ISSUE 53 October - November 2008

the Drinker Oxford Beer Festival This year sees Oxford CAMRA branch’s beer festival return to the Town Hall, St Aldates, for the 11 th year running. This year, there will be 130 130 different different beers available, with 30 of the popular ones being duplicated, to be ready for Saturday morning. This should ensure a plentiful supply for real ales visitors on Saturday. including Sessions run from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday 16 th , 11am to 11pm on stouts, Friday 17 th and 11am to “whenever the beer runs out” on Saturday 18 th . Experience from previous years shows that the beer is usually running porters and out by about 8pm on Saturday - we take that as a sign of a good festival. Remember that Thursday and Friday evenings are our busiest times - lagers queues can form at the door between 7pm and 9pm - so if you want to sample the beers in a more relaxed atmosphere why not come during the camra award day on either Friday or Saturday. Food will be available at all sessions. winning beers

Entrance fee to the festival is £2 (£1 for card carrying CAMRA members). new You’ll need to hire a glass for £2, which is refundable if you don’t want to take the glass home, and buy a supply of beer tokens, as no cash is breweries taken at the bars. Every new member joining at the festival will receive £20 of Wetherspoon vouchers and a free hardback copy of the Good beers from all Beer Guide 2008. the local

The festival is run entirely by CAMRA volunteers, who give up their free breweries time, not only to run the festival, but to set up and take down as well. If you are a CAMRA member and want to find out what it is like running a 20 real ciders festival, why not volunteer? It’s good fun, and you also get free beer tokens. Contact details are at the end of this article. and perries 20+ varieties On a technical note, we will be hiring water cooled cask jackets from CAMRA HQ this year. This should keep the beer at a constant of continental temperature during the festival and remove the need for us to continually spray water over the casks, as we have in previous years. bottled beers

So please, do come along to our festival. It’s an event that has proved very popular in previous years so let’s make this one a success too.

Contact details for volunteers (or general enquiries): inside this issue: Tony Perry 07528 241113 / [email protected] beer festival reports of the year voting the free newsletter of the regional Aunt Sally match Oxford City Branch of CAMRA festival and branch diaries www.oxfordcamra.org.uk Witney review - part 2 issue 53 what's on Neil Hoggarth Meetings and events are Saturday 18 October and moving on to a city centre relaxed and friendly. Members Regional Membership crawl. and non-members are Committee Meeting welcome at all events. At the Oxford Beer Festival Tuesday 4 November Town Hall, Oxford 7.30pm Saturday 4 October Branch Meeting 11.30am Tuesday 21 October, 7.30pm Waterman’s Arms, 7 South Beer Festival Publicity Rural Pub Survey - West Street, Osney Island, Oxford Crawl of Reading Oxfordshire OX2 0BE. Meet at Oxford Station in good Meet at the Lamb & Flag for time for the 11.30 train. 7.30pm. Contact the Social Saturday 8 November Secretary to book a place. Neil 1pm Monday 6 October Hoggarth, 01865 794438, Regional Meeting 7.30pm [email protected] The Woolpack, Banbury. Branch Meeting Rose & Crown, 14 North Saturday 25 October Tuesday 25 November Parade Avenue, Oxford 12 noon 7.30pm OX2 6LX Pub Crawl with visiting Rural Pub Survey Meet at the Lamb & Flag for Friday 10 October, 7pm Rugby Branch 7.30pm. Contact the Social Beer Festival Publicity Starting at the Old Bog Secretary to book a place. Crawl of Oxford Brewery, Mason’s Arms, 2 Neil Hoggarth, 01865 794438, Meet at the Lamb & Flag, 12 Quarry School Place, [email protected] St Giles, Oxford OX1 3JU Headington Quarry, Oxford

Listed in the Good Beer Guide 2009!

