When I was six years old, my family and I lived in England due to my Dad being active duty in the United States Air Force. We lived in a small town call Banbury, 50 miles Northwest of London in Oxfordshire. My Father had moved there ahead of us, so he had become very familiar with the city. Trust me, I had to be dragged to get on the plane to get to my new home. Upon arriving in Banbury, I fell in love with it. It had vast green fields, clean and fun parks, friendly locals, and shopping galore. One place in Banbury will forever have my heart. It is where my Father and his friends would get together and be merry. I always looked forward to coming there because the patrons who frequented this pub made you feel like family. Welcome to YE OLDE REINDEER INN.
The Reindeer as my Dad called it is one of England's oldest pubs. For over 400 years, The Reindeer has been a meeting staple for Banbury locals and tourists alike. This legendary pub has a very welcoming aura about it, and is all about being friendly. The Hook Norton Ale Brewery calls The Reindeer its flagship pub, and their premier beers are on tap there. My Dad's favorite was the Reindeer Ale. Over two years, I went to birthday parties, pub athletic competitions, dart tournaments, and friend games of Aunt Sally. To explain, Aunt Sally is a game where you toss one pound wooden clubs at a dolly (sphere on top with tapered cylinder bottom painted all white) sitting on an iron stand. To score, you has to knock off the dolly without hitting any part of the stand. I am actually very good at it. I always had fun here, and there was never a dull moment.
I remember the food at The Reindeer. I developed a love of fish and chips. The Reindeer had some of the best around. Great beer batter with fries draped with salt and vinegar, pure bliss. Whether it was salted pork, blood pudding, Yorkshire pudding, or cornish game hen......it was all good. The Reindeer always had bottles of Sherry waiting for us. Sherry was a cherry flavored soda that was easy to make and was always served at pubs for children. And of course I can't forget my favorite chips or as they are crisps, RINGOS. Ringos were alot like the Funyun chips we have here, only Ringos had vinegar. I loved Ringos. They were my go to food at the pub. We felt loved there. We consider many of the friends we made there family. I look back at all the good times we had at The Reindeer with fondness. To experience a family like community in an old pub across the pond from my home in Texas was very meaningful. I will never forget The Reindeer. It is absolutely one of my very favorite places on this planet. I miss it and hope to return there very soon.
