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There are few signs of temperance in Thame. Back in the 16th C there were twenty inns. This was said to be the case because many chose to drink ale rather than trust the local water supply. The town had fewer than 1,300 residents, so it was certainly well served.
Historians list a total of sixty inns recorded in Thame, but some merely represent the renaming of hostleries. A pub took over the Moot Hall around 1300, which makes it the oldest pub in Thame. It was expanded in the 16th C and became ‘The Cage’. It was 1787 before the landlord named it The Birdcage. It became a true cage for Napoleonic prisoners-of-war in 1805.
This guide lists sixteen pubs/restaurants, seven cafes and fourteen takeaways. Of the restaurants, five are classic beamed inns –
The Birdcage Inn, The Black Horse, The James Figg, The Six Bells, The Thatch:
These all offer a grand venue, a great atmosphere with good fare and refreshments.
A number of pubs were called The Greyhound, one is now Biagio and gave its name to the Greyhound Walk. Another early Greyhound is at the corner of North Street, then there is The James Figg.
Restaurants and Bars: James Figg
| Yet another became the James Figg. Figg was born in Thame in 1695. His blue plaque in Thame claims it was 1684, but the Marylebone church, where he is buried, states it as 1695. Figg set up his initial training base at The Greyhound Inn in Cornmarket. By 1714 he had completed his training in the ‘noble science of defence’ – including the use of the quarterstaff and the backsword (a one edged, one-handed sword), and in bare-knuckle boxing. It was the original form of boxing – punching, wrestling, kicking and weapons.  Figg and Sutton (source: playingpasts.co.uk) He first set up fights and trained those this attracted. Figg proclaimed himself ‘Champion of England’ from 1719 until 1730. He fought two hundred times, mostly at his London base. He lost just once, to Edward Sutton, but later achieved his revenge. |
Six of today’s restaurants/pubs provide a traditional pub experience offering different cuisines –
- Bay of Bengal (Indian);
- Cross Keys (pub grub);
- The Falcon (pub grub);
- The Old Nags Head (a pub);
- The Rising Sun (Thai);
- the Three Horseshoes in Towersey (pub grub).
The Spread Eagle Hotel owes a great deal to a 19th C owner, John Fothergill. He termed himself a ‘Pioneer Amateur Innkeeper’. He worked hard to raise his inn’s profile and it was he who installed its grand pub sign.
Three restaurants offer Italian fare – Prezzo, and more recent arrivals La Caravella and Glorias:
Other cafes include: Black Goo, The Candelo Lounge, Costa Coffee, the Monkey Puzzle, Starbucks (at the periphery), Treacles Tea Rooms, What’s Cooking and Woodworks Trading.
Takeaways start alphabetically with Atalay’s Kebab Van; then there is Smarts Fish & Chips and the Chippy; Rushi and Bay of Bengal for Indian; Famous House, Harvest Moon, Thame Recipe and Wild Lemongrass for a taste of the Orient; Dominos, La Salute and Patrons Pizza for Italian; Burger King for cuisine americaine (town’s periphery); Thame Fried Chicken; and Smoochy Moo Moos for milkshakes, smoothies….
Restaurants and Bars: From days gone by
We should mention the lingering vestiges of pubs and inns in Thame:
One’s located within the town are:
- Butter Market – the Bull, Saracen’s Head, Oxford Arms;
- Cornmarket had the White Horse;
- High St had the Bell Inn, Crown, Fighting Cocks and Seven Stars;
- Upper High St had the Fox; Park Street had Four Horseshoes, Red Lion, Wenman Arms;
- North Street had the Blue Man, the Britannia, Two Brewers and Wheatsheaf.
There are also records of the Chequers, the Duke of Wellington, Oak Tavern, the Plough, Red Cow and of course the Swan Hotel currently dormant.
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Go to Facts - Sites - Back to Thame Home Page – to Bob Denton Home Page