Fabulous Fish & Chips! FOOD SERVED 10 AM TIL 10 PM DAILY

SERVING BRAKSPEAR BITTER, OLD HOOKY & GUEST ALES

• Weekly Quiz Night - Sundays 9pm • Ale and Fish Sampling • Halloween Party • Children in Need Charity Event

49 ST. GILES, OXFORD, OX13LU TEL 01865 302925 page 2 the Oxford Drinker october 2008

ChesterHelene Augar Arms beer festival On Friday 22 nd August 2008 we sections providing covered a half pint or pint of each gathered for a branch social at seating areas. It was an beer. While this seems a The Chester Arms pub for their improved set up from last year good incentive to try different annual beer festival. This is a as the marquee had been styles of beer and to promote real community pub located on relocated from the far side of the food in the pub, and the Chester Street, just off the the garden to just outside the pub probably had the best Iffley Road in Oxford, and there pub, which enabled punters to intentions behind it, was a good family friendly feel avoid getting muddy feet unfortunately it seemed a bit to the festival. crossing the garden. of an unrealistic achievement.

In addition to the I calculated that I would have beer they had 4 real had to drink on average 3½ ciders available pints a day over 4 days in a which were all well row which is well over the received. These all recommended daily amount came from Westons for men or women to drink and ranged in (information from the NHS strength from the website www.units.nhs.uk ). Bounds Brands Therefore this offer could Scrumpy at 4.8% encourage binge drinking, ABV to the award something which CAMRA winning and popular tries to campaign against, so Old Rosie at 7.3% the pub may wish to ABV. reconsider this offer next year.

The organisers had decided to The pub were offering a free Overall the festival was well go for quality over quantity, Sunday lunch to customers run with a welcoming and reducing the barrels of beer who drank a pint of each of the friendly atmosphere, with from 22 last year to 14 this 14 beers over the course of the plenty of activities for children year. They also had 3 beers weekend, providing customers (including a trampoline in the available on the hand pumps at with an “Ale Trail Record” to be garden) and a good time was the bar. Their decision to stamped with each purchase of had by all. reduce the number of beers to concentrate on the quality seemed to work as all the ones I tried were very good indeed. The beers ranged in strength from the 3.6% ABV of the Tring Brewery’s Side Pocket for a Toad to the 6.5% ABV of the White Horse Brewery’s The Governor. This strong beer was named by the pub as their star of the festival, and although some of us found The Governor to be rather sweet, it was still a good beer in good condition.

