. Definitely worth your time to visit.

For the beauty and the original features of the building, it's getting 3 stars because it really is…read morea cosy, quintessentially English pub with its log fire and oldy worldy feel. If I were rating this place purely on food and service it would be getting a 2.5 - 3. A few of us had starters, I went for the baked Camembert to share, that was nice but you can't really go wrong with it can you? They didn't bring out any plates for us until it was too late and we we're all pretty messy! My bf had the homemade scotch egg which he was really looking forward to but alas! It was dry and the piccalilli was also disappointing. For the mains everyone went for a roast except from one fish and chips. The fish and chips was described as a fillet of reasonably sourced cod weighing between eight to ten ounces, but I'd say it was the tail end of it, the fish being very thin and dry. You also don't expect to find a LOT bones in your fish and chips so that wasn't very pleasant for him either. It had a nice golden batter though, but I suppose that's irrelevant when the contents are disagreeable. The mushy peas were watery and vile tasting, everyone agreed. The Veggie's were pleased with their nut roasts and the rest of us had beef. I specifically asked for mine to be rare and was pretty pleased with it but the rest of the beefs were a bit tough and gristly. The vegetables came on a plate to share between three which I always hate because as some of you may have already established - I'm a pig! They were nothing to write home about, my pet hate is diced carrots and they were unseasoned, cold and shrivelled :( It would have been nice if they'd have cleaned the tables up after each course as it started to look a bit grubby and cluttered. The puds weren't fab either. The waitress's were very sweet with my little boy though and allowed him to take some orders and even see the kitchen and chef so that was a nice touch. The staff are very accommodating. There's a good amount of parking space at the back. All in all, I wouldn't make a big fuss of the food but it is such a lovely pub to come and have a drink in if you're ever in the picturesque little village of Wanborough. It's a nice place to take a stroll and give your legs a stretch.

A glorious country pub that is nicely decorated, warm and cosy situated in the beautiful…read morecountryside of Ewen. Stuffed animals line the walls and hops hang from the beams. The bar staff are friendly with regulars chatting to the staff. The pub was packed on a Saturday afternoon, but we managed to find a nice spot reading the weekend papers. There is a courtyard here - perfect for the warmer weather and a restaurant towards the back of the pub. This pub has a very relaxed feel about, and as a result is homely. Added bonus is they have a open log fire too - a real winner in my book!

Fantastic ambience, warm and welcoming. Fireplace roaring,dried hops hanging over the old beams…read more Perfect English pub with good food and great service. Lovely.

The Royal Oak was a friendly and accommodating place, ready to serve us, as we arrived at the tail…read moreend of lunch. The grilled mackerel was beautifully done and tasty. Fresh farm salad of chard and company added complexity to the dish. The burger bun was exceptionally fresh and grilled with the burger, which was ordered rare but arrived on the medium edge, without any flavor lost. The warm farmhouse hippy vibe was playful. Staff were helpful to these confused travelers. Easy, breezy and relaxed.

I find myself out in the middle of nowhere sometimes. Thank goodness for Royal Oak. Hidden among…read moreresidential area, through winding country roads. It would be near impossible to end up here without planning to be. The restaurant is homely and rustic with it's decor and chalk board - it's like a pub. But you don't read my reviews for my architectural appreciation. The food. The food here is pretty great. No difficulties recommending everything at all. I've had my fair share of bresola, crayfish, gravadlax, steak, pork belly and everything I've sampled punches well above its weight. My last meal was the gravadlax starter and the pork belly mains. The gravadlax is well complimented with a mustard dressing and a fresh side salad, being a seafood monster, I was pleased with this starter. It's accompanied by rustic bread and some wonderful butter. The pork belly, however, was a bit of a show-stopper. The pork had clearly been roasted for a very long time, the fat between the skin and meat was already oozing out. It tasted delightful too. My only minor minor qualm, was that i would've personally preferred the skin harder, it was a tad chewier than I would've liked. But the meat and the fat was on point. Coming from London, I've gotten used to small portions and extortionate prices. Royal Oak flips this concept on its head, why can't you have large portions of delicious food at reasonable prices. The Royal Oak ticks all my boxes for a high end pub with great food. But it lacks any wow factor, the food is rustic and well executed, but their's no visual or sensational awe about eating here. It's never a let down though.

