Deciding that a sunny Good Friday was the perfect day for a pub lunch, my partner and I headed to The Old Auctioneer for a bite to eat. The pub is a fixture on
We were shown to a table by the friendly staff, and browsed through the extensive menu. While I was very tempted by the pub's signature chicken wings, I knew it would be a case of my eyes being bigger than my stomach, and passed on a starter. I opted for the chicken schnitzel Caesar salad as my main course, while my partner chose the halloumi burrito. Both of these choices were from The Old Auctioneer's lunch menu, and our waiter hurried back to assure us that he'd made sure that my glass of wine had been included in the lunch deal. This attentiveness was apparent in all the staff throughout our meal - while they were never overbearing, the pub's employees made sure that they took care of their customers.
My Caesar salad was a generous size, and I was glad that I hadn't gone for a starter, as I don't think that I could have done the meal justice on anything other than an empty stomach. The chicken schnitzel, sliced into ribbons and mixed with the salad, was crisp and garlicky, adding an interesting twist to this traditional favourite. My partner's halloumi burrito was cooked to perfection, served with a large portion of chips that he couldn't finish by himself.
Despite the bank holiday, the pub was peaceful inside (I got the impression that the majority of the clientele had taken advantage of the lovely weather and the beer garden). The Old Auctioneer clearly takes its family-friendly promise seriously - the pub has a nook under the stairs full of toys and games where several young children were playing while their parents enjoyed their meals. With its central location, great food and drink, and friendliness to all groups of diners, it's easy to see why The Old Auctioneer is such a popular venue with Banbury locals.