The barrels were under a section of a marquee in the garden of the pub, with 3 other the Oxford Drinker page 3 issue 53 Around the county Helene Augar The Branch held another although serving food if inside briefly, got back in the popular rural pub surveying trip customers chose to eat. It is a cars and carried on the survey on the evening of Tuesday 16 th smaller pub with low beamed to the next pub. The reason we September, with a couple of ceilings, rustic plaster, and red didn’t stop is that The Railway members taking a night off and black quarry tiles on the is now an Indian restaurant drinking beer to kindly drive us floor. It was busy for a week rather than a pub. From our to the southern part of the night and the clientele included fleeting glance inside we saw branch area. The good news a pub cat! They were serving they did have 1 hand pump for the drivers was that the beer on 2 out of the 3 hand serving a real ale, Courage pubs we visited were very pumps - Wells Bombardier and Best, but we felt that it was the close together once we had the Appleford Brewery’s type of place to visit if you wish arrived in the region, less than Brightwell Gold. This is another to sit down to a full meal rather 10 miles from Oxford. freehouse and the landlord than just go for a quick pint. chooses to keep a local beer We started at The Chequers on one of the pumps (which The final pub we visited was in Burcot which has been a CAMRA supports with its very close by - The Wagon pub for around 400 years and LOCALe campaign) and and Horses . This is a New is an old thatched-roof building regularly changes the beer on Wood Inns pub with a good on the main Abingdon Road. the other 2 pumps. selection of beer. We received The interior has black and another warm welcome and white décor, which looked to The third pub of the evening, had a choice of all 3 pumps: have been redecorated fairly The Barley Mow was just Wychwood Big Bertha, Evan recently and carried out quite around the corner, still in Evans Harvest Home and sympathetically. The pub is a Clifton Hampden. Yet another Marstons Pure Blonde. The freehouse but on the night we thatched roof, old pub, this was place appeared to have a visited there was only 1 real much larger and comfortably somewhat split personality ale being served (out of a catered for both drinkers and when it came to the food on possible 3 pumps) - Batemans diners. Some areas of the pub offer as it serves Tapas food in XB. The pub is undoubtedly had such low ceilings we could the week but a carvery on more of a restaurant, with most easily reach them from a Sundays. It has a large of the floor space being set up seated position! The pub is drinking area with a smaller for dining and the smaller bar owned by The Spirit Group, dining section but felt a bit area having a few high level and although this means the cluttered with the amount of tables with stools and a few landlord is more restricted on ornaments and memorabilia sofas - more like a space his choice of beer than the hanging from the walls and diners can sit while waiting to previous 2 establishments, he ceiling, like it was trying to be seated in the main dining regularly changes the ales and cater to too many different area. However, we received a they had all 4 hand pumps on types of customer. We never warm welcome from the staff with a good selection: Exmoor wish pubs to exclude anyone, and were not made to feel like Gold, Wells Bombardier, but I feel this pub needs to we should have been there to Adnams Explorer and Everards decide which market it can eat, which was good. Equinox. The pub had a warm best appeal to. atmosphere, friendly staff and We moved on to another a multitude of dried hops Overall it was a successful and thatched pub, The Plough , hanging from the beams. enjoyable evening and again on the main Abingdon provided an opportunity to visit Road, but this time in nearby From there we took another some more of the rural gems Clifton Hampden. This had a short drive to nearby Culham in our branch area. The pubs very different ambiance, feeling and stopped at The Railway were all close together which much more like a friendly Inn. Well, we didn’t actually meant we were able to visit village pub, popular with the stop… more of a pause while (nearly) 5 pubs without having locals and welcoming drinkers, we got out of the cars, looked to drink like fishes! page 4 decemberoctober 20072008 Kidlington crawl David Hill The latest in our series of although the room just off the And talking of GK tied houses Friday night pub crawls took bar is now set for dining our next call was the Black place in late August with the leaving only the small area Horse which offered us IPA venue being Kidlington and around the bar, with I think two and Sun Dance. This pub near Thrupp. If you think we have tables, as a dedicated drinking the centre of Kidlington and on only just done a Kidlington and area. Despite this there the main road was quite lively Thrupp pub review you are seemed to be more people with a young clientele, music right as Tony Goulding did a drinking than eating, mostly sat playing and a football match guide to the area in issue 51. outside on the canal-side being shown on numerous TV One reason, then, for choosing terrace. The beers were screens. There is also an this area was to see if a group Greene King IPA and Sun outside garden/smoking area of us would agree with his Dance. Tony said in his article which was likewise busy. The assessment. that the beers here are kept in beer was OK, which is a lot good condition which we found better than the other two main We started out at the furthest to be true. road pubs in the centre of