Somebody has been playing alphabetic games with the Ock Mill sign…

You can see the Travel Inn behind the wall. It was built a couple of years ago. And now we have the new nursing home next to that (previous blog). There is also a brand new planning application (application 06/00343/FUL) between the nursing home and the Motorcycle Centre for Four storey residential development of one & two bedroom and studio flats with parking for twelve cars. It is for the same development company as brought us the nursing home.

Up until about fifteen years ago, the Ock Mill lay derelict. Alongside, were uncared for fields which locals assumed were flood plain.

But the Beefeater chain bought up the Mill, refurbished it, and the rest is history.

In the early 1990s, The Ock Mill was popular with young familes because the portions were large, and there were very reasonably priced Mr Men Meals for the children – including an activity pack with crayons and badges and puzzle sheets. Then a few years ago, the management went up market. They renamed themselves “Out and Out”, and introduced smaller more sophisticated portions.

Now its back to being a proper Beefeater Restaurant again with larger portions. However, there is not so much room for a bouncy castle in the back garden anymore since the Travel Inn was built round the back.