Visiting The Venue

  • Yes. There's a car park behind the pub, plus an overflow car park in the field ahead of you as you come onto the track behind the pub. If you're using the overflow, please stick to the cleared area rather than the tracks either side of it.

    Where possible, please avoid parking on the main road through the village, and try to keep noise to a minimum in the evening.

  • We love dogs, and well-behaved ones are always welcome in the garden. We know it's disappointing that they can't come inside, and it's not a decision we took lightly.

    The honest reason is space. The pub is small, the tables are close together, and our team are constantly moving between them carrying hot plates, full trays and glassware. With dogs underfoot, it only takes one wagging tail or a lead stretched across a walkway for someone to trip, a plate to go flying, or a dog to get hurt.

    It's about keeping everyone safe, four legs and two. So bring them along, grab a table outside, and we'll bring the water bowl.

  • Monday & Tuesday: Closed
    Wednesday and Thursday 17:00 to 22:00.
    Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 23:00.
    Sunday 12:00 to 18:00 (Food: 12:00-15:00)

    We also close for two weeks in January, a week in April, a week in November, and on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

    Keep an eye here or on our Instagram for exact dates.

  • Absolutely, children are very welcome. The one thing we ask is that they stay at the table with you. Keeping them seated keeps everyone safe and happy.

    We only have room for one high chair, so if you need it, please add a note to your booking. If it's already been taken, we'll let you know as soon as possible and work out a solution with you.

  • Yes, we have an outdoor garden area, and it's also where the smoker lives, so you'll get a front row seat to the fire.

    At the moment the garden is uncovered. We're working on a way to give you some shelter as we head into winter, but it won't happen overnight. We've only just moved in, and as its a listed building, so bear with us and in the meantime, wrap up warm.

  • Yes. The pub is wheelchair accessible, and we have a wheelchair accessible toilet. The easiest way in is to pull up temporarily at the front of the pub and use the step-free access through the grey gate, which takes you round to the rear entrance. Once you're in, you can move your car round to the pub car park.

    If you or anyone in your party uses a wheelchair or has mobility needs, please mention it in your booking notes so we can make sure you're seated at a table that works for you. And if you've got any questions before your visit, just drop us a line at hello@embertaproom.com.

  • We're out in the countryside, so public transport is limited. The nearest train station is Banbury, and from there it's a short taxi ride. We'd recommend booking your taxi home in advance, as local cabs get snapped up quickly in the evenings. If you'd rather make a night of it, The George at Brailes is a great place to stay. Email Jess at jess@freespiritpubs.co.uk and mention Ember for a special room rate.

  • Not at the moment, sorry. As we're tucked away in the countryside, we'd recommend making sure you've got enough charge for the round trip before you set off.

  • None at all. Come as you are.

  • Yes, we have free guest Wi-Fi. Worth knowing: there's no mobile signal inside the pub. We don't have a TV either, so if you're after a match, The Bell in Shenington or The Butchers Arms in Balscote will look after you.

Bookings

  • Walk-ins are always welcome, subject to availability. If you've got your heart set on eating with us, especially on a Friday or Saturday evening or Sunday lunch, we'd recommend booking.

  • Tables for up to 8 people can be booked through our website here . For bigger groups, drop us an email: hello@embertaproom.com.

  • Please give us at least 24 hours' notice. We're a small pub and an empty table really hurts, so let us know as early as you can. No-shows are automatically recorded on our booking system, and after two no-shows online booking is blocked, so you'll need to book by phone or email and we may have to ask for a deposit.

  • Our largest table seats 8 comfortably, and groups up to 8 can book online. Bigger than that, we're happy to have you, but you'll be split across more than one table. For groups of up to 15, you can take over the whole back room, which keeps everyone together. Anything over 15 and we'd be talking about taking over the whole pub, so drop us an email: hello@embertaproom.com and we'll work it out with you.

  • We look at every group booking on a case-by-case basis, as every group and what they need is a little different. Depending on the size of your party and the date, we may ask for a deposit to secure the booking. For larger groups we may also ask you to pre-order your food, which helps us keep the kitchen and service running smoothly for you and everyone else in the pub. We'll talk you through it all when you book.

  • Tables are booked for 1 hour 45 minutes, which gives you plenty of time to eat and drink without feeling rushed. If you'd like longer, just mention it in your booking notes and we'll do our best to extend it for you.

  • Pop it in a message when you book and we'll do our best, but we can't promise.

  • Please just give us a call and let us know. We'll hold your table for 20 minutes, after which we may need to give it to someone else.

  • Drinks are walk-in only, so there's no need to book. You're always welcome to pop in for a pint, and if there's a free table, it's yours. If a table has a reservation later on, just ask and we'll let you know what time it's booked from, so you're welcome to sit there until then.