point, The Boat Inn at Thrupp, Kidlington which the first of three pubs we have no real ale. visited on the Oxford canal. This old stone built pub has Next I had a quick four separate rooms all which look inside the Black have the appearance of being Bull, an imposing well looked after as does the red brick building in large rear garden. Three of the the very centre of four rooms were laid for food Kidlington, and and even at 7 o’ clock there found that having were quite a few people lost its real ale a starting to dine. Judging by while back it has these diners it seems they now also lost its handpumps. attract a fairly elderly clientele. The final canal-side venue was We had only time enough for Despite the emphasis on food the most northerly pub in one more call so we were there is a reasonably sized bar, Kidlington, the Wise headed towards the Kings however the beers, Greene Alderman . Tony reported this Arms , as recommended by King IPA, and Morland Original as being a little worn out but it Tony Goulding. Here we found were mediocre. had a good atmosphere with a what he found, a friendly welcoming landlady traditional local with good and locals involved in service and good beer, even conversation and though the landlord was not in everyone ignoring the attendance. Beers were television which was Greene King IPA (him again!), switched on. Beer Wells Bombadier with the quality was fair but guest being an excellent pint we were disappointed of Danish Dynamite from with the choice of two Stonehenge Brewery. A bonus Greene King beers, on this visit was the IPA and Ruddles appearance of Wilma the County. This being a friendly pub cat. Then followed a pleasant early Punch Taverns establishment evening walk along the canal to we hoped they would have All in all an enjoyable crawl. Thrupp’s other pub, The Jolly something a bit different to Pity we didn’t get to the Six Boatman . There has been a distinguish themselves from Bells but that was just over refurbishment since I was last the local GK tied houses. ambitious planning on my here and it is now quite smart part. page 5 issue 53 Witney pub review - part 2 Tony Goulding This, the second in the series, Across the road is The Cross a scoop!), most of the looks at pubs on Witney High Keys (10) owned by The Spirit breweries range of beer is Street and Church Green. The Group who acquired most of served in good condition good news since the first the former Courage estate. along with quality food. The review is that The Plough has Serving Adnams Broadside, eager landlord with many now recovered from last years Timothy Taylor Landlord and years experience is a Hook floods to serve up to four good Wychwood Hobgoblin in good Norton cellar man of the quality changing beers, along condition and food all day, this year. with The House of Windsor , is a typical market day locals always under the shadow of pub. With a long single bar and closure, also serving four beers a large outdoor drinking area in top condition. In fact all eight this is a spacious pub that pubs at this west end of town needs a modest refurbishment would make a good weekend to give it some atmosphere. crawl. This building’s call to fame go back to the 19th century when Moving on from the Plough Richard Brakspear towards High Street we come commenced brewing here to The Royal Oak (9), originally before moving to Henley. owned by Halls of Oxford, but now a very successful and A short walk across from the genuine family run free house Keys to your left can be found Step a few yards across the offering a warm and friendly The Eagle Vaults (11) a road into The Red Lion welcome to all.The pub serves former Bass Charrington (16), an old Morrells now four beers from the Wychwood house now run by Greene Greene King pub. The and Marstons range in top King. This cavernous bar friendly live-music-loving condition along with serving IPA is busy with food landlord is also a beer exceptional food. The pub has, at lunch times and full of the festival fan. This long following refurbishment, grown younger generation in the sprawling one room pub has from a two room local to evening. the former Barn Room at the become a spacious and rear acting as a music venue. comfortable bar that now has A few steps further on is The The beer from the the ambiance of quality. Run by Marlborough Hotel (12), a Greene King range also the same family for almost 20 large 17th century coaching includes seasonal guests. years the Oak is not to be inn. The very comfortable front Good food is served missed but beware - the beer is bar serves good quality beers, lunchtimes. Many years ago expensive. two from Wychwood, along this pub was unique in with tasty food. This is the having a multi sided pool place to watch the business of table. the market, You can also take tea here. Walk around the corner to Church Green and you will Around the corner into Corn find The Angel (15) another Street - more pubs than shops former Courage pub now - is The Eagle Tavern leased from The Spirit (13), another former Clinches Group. This is another house. Throughout the 70s, comfortable and successful 80s and 90s this pub was a pub run by the same family splendid time warp run like a for nearly 20 years. The club house. Now completely friendly and knowledgeable rebuilt internally by Hook staff serve four beers in good Norton Brewery in 2001 (what condition Courage Best, page 6 the Oxford Drinker october 2008 John Smiths (yuck), Brakspear Oxford Gold and a monthly Want to know all guest. Tasty food is served, soon to be all day. A front patio the latest news and a sun trap rear garden help to promote a soon to visit and events? feeling. The Angel overlooks

