Xander and the Peace Pirates
Friday 8 November
Welcome to The Flowing Spring, an independent, family-run, multi-award winning country pub. It's unique, quirky, full of character and extremely sociable. It's a place to properly wind down, take a deep breath and enjoy the unique surroundings in great company.
We're known for our top quality live music, our wonderful home-made food to suit people with dietary requirements, and, of course, our well-kept real ales.
We specialise in catering for those with dietary needs, with all allergens clearly displayed on our menu. These include gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan. We hold events throughout the year, both indoors and in our large garden, including our Gigs in the Garden season of outdoor concerts and entertainment in The Acoustic Lounge from October to April and, being former CAMRA Pub Of The Year and Pub Of The Seasons, we serve a wonderful range of well-kept real ales from selected independent breweries.
Find out What's On at The Flowing Spring by clicking here.
See our Opening Hours by clicking here.
Find out the Latest News by clicking here.
CIDER-BATTERED COD AND CHIPS TO TAKE AWAY - GLUTEN-FREE - JUST £10.95! OR HADDOCK - JUST £11.95!
Call us on 0118 9699878 to order our super-tasty, award-winning gluten-free fish and chips, available to collect during our kitchen opening hours. You have a choice of cod and chips for £10.95 or haddock and chips for £11.95, both gluten-free.
We've been making our own gluten-free battered fish and chips for 14 years.
Call us to pre-order or pop in.
The Flowing Spring in Playhatch, Oxfordshire, nestles on the edge of the Chilterns on the Henley Road just minutes from Reading, Caversham, Sonning, Shiplake and Henley-on-Thames. It is a friendly, cosy, traditional country free house. It serves fresh, home-made food, including a wide range of meals suitable for vegetarians, vegans and those with intolerances to gluten, dairy and various allergens. It's also well known for its high standards of live music that takes place all year round.
MULTI-AWARD WINNERS
We're so proud to have been awarded gold in the Creme de la Creme category (the top award) at the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2018 at the ExCel in London. This is a massive achievement for our little pub. In 2017 we were awarded gold in the pub restaurant category and in 2016 we were awarded silver place. Read more
here.
In November 2015 we were presented with an award by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for being in the top ten vegan-friendly pubs in the UK - further recognition of our continuing efforts to cater for people with
dietary needs.
We were absolutely flattered to have been voted South Oxfordshire CAMRA's Pub Of The Year 2018. This follows awards for South Oxfordshire CAMRA Summer Pub of the Season 2017 and Winter Pub of the Season 2018. We are proud to be listed in the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 CAMRA Good Beer Guides: that's 13 years running!
ABOUT THE PUB
The 18th century pub, owned by Nick and Hazel who have run it for 13 years, is on a slant with almost a foot difference from one end of the bar to the other! At the rear is a huge garden with the ancient Berry Brook running around two sides. As it passes under the Spring Lane bridge, water from the spring joins it, wending its way to the Thames at Shiplake. Find out more about the pub and its history
here. There is an abundance of
wildlife and great
walks.
Unusually, the pub itself is on the first floor with an excellent covered balcony overlooking the garden. It is important to note that access to the pub itself is via an outside staircase.
There is plenty of car parking space, a toilet on car park level for disabled customers (with baby changing facilities) and Wi-Fi. It is popular with walkers and was featured in the Christmas 2015 edition of the Sunday Times for one of our magnificent
circular
walks. Please ring us in advance if you plan to park here to go for a walk.
Runners, cyclists, bikers and dogs are very welcome, as are children but they must be supervised at all times.
We allow campervans and motorhomes to stop over for the night when booked in advance, but not on a Sunday or Monday evening. Please call us to check availability on 0118 9699878.
EVENTS
Exciting and original events happen throughout the year, both inside and out, from our
Gigs in the Garden series of top quality concerts throughout the summer, supporting professional musicians, to our
monthly classic car and bike meets in the garden (April to October),
singalong nights, monthly unplugged nights, slightly plugged nights, murder mysteries, games nights, magic circle nights and charity fundraisers. All events are announced in the
What's On page.
REGULAR DATES
Quirky Corner Unplugged Nights: first Tuesday of the month
Classic Cars and Bikes Meet: second Sunday of the month, 9:30am to 11:30am, April to October.
Slightly Plugged Nights: Last Friday of the month, 7:30pm. Up to 8 acts performing mic'd up in the bar (not June, July, August or December)
Sing-along-a-Nick Trio Singalong nights: 3/4 times a year.
Outdoor Gigs: from May to September in the garden. See our What's On page
Acoustic Lounge Events: from October to April. See our What's On page
LATEST NEWS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
NOVEMBER
Fri 8: Live in the Acoustic Lounge: Xander and the Peace Pirates
Tues 12 to Sun 17: Chilli Week
Fri 29: Slightly Plugged Night in the bar
Sat 30: Live in the Acoustic Lounge: Jewels and the Jacuzzis
DECEMBER
Tues 3:Music in the bar: Unplugged Night
Sat 7: Hazel's Birthday Bash: Kings & Bears in the Acoustic Lounge, 8:30pm
Sat 14: Rocket Kings Christmas Party in the Acoustic Lounge
Fri 20: The Sing-along-a-Nicktivity Show in the Acoustic Lounge
Sat 21:
The Sing-along-a-Nicktivity Show in the Acoustic Lounge
2025
Sun 13 April: Classic Cars & Bikes Meet resumes, 9:30am
Sat 21 June: The Trembling Wilburys in concert
Sat 28 June: Fleetwood Mad in concert
Sat 5 July: Oye Santana in concert
Sat 19 July: Coda, a tribute to Led Zeppelin in concert
Sat 26 July: The Sing-along-a-Nick Summer Show
Sat 2 August: Supersonic Queen in concert
Sat 16 August: Moonage, the Best of Bowie tribute band in concert
Sat 30 August: Oasiz in concert
Sat 6 Sept: Hats Off to You! Celebrating 15 years here thanks to you
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST TO RECEIVE ALL THE LATEST NEWS. SEND US AN EMAIL AND WE'LL ADD YOU.
WE DO NOT SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH ANYONE ELSE.
AUTUMN/ WINTER OPENING HOURS
CALL US ON (0118) 9699878 TO BOOK YOUR TABLE, PRE-ORDER YOUR MEALS OR ORDER YOUR TAKEAWAY
The Flowing Spring, Henley Road, Playhatch, Oxfordshire RG4 9RB
