Heverlee 0623
Heverlee 0623

About us

The text reads: By the 1803s there was a pressing need for a better and cheaper postal system. In 1837 a pamphlet called Post Office Reform was published, which caused an immediate sensation. Its author was Rowland Hill, a 41 year-old former teacher.

Hill showed that the cost of managing the post office was too high. He described how the public avoided paying postage, and criticised the franking system, which gave free post to MPs and the Royal Court. At the heart of his reforms was the suggestion for a pre-paid standard scale of charges based on weight and not distance.

The issue to be decided was the best method of prepayment. A public contest was held, attracting over 2,600 suggestions. Only a handful talked about what we now know as stamps.

The first stamp, the ‘penny black’, was introduced in 1840. However, the black ink was so permanent that a red cancellation mark could be wiped off allowing people to reuse the stamps. After only nine months the post office changed from the penny black to the penny red.

The Penny Black, (the JDW pub that you are now in) is a former post office built in the early 1900s. Its name commemorates the historic stamp.

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Facilities

Disabled facilitiesFamily friendlyFoodReal aleWiFi freeCask Marque
Pub reviews

Reviews

Alan Cloke

2 months ago

Popped into the Penny Black for breakfast. The experience was everything I expected. A nice clean pub with a relaxed almost coffee shop kind of atmosphere, the food here is very well priced and nicely cooked. It certainly met with the standard that I would expect at this price point, indeed the prices are very good. I think this is a great place to stop for a quick informal breakfast or lunch whilst you are out and about, it is perhaps not somewhere I would think about if I was going out for an evening "meal" with family but for a quick eat this is perfect! Great value for money, nice polite staff. Highly recommend

Sunny Day

4 months ago

Probably the best JD Wetherspoon in Oxfordshire. Food is great in terms of both quality and the portion size and the staff members are friendly!

Daniela Sheppard

5 months ago

This is our favourite local pub! The prices are good, the staff friendly and most times the pub feels like a great community get together. We love to come here for breakfast (muffin deals are our favourite) and club lunches when there is a special promotion going every day. The coffee refills are handy for when we gather for longer stays. And there is beer festival going every October so great tasting opportunity!

win task

5 months ago

Really local pub for local people. Friendly atmosphere, good and quick service, very reasonable prices for cask ales. No complaints at all.

Deena Algafary

7 months ago

I went to bicester after the outlet,the food was amazing! The lady and the boy who served us were Incredibly nice ! And very friendly, for the food it was the most delicious fish n chips I’ve ever tasted in the UK ! Thank you for making this place amazing ❤️

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Heverlee 0623
Heverlee 0623