Church Green and with its wonderful Georgian bay Share information windows and local Stonesfield slate roof this pub could be in about what’s cosy small village some where happening in your in the county. happening in your area? Across the Green is The Fleece (14), formerly The Marlborough Head, where Sign up to our Clinches Brewery commenced there brewing in the early Again, for more info on this eee-e---mailingmailing list. 1800s. Now more of a cafe bar subject purchase a copy of with a bright and airy feel .Two Derek Honey’s handy book - beers changing occasionally Witney Pubs Past And Details on the are served in good condition Present - and don’t forget the along with interesting local branch of CAMRA is website at: food .This is another pub with always looking for news on a pretty outlook onto Church pubs and breweries. www.oxfordcamra.org.uk/ Green. mailingmailing----lists.phplists.php The Cricketer’s Arms Littleworth (Wheatley)

HOME HOOKY MADE BITTER & FOOD WEEKLY NOW GUEST BEING ALE SERVED

“The little pub with the BIG welcome” Visit our website for our Events Calendar

www.cricketers-arms.co.uk 01865 872738 the Oxford Drinker page 97 issue 53 beer festival diary Fri 3 - Sat 4 October Thursday 23 - Saturday 25 Solihull Beer Festival October Solihull Royal British Legion, 10 th Twickenham Beer & useful Union Road, Solihull Cider Festival 35 beers plus ciders York House, Richmond Road, camra www.solihullcamra.org.uk Twickenham 70 beers, plus ciders & perrys Thursday 16 - Saturday 18 contacts and foreign bottled beers Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe October www.rhcamra.org.uk th David Roe 11 Oxford CAMRA Beer 01296 484 551 Festival . Thursday 30 October - [email protected] Oxford Town Hall, St Aldates, Saturday 1 November

Oxford. See front cover. 22nd Swindon Beerex North Oxfordshire www.oxfordcamra.org.uk STEAM, the Museum of the Alan Mitchell Great Western Railway, contact@northoxfordshire Friday 17 - Saturday 18 Kemble Drive, Swindon camra.org.uk October 100 beers plus ciders & perrys st www.northoxfordshirecamra. 31 Bath Beer Festival Note: Friday evening session org.uk Bath Pavilion, entry by advance ticket only

Road, Bath www.swindoncamra.org.uk 70 beers, plus ciders and White Horse Branch foreign beers Friday 21 - Saturday 22 Neil Crook www.bathandborderscamra.org.uk/ November [email protected]. Wantage Beer Festival uk Thursday 23 - Sunday 26 Masonic Hall, Alfred Street, www.whitehorsecamra.org.uk October Wantage The Old Bookbinders Ale 24+ beers, plus ciders & perrys South Oxfordshire House Octobeer Festival and bottled conditioned beers Hugh Steele Victor Street, Jericho, Oxford www.whitehorsecamra.org.uk www.soxoncamra.org.uk 20+ beers, cider and whisky www.oldbookbinders.co.uk Saturday 29 November Oxford Branch Haddenham Winterfest Tony Perry Thursday 23 - Saturday 25 Tithe Barn, Manor Farm, [email protected] October Haddenham www.oxfordcamra.org.uk Beer Festival www.haddenham-beer- Turf Tavern, Bath Place, festival.co.uk Oxford Drinker Editor Oxford please send any material to www.theturftavern.co.uk Tuesday 2 - Saturday 6 [email protected] December

Winter Beer Festival CAMRA Further details of Far from the Madding Crowd, 230 Hatfield Road

festivals and Friar’s Entry, Oxford St Albans, Hertfordshire www.maddingcrowd.co.uk AL1 4LW updates on events are 01727 867201 Tuesday 2 - Saturday 6 [email protected] December available www.camra.org.uk 25 th Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider

on our Festival Oxford Trading Standards Ocean, Mare St, Hackney, website at 01865 815000 London E8 www.oxfordcamra.org.uk www.pigsear.org.uk page 8 the Oxford Drinker october 2008

