The Buckingham Beer Guide Trio

I tried to look for some interesting facts about Buckingham by way of an introduction, but this was made tricky by...
1. Internet search engines being determined that I wanted to know about Buckingham Palace, rather than the county town
2. Um...there not being much of interest about Buckingham.

An article in the Guardian property pages about potentially moving there sums up the pros and cons: "The Case Against: Dull"

With a population of around 15,000 folk it's surprising there are only 7 pubs.  But 3 of them get in the beer guide, so we made the 1-hour trip on the X5 bus to check 'em out.

First up, handy for the bus stop, the Kings Head...

The Kings Head (7 Market Hill, Buckingham, MK18 1JX - web)
This is billed in the guide as 'The Kings Head Coffee and Gin Bar', but just retains the nice shortened version on it's signage.
Pub diversification, it serves as cafe, luncheon spot, cocktail bar, gin emporium... there are even a couple of beers on offer.
Just a glimpse of the bar is a giveaway, with the cake displays and a whole shelf of syrups with which to spoil your cup of coffee...

Cake stand, poppy appeal, coffee machine and flavoured syrup stockpile

We had to wait for our beers to be delivered to the table as half of Buckingham's pensioners streamed out the back room and argued among'st themselves about who was going to pay for whose cappuccinos.

My local pick - a 'Triple Goat IPA' by MK-based Hornes Brewery was very so-so.
The other available ale, Rev James, turned out to be in decent condition and a much better option.

We grabbed a bit of food in the pub to keep us going...

Moving Mountain hot dogs and hefty portion of fries

Then made our way through the centre of town.
There's no denying it has some charm, with the Kings Head being right next to the photogenic Old Gaol...

Next, scooting past the market and out into the quieter streets...

The Woolpack (57 Well Street, Buckingham, MK18 1EP - web)
We entered into the Woolpack to the sounds of Shania Twain singing 'that don't impress me much'.
Which is, coincidentally, exactly what Mrs PropUptheBar said upon seeing the choice of St Austell 'Tribute' or Robinson's 'Dizzy Blonde'.

Perhaps the old boys sat by the roaring fire had the best idea with their bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale.

Two original rooms at the front, extension to the rear and a pleasant looking garden out back.  I just felt it needed a little bit more pub tat clutter and rickety furniture.

The Woolpack, on lovely streets, spoilt only by bumper to bumper parked cars

Walking up onto Church Street, our route took us through the multiple buildings that make up Buckingham University as we headed over the river in the hunt for the third of the Beer Guide pubs.

The University.  That makes me wonder what the students here do with themselves?
There doesn't seem to be a wealth of entertainment options for evenings out.
Maybe they have a secret student bar selling Mad Squirrel beers and hosting gigs by Porridge Radio?

At least those who are looking for a good traditional pub have got The Mitre just a few minutes walk from the Uni...

Buckingham's oldest pub, dating back to 1610

The Mitre (2 Mitre Street, Buckingham, MK18 1DW - web)
There was initial disappointment as we arrived to find it closed, before realising it's a mid- afternoon opener, even on a Saturday.
Fortunately just 8-minutes to loiter outside waiting for the door to be unbolted, along with six lads who were eager to secure a table next to the fire and in front of the TV.

PropUptheBar bucks the usual trend of visiting empty pubs and finds himself in a queue to get in!!!

Once we were admitted, there was a decent choice of beers...

Five casks, a little bit pale ale heavy, but nice to see a stout and a Tim Taylor that isn't Landlord.
I opted for the Thornbridge 'Crackendale' which was the subject of several comments to the bar staff from later customers, all along the lines of "wouldn't have had so much of it last night if I'd realised it was 5.2%".
It was very nice though, as was the Goffs 'Black Knight' which I popped back to the bar for.

Great to see the landlord pulling a pint of beer through the lines prior to serving the first of each.  Wish everywhere would do that.

There were a steady number of arrivals after we'd settled down in a corner, many there for the rugby on TV, with plenty of cask being sold.

The Mitre is a local CAMRA award winner, which comes as little surprise. 
Our Pub of the Day by a country mile.

I tried to take Mrs PropUptheBar into the White Hart Hotel, but she turned down the Greene King IPA point-blank.
But they've got Ghostly Ghoul, I implored, pointing out the guest beer.
"Greene King IPA with a Halloween pump clip" she replied, demanding to be taken back to Oxford for craft beer.

Sorry White Hart - I wasn't allowed to stay...

And so our day out ended in Oxford in the Grapes which was bustling and busy like I haven't seen it in some time and which had some ridiculously strong Left Handed Giant stout alongside the West Berkshire beers.

Buckingham's a pleasant enough town, but shame there's nothing to really make it a destination for the fussy pub fanatic.  But I'm glad we had a look for ourselves.