Surroundings better than the food imo Tom. But maybe my judgement is coloured cos whilst I'll cook Italian I'm not really an Italian restaurant devotee. For distant members I was darn sarf this weekend and ate at the Saracens Head in Beaconsfield on Sunday night and I doubt I'll go there again... too pricey with below average service (for what I deemed a microwave menu including a tasteless burger on one of those infernal wood platters) however on the way home I lunched at the Three Pigeons in Banbury (as a preference to MWay services) and found the food remarkably good and the establishment itself delightful with good friendly service to match. btw Served a couple of pints of Jennings Cumberland Ale by a regular visitor on here 'Sam' in the Harriers at High Wycombe! It's surprising who you meet round and about isn't it?

An unlikely alliance but an alliance all the same. The two biggest WUM's on the board.

Indeed. Strange but it works imo. 'Dopiaza' translates as double onions if that helps. We wish.

Clog's fine but personally in your situation I'd go for the Oyster and Otter.

Indeed so bwr. Dont start another cricket thread ffs. Truth is cricket is a minority sport and only enjoyed by old fellas, anoraks and train spotters. Not enough people bother about cricket in this country to make an issue of it in fact county cricket is about as dead as Latin. You lot only like it cos you're no good at anything else.

Ate close by at Mitton Hall.... 2 for 1 on a tastecard! Bloody good it was too. Owned by the Waddington Family who seem to make a decent fist of most things, as is the Shireburn, Emporium and Lower Buck. btw I believe the Spread Eagle at Mellor has been sold so expect changes there.

'agenda'...... observations rather. 'methinks the lady doth protest too much'. Dont be so bloody touchy, there's a film called White men can't jump which must carry certain connotations for those of a more nervous disposition but who the hell bothers about that? White men aren't very good at running fast either or boxing for that matter, but we do seem to have skills required to play football, cycle, drive and swim quite well. So apart from that being the most ironic post of the year from the resident board WUM would you like to explain why it is? Why is it that you can't you trap a dead cat and can only pass wind Blue n White Rover? Logically it does present a mystery.

Weird isn't it? Close to two billion people on the Indian sub continent and there isn't a decent footballer amongst em. Never has been either to the best of my knowledge. Can only be down to genetics at a guess.

It never does. Easily sorted ...Just go an hour earlier than normal and have a few bevvies in the local later. However I take it you haven't read the entire thread?

Around a shisha pipe by any chance Blue n white rover?

I bought a couple of Uganda'n naga chillies once to try in a chillie. I used them sparingly (and was mighty careful with my hands) but I found too much heat and not enough chillie taste I was left with the impression that I'd rather use 3 or 4 birds eye chillies or similar. Incidentally as a useful guide I heard recently that the 'wrinklier' the chillie the hotter it is.

Do what you want but you've given much credence to Norman Tebbitt's 'Cricket test' thats for sure. Some found it rather controversial at the time but there'll not be many on here who disagree with it now? All thanks to you BnWR. Corrected for you Norbert.

After a gallon of strong lager the Khyber is the absolute best by some distance. Not as good in the cold light of day though.

http://aolbroadband.welcomescreen.aol.co.uk/video/video-footage-of-nicole-kidman-and-bicyclist-colliding/517934919/ If she sues him till his ears bleed he can't complain can he?

Is it for you now Stockholmmonster? It certainly should be after today.

No problem cos we are hardly likely to hear you from stockholm are we?

Yuk. Much better........ "He does @#/? all then scores a goal, Jordan is our King".

Some people are never satisfied. You didnt have an ancestor in the Light Brigade cavalry did you?

The alternative theory and one that I subscribe to would be that there could not a better opportunity to blood young players against the aussies. This series was effectively over when it rained at OT.

Better still for that if we suffer an innings defeat to a nice back drop of national humiliation and Aussie crowing. Tom M ..... notice I will only allow the opposition a kind word or thought now that we have beaten them. If that convict kid wants a century and a few wickets he can have one.

I freely admitted earlier in the thread to knowing little about cricket which is a point you've picked on time and again in an attempt to ridicule my posts. It appears your knowledge is at a similar level and based on little other than hot air and self delusion.

Not this time Sparky..... whatever are you inferring? That is my honest opinion. I haven't bothered with the Sharzan for quite a time but of all the IndoPak restaurants that I've eaten at the Bukhara stands out for the number of 'south asian' people eating there. Dont know if it's the absence of alcohol or the food itself but its a fair bet it's to do with both. Shahi Quili is prob more suited for asians but personally the food there is a little too 'authentic' for me (most of it's been made for quite some time) and I've not been to Maida but that is not licensed either so does that attract more asians than English?

Been in most of them at some time or another and notwithstanding ownership / chef changes the Bukhara was imo always a cut above all the others. Unfortunately the hygiene issue has spoiled it for me. btw... Sharzan imo provides curry for middle class white people. Nothing wrong with that of course cos the objective of any business is to make money and that must make piles of it! It's just not for the more discerning diner seeking authentic IndoPak cuisine.

A good rating BWR but unfortunately it appears to be more through fear and pressure than by free will and choice. The entire issue imo is cos the owners misjudged public reaction and intolerance to their slovenleness. There are far too much competition from IndoPakBangla restaurants around these parts to fly full on inagainst hygiene regulation. As I said I rate the food at the Bukhara but it'll never quite taste the same again in our household. Your Uncle has learned a harsh lesson about how long it takes a restaurant in this country to earn a good reputation and how quickly (and easily) one can be lost. He could sell it to new owners but the bad will would be carried on after the sale in the minds of very many people.

Well silly me for suspecting anything untoward. Turned out exactly as my prediction though made whilst it was still smouldering. Anyway if you know the owners you may as well enquire how a madrassa or whatever was sited on the 3rd floor and over a fabric warehouse which in turn was over a working garage without adequate fire precautions? I'm sure the Fire Brigade would never have sanctioned that situation nor either planning or the education authorities either. Were those owners ever prosecuted do you know?