the Oxford Drinker page 9 issue 52 Pub of the year 2008

Voting is now under way for or they can be brought along rural gem to score highly the Oxford CAMRA Pub of to either the November or here; a basic back street the Year 2008. This year we December branch meetings. boozer is just as valid, if it is a will be selecting a single Pub well-kept example of that type of the Year from the pubs Judging for the regional and of pub. within the ring road (a national CAMRA Pub of the country pub of the year Year competition is done by Service and Welcome: Is the award will follow next scoring on the factors listed service prompt and friendly? summer). Six pubs were below. This should give you Do you get a full measure nominated at the September some idea of what we are without having to ask? The branch meeting and they looking for in branch Pub of staff in a good pub should are: the Year candidate. regard you as a human being rather than just a potential Harcourt Arms Quality of Beer: Obviously source of revenue! Cranham Terrace, Jericho, CAMRA are only going to give OX2 6DG an award to a pub which Value for Money: How do consistently serves excellent prices compare with other Kings Arms real ale. One thing to note is pubs in the vicinity? 40 Holywell Street, OX1 3SP that this is about quality not quantity; although choice of We have had excellent Masons Arms beers is nice to have, one or responses to previous 2 Quarry School Place, two really well kept beers are competitions, and hope to get Headington Quarry, OX3 preferable to a wide range of as many members as 8LH beers which turn out to be possible involved again this mediocre. year. Please pay a visit to Old Bookbinders these wonderful pubs, and 17-18 Victor Street, Jericho, Community Focus: A good make sure you return your OX2 6BT pub is genuinely part of the voting form. community in which it is Rose and Crown situated, and attracts a good The winner will be announced 14 North Parade Avenue, cross-section of local people. in December, and a OX2 6LX presentation will be made to Atmosphere: This is difficult the winning pub prior to Turf Tavern to define, but drinkers tend to Christmas. 4 Bath Place, OX1 1SU know when a pub "feels right". Is it a good place to be? Are Only forms with All CAMRA members are you going to want to come six completed entitled to vote, and a voting back on a regular basis? form is included on the stamps will be opposite page. All you have Campaigning: CAMRA is considered in the to do is visit all six pubs, get keen to reward pubs which vote. your form stamped to show espouse and promote our that you've been to each values. Is cask ale being pub, and then rank the pubs given a positive push? Is Happy surveying! in your order of preference. information available on the Don't forget to add your beers being sold? name and CAMRA membership number at the Style and Decor: Is the décor bottom of the form. appropriate and does the style show respect for the building Forms can be posted to the and its history? A pub doesn't address given on the form, have to be a picture-postcard page 10 the Oxford Drinker october 2008 Oxford CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008

To vote in the Oxford CAMRA Pub of the Year contest, please use this form. All you have to do is visit the six pubs listed below, get your voting form stamped, and then rank the pubs in your order of preference. You need to be a member of CAMRA to vote.

When voting, indicate "1" for your favourite down to "6" for your least favourite . Make sure you put a score beside each pub and you use each number only once. Ensure you get your voting slip stamped in the appropriate place when you visit too, as any missing stamps will invalidate the form.

Remember the points listed opposite on what to vote on - not just beer quality but on ambience, the welcome, the service, the knowledge and helpfulness of the staff, the pub's attitude towards CAMRA and how it promotes real ale over other products.

Once you have visited all six pubs, cast your vote on this sheet (or a photocopy), fill in your name and membership number and return it to: Oxford CAMRA, 31 Rivermead Road, Rose Hill, Oxford OX4 4UE to arrive by Monday 1 December 2008 , or present it in person at the December Branch Meeting .

Many thanks for taking the time to vote, and enjoy your visit to these six fine pubs.