This is my favourite pub to eat in and around Swindon. They serve traditional and modern gastro pub…read morefood. Our party had scallop and mushroom pie, cheesy cottage pie, thai spiced pangasius (fish) and polenta and red onion tartin. Desserts include jam roly poly, hot fudge chocolate cake, bread and butter pudding and chocolate & hazlenut roulade. Prices are very reasonable- we paid £15 for 1 drink, main meal and dessert and portion size is good. I must mention that one of our party is gluten free. We mentioned this to our serve who then informed the chef. The chef came out and discussed my friends needs and altered the dishes she choose. We were very impressed that they could be so accomodating. I would definetly recommend the True Heart.

The True Heart Inn is a lovely country pub. The staff in here are always really friendly and…read morewelcoming. They do really good sunday lunches with a deal where you can get a main and a pudding or a main and starter for £8.95 which is really good value as the food is such a high standard. They change there menu quite often and always have something different from other pubs on their menu. The service is always really quick and your never left waiting for your food, even when there are a table of 10+ of us. A brilliant pub all round!

My team and I were in Swindon on business from the US last October. My boss said we should go the…read moreThree Crowns for dinner one night, because she was there on a previous visit. I'm a vegan, so my expectations for finding something tasty at a UK Pub didn't seem very high. Even in the US, I find pub menus about the most vegan-unfriendly. I didn't see anything on the menu to eat, so I e-mailed them in advance to see if there were some options available. Not only did they get back to me right away, but they offered me several off-menu options for starters, dinner, and even dessert: Starters: Soup of the day (we can do a veg soup if you book) Orange & Walnut Salad with Watercress & Balsamic Dressing Sun-Blushed Tomato, Olive & Artichoke Salad Dinner: Mushroom Stuffed Vine Tomatoes with Tempura Veg & Salsa Verde Dressing Cous Cous Stuffed Peppers with Mixed Salad & New Potatoes Marinated Tofu & Noodle Stir fry with Bean Sprouts Dessert: Red Wine Poached Pear With Sorbet Fruit Salad with Fruit Coulis Glazed Pineapple with Mango & Chlli Are you kidding me? I don't get great options like this even when eating at restaurants with vegan options. I got the orange/walnut salad, cous cous stuffed peppers and glazed pineapple and everything was fantastic! Some of the best food I've ever eaten. This place can really cook. (By the way, my non-vegan colleagues loved their food as well) If you are vegan and want to go here, please e-mail them in advance, so they can provide some options and plan for your visit. Not only was the food great, but the place has a nice cozy atmosphere and the owner and staff are great. Not only was the service great, but the owner actually drove us all back to our hotel in Swindon, which isn't that close. I can't say enough about this place, because it was such a surprise. I wish they would come to Minneapolis and set up a restaurant here, because it would beat every pub in town. The next time I go to Swindon, I will be back.

Oh Three Crowns! I've waited eight years to write this review! So glad Yelp has finally crossed the…read moresea to reach you! I discovered Three Crowns while working as a consultant in nearby Swindon one summer. This cozy pub was the "go-to" spot whenever the team needed a break from our normal routine (hotel food or late night kebab trucks). Particularly memorable was the "Taste of the Wild"-- kangaroo, ostrich, and venison. The meat wasn't too gamy, and cream sauce was amazing! The homemade desserts are also fantastic. They even have a proper English cheese tray that they roll right up to your table. The Stilton I tried was far and away the best I've ever eaten. And cheese for dessert! Boy, the British sure know how to live! It's a lovely drive into the countryside (including some sketchy single-lane roads!) and well worth it once in a while to splurge on a great meal!

Excellent food in a charming English pub - delicious food, friendly staff & terrific ambiance. Be…read moresure & try their roasted sea trout - absolutely delicious!

I'm not sure I can say enough good things about this place. A 17th century pub and restaurant with…read moremore modern sleeping quarters. The patriarch was running the bar when I was about, and the conversation was pleasant and warm and the beer was cold. The multiple fireplaces, exposed beams and leather couches gave me a sense that besides eating, it would be a great place to pass some time with a friend or in thought. The food: simple yet amazing, the rooms: clean and good enough, the bar and restaurant: a winner.