Frog

Pub Details

Address
Skirmett
Buckinghamshire
RG9 6TG
Telephone
(01491) 638996
Opening Times
Weekdays
11.30 - 3, 6 - 11
Sundays
12 - 4, 6 - 10.30
Closed
Sun evening Oct - May

Location

Good Pub Guide Recommended

Bustling pub with modern cooking in a traditional atmosphere, fine choice of drinks, lovely garden, and nearby walks; bedrooms The long-serving licensees and their friendly staff are sure to make you welcome in this 18th-c coaching inn and although much emphasis is placed on the good, interesting food, the public bar is still very much the heart of the place. There's a winter log fire in the brick fireplace with lots of little framed prints above it, a cushioned sofa and leather-seated bar stools around a low circular table on the wooden floor, and high bar chairs by the counter; piped music. Rebellion IPA and guests like Gales Seafarer and Sharps Atlantic IPA on handpump, a dozen wines by the glass (including champagne) and around two dozen carefully sourced malt whiskies. The two dining rooms are quite different in style – one is light and airy with country kitchen tables and chairs and the other is more formal with dark red walls, smarter dining chairs and tables and candlelight. Outside, a side gate leads to a lovely garden with a large tree in the middle and the unusual five-sided tables are well placed for attractive valley views. Plenty of nearby hikes (Henley is close by) and just down the road is the delightful Ibstone windmill. There's a purpose-built outdoor heated area for smokers. The breakfasts are good (though it might be worth having a room not right above the bar).

Licensee information

Licensee name
Jim Crowe
What they say
Including the food, our fabulous dining rooms are one of the main reasons our customers visit over and over. The Frog is very spacious and has different areas for dining and as such, the two main rooms have different appeals although the atmosphere created in both is lively and enjoyable. Housed in a period building dating back in parts some 300 years, the interior design cleverly highlights the building’s history and yet remains quite contemporary at the same time. There’s a well-stocked bar, friendly bar staff and importantly, because the Frog is a Free house, varying specials of beer, wine and spirits are also on offer. Atmosphere is what creates a special public bar, and rest assured, the Frog has this in abundance. We have three overnight rooms available at the Frog, all of which have en-suite facilities. Each room has a television and window views
Free house

What have they got?

Good Pub Guide Food

Imaginative and extremely good, the food might include grilled mackerel with marinated cucumber and mustard crème fraîche, ham hock terrine with pickled vegetables, a trio of sausages with chive mash and onion gravy, gnocchi with asparagus, sunblush tomatoes and chargrilled peppers in tomato sauce, plaice with brown shrimps and lemon butter sauce, and pork wellington with fruit stuffing wrapped in parma ham and filo pastry.

Bar food times: 12 - 2.30, 6.30 - 9.30; not winter Sun evenings

Good Pub Information

Dogs allowed in: Dogs Bar

Rating

  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Rating: 3/5 (313 votes cast)

Reader Comments

paulhu

Saturday 31 December 2011 9:04:01 am

We popped in for lunch a week ago while doing the three pub walk in this area, The Frog, Chequers at Fingest and the Bull and Butcher Turville. We had an excellent baguette with small sausages and onions. We had a side dish of chips which were also excellent. My wife's coffee came with small mince pies instead of the usual home shortbread - but an excellent alternative. My wife had a 'free' coffee refill which is also appreciated. Lovely pub great fire to warm us up as well.

ianburne

Saturday 05 November 2011 1:51:39 pm

went for lunch yesterday. were greeted with hello from owner/manager but then waited a short while for him to finish writing something.

Found our own table. Restaurant was very quiet. Our table had some spilt drink on it which I put my sleeve in!

Shared a starter of Carpaccio of beef which was very good. My main was the pheasent breasts which were very tough. Wasn't helped by the very cheap cutlery they provided. Can't understand why they would do this, anyway, the potato rosti was overcooked and greasy and the sauce overpowering and I couldn't eat half of it. Wife's battered haddock and hips were ok but she thought the fish was strong in flavour. The opyion for mushy peas meant an extra £1 on top of the £12.95.

Got the bill and never saw a waitress or owner/manager again so left payment with tip on the bar!

paulhu

Sunday 30 January 2011 2:49:14 pm


We had a night there last night. If you want a fantastic meal do go and try
them. If you want a bed for the night as well take a taxi or stay nearby at a B+B. more on that later.

We had a couple of pre dinner drinks by the lovely fire in the bar. Staff are as helpful and friendly as they have ever been. I had a couple of pints of Doom Bar Sharpes beer which was very good. My wife had a couple of glasses of Rose and we noticed wine here is not cheap. We had a bottle of a Chilean Merlot at twenty pounds more than we would normally expect to pay but in its defence it was better than the usual fifteen-eighteen pounds a bottle we usually quaff.

I had a good ham hock terrine with picalilli and toasted granary bread 5.75. My wife's starter of watercress pancake filled with smoked haddockand saffron white sauce was fantastic. Loads of fish - with a few vegetables it could have been a main. 7.25

I then had the Roast fillet of cod with anchovy crust and daphinoise potatoes 13.95. Potatoes were fantastic. The fish was also very good. My wife had the poached fillet of haddock and poached egg mashed potatoes and mustard sauce 14.50. Also very good.

You also get some nice granary bread on the table pity it does not appear for breakfast where you get tasteless white sliced bread! Having said that the breakfast is good good bacon.

The room has recently been refurbished so it is nice with tea+coffee making facilities and the landladies awsome shortbread biscuits. The loo seat was a bit wonky but this is a Irish run pub! The bed was very comfortable.

We went to bed in room four and both woke up midnight to a lot of noise form the bar. I waited until 12.30am and went down and asked if the noise could be turned down a bit. We had this problem last time we stayed except on that occasion it was much later we went down to the bar. The noise was reduced.

In the morning I hoped the landlord would apologise when he served breakfast. We paid up and mentioned this to the bar maid. She explained the pub has a license until 2am.
We just about got an apology for this noise and I think they should warn people but I guess that would put most people off unless they know they are heavy sleepers.

So wonderful food, great pub spoilt by noise in the bar. suggest you take my advice as above!

paulhu

Wednesday 08 December 2010 5:52:51 pm


Went there for lunch today. My wife had a coffee that came with the landlady's shortbread biscuits - wonderful. She also got a 'free' refill. Nice touch.

We ordered the sausage and onion baguette with small sausages and well cooked onions. We ordered a side dish of chips - a bit larger than last time - very good baguette , lovely chips. I rate this second only to the Bell at Waltham St Lawrence in the sausage sandwich stakes! THe rooms are reasonable and recently redecorated eighty pounds for a double.

rossbalaam

Tuesday 20 April 2010 1:18:40 pm

Last Thursday two friends and I visited the Frog. Although the food and beer was very good we all felt it was rather expensive. We had Sharps Doom Bar to drink and had the fish & chips to eat. The staff were very friendly and the pub was very busy - a good sign in these times.

Regards, Ross Balaam.

BrianG

Friday 09 April 2010 9:48:45 am

Visted on a glorious Spring day in 2010. Enjoyed excellent Rebellion IPA and some good freshly cooked food - duck (nice meat in an excellent sauce) and haddock and chips. Friendly, busy and efficient bar manager and one waiter handled Thursday lunch time trade very well. The food is well worth waiting for - it gives you time to enjoy another pint of Rebellion IPA !

Show all comments