  • You can book up to three months in advance.

Food

  • We're not a barbecue joint. The fire is just how we cook. We learnt it around smokers in the Carolinas and Texas, and now we use it on food from everywhere: lesser-known Southern and American dishes, favourites from our travels, and a few classics, all built on British produce from farms up the road.

  • We always have vegetarian and gluten free choices on the menu. Beyond that, all allergens are handled regularly in our kitchen, so we can't guarantee any dish is free from them.

    Please tell us about any allergies when you book and speak to your server when you arrive.

  • There are always vegetarian dishes, including a proper vegetarian main. We're sorry to say we can't currently cater for vegans.

  • Wednesday & Thursday: 18:30-21:00
    Friday & Saturday: 12:00-15:00 & 18:30-21:00
    Sunday: 12:00-15:00

  • No, and we've actually found our customers rather like that we don't. Sunday runs our usual menu, so you can expect the same smoke, fire and slow-cooked meat as the rest of the week. Besides, let's be honest, nothing beats a home-cooked roast.

    If you're after the best Sunday roast around, head to The Bell in Shenington, where Mikey will sort you out with the best one in the area.

  • We don't. We're not really a chicken nuggies and chips kind of place, but that doesn't mean little ones miss out. We're more than happy to adapt dishes from our menu for younger guests - the burger and the mac and cheese have proved to be firm favourites. Just ask your server and we'll sort something out.

  • Dishes change or get tweaked week by week depending on what's good, so the menu on our website is an indication of what we are currently serving.

    Plus, every Wednesday is Wing It Wednesday, with a rotating wings menu from the classics to the outright stupid.

  • As close to home as we can. Our mushrooms are grown four miles away, our pork comes from outdoor-reared Hampshire sows in Oxfordshire, and the rest of our meat comes from a handful of farms doing it properly. The majority of what we cook is British grown and reared, and we only go further afield when we have to.

  • Everything is cooked over real fire. All our meat is smoked over seasoned oak on our offset smoker, some of it for eight hours or more, and everything else goes on our Santa Maria grill. No shortcuts, no fancy tricks. Just fire, smoke, good produce and knowing when to leave it alone.

  • Yes, it's on our Food page, here. Just bear in mind it changes week to week, so what's on the night may be a little different.

Drinks

  • We've got six draught lines pouring the best of British craft beer, from breweries like Glasshouse, Polly's, Sureshot, Track and DEYA, plus a cider. Then there are two cask lines pouring our own beer. The line-up rotates, so there’s always something new to try.

  • Of course. It's a pub. Come in, grab a pint, stay as long as you like.

  • Yes. We keep an alcohol-free selection in the fridge, plus a few AF spirits and soft drinks.

  • Yes, anything from our fridge can be taken away!

  • We do. Alongside the fridge and the taps, we keep a small cellar of beers that don't come round often, including bottles from some of Belgium's great lambic producers like Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen. We also have a handful of spirits in stock, where we are the only place in the UK you can find them.

    They're not always on the menu, so ask at the bar and we'll tell you what we've got in.

  • We do. Ember Pale Ale and Ember Best Bitter are brewed at our small brewery in Warwickshire, with surplus bread in the malt bill so nothing goes to waste. You'll find them on cask at the bar.

  • Yes, plenty of wines are available by the glass, giving you the chance to try some incredible wines from around the world.

  • Our cocktail menu is coming shortly. Our cocktails will be made exclusively with spirits from the Cotswolds Distillery.

  • Not formally, but ask at the bar and we'll happily give you a taste before you choose!

  • Yes. We keep a selection of special bourbons alongside our Japanese spirits, perfect for sipping by the fire after dinner. Ask at the bar and we'll talk you through what's open.

Events & Private Hire

  • Yes, and we can be booked exclusively or partly.

    Email hello@embertaproom.com to talk it through.

  • We will be running tap takeovers, supper clubs and tasting menus through the year, including a seven-course festive tasting menu in December. Follow us on Instagram to hear about them first.

  • Yes. We love hosting celebrations, from milestone birthdays and anniversaries to engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and weddings. Get in touch and we'll work out what suits you best.

  • Follow us on Instagram at @emberatthechandlers or sign up to our newsletter.

  • Yes, for large group bookings we can offer set menus or sharing feasts. Get in touch and we'll send over the options.

  • Yes, with no charge or we also work with an incredible cake maker who will be able to make you an incredible bespoke cake with a little notice.

    Just let us know when you book.

  • It depends on the day, the time of year and the space. Drop us an email and we'll give you a steer.

  • Yes, from team dinners to client lunches to full takeovers. Email hello@embertaproom.com.

  • Potentially. Drop us a message with your idea, date and location, and we will see what we can do!

  • Again, this is something to discuss as we go through ideas as every event is different.