Pub Name Pub Stamp Rank 1 Harcourt Arms

2 Kings Arms

3 Masons Arms

4 Old Bookbinders

5 Rose and Crown

6 Turf Tavern

the Oxford Drinker page 1311 issue 5345 Regional Aunt Sally Neil Hoggarth This is the 3rd year that the start, drawing with 5 points winning by 7 points to Oxford/ Mason's Arms in Headington each. The first leg was then White Horse's 6 and North has hosted an inter-branch decided by a "three-sticker" Oxon/Mid-Chilterns' 2. social playing the traditional play-off - using half the normal Oxfordshire pub game of Aunt number of sticks. North Oxon/ Thanks once again to Noj of Sally - an outdoor game which Mid-Chilterns won the three- Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe involves throwing wooden sticker by 6 to 4. for setting up the event, and to batons at small skittle, known all at the Mason's Arms for as a "dolly", perched on top of In the second leg, Oxford/ their hospitality. a pole. This year we struggled White Horse started to get into to find an August date that the swing of things, winning suited everyone, and moved with 7 points vs 5 from North the event back to September. Oxon/Mid-Chilterns and 6 from This had the fortunate effect of AVW etc (in truth not all of the allowing us to combine the Oxford contingent got their act match with the Mason's Arms together - your intrepid reporter beer festival - which added to continued to blob consistently throughout the entire match, as the fun, although I'm not sure BEER FESTIVAL that it helped the throwing very usual). A number of the branch were much! unable to make the Aunt Sally The third leg saw all three match (with excuses ranging This year’s event was teams at peak performance, from Jersey Beer Festival to advertised as a regional social, with Oxford/White Horse go-karting), so a Friday night and saw the added spice of a drawing against AVW etc on 8 session was arranged. real trophy to compete for, points and North Oxon/Mid- kindly provided by Regional Chilterns only just missing out The abiding memory of that Director Jackie Parker. There with 7 points. This draw ought Friday is of rain. Lots of it. were competitors from North to have been resolved by Torrential, one could say! Oxon, White Horse, West another three-sticker, but by There was water everywhere Berks and Mid-Chilterns this time the rain had set in but it didn’t seem to keep branches, as well as the quite heavily and it was people away as the place was traditional teams from Oxford decided to go straight to a one- heaving by 9 o’clock. and Aylesbury Vale and sticker between the drawn

Wycombe. We juggled the teams in the hope of settling There were about 30 beers on, numbers trying to come up with the leg as quickly as possible. and 5 ciders, and all were a suitable division into teams, However, the one-sticker was flowing well. Andy had a good ending up with three groups of also drawn, with a solitary point selection of championship ten: Oxford & White Horse; scored by each team! We then winning beers, including 3 North Oxon & Mid-Chilterns; arranged a face-off between barrels of Triple F Moondance and AVW, West Berks and Jackie Parker (playing for - a good plan as 2 of the Steve Laird from Bicester to Oxford) and David Roe barrels were emptied on the make the teams equally sized! (playing for AVW). Jackie Friday. My eyes lit up on eventually winning both the leg seeing Sarah Hughes Dark The weather was threateningly and the match for Oxford/White Ruby Mild, but on trying, our overcast, but the event started Horse. group all agreed it was not on out in the dry. Oxford/White top form for some reason. Horse started poorly in the first However, the visitors from Still, there were plenty more to leg, scoring 2, with only Will Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe try and we all found beers to Reed and Neil Crook avoiding did get some satisfaction (and a round of drinks at the suit our varied tastes. the dreaded "blob" (zero from Photos at: six sticks). The other two expense of the other two http://masonsquarry.co.uk/_wsn/ teams got off to a slightly better teams!) from the Beer Leg, page3.html page 1012 the Oxford Drinker october 2008

the Oxford Drinker page 13 issue 53 Wet ‘n’ Worcester Helene Augar A few of us from the Oxford drink anything else! The book, they were at the festival branch took a well deserved results were: Bronze medal to to film the results of their day off work to visit the 9 ¾ Hobsons – Mild; in Silver place attempts to brew bottled Worcester Beer, Cider and was Church End – conditioned beers for another Perry Festival on Friday 15 th Gravediggers; and in Gold BBC programme due to be May 2008. The ¾ is an medal position was Highgate – broadcast later this year. acknowledgement of the loss Dark Mild. My personal of the 9 th annual festival last favourite of these is the year due to the venue being Hobsons, but I have to say I under several feet of flood am always a little disappointed water. The festival was back when the wonderful Sarah this year, held in an enormous Hughes – Dark Ruby Mild marquee in the centre of the (pictured) is available but left Worcester Race Course, and out of contention. although the floods of last year held off the going was still very soft! Brett Laniosh, National Beer There were over 200 real ales, Scoring Scheme Coordinator ciders and perries along with and CAMRA Director chaired a an interesting selection of fruit tasting panel, sitting on the and vegetable wines including stage in the entertainment carrot, pumpkin and banana to annexe. This was a highly get the taste buds excited. The competitive event, with Phil main marquee held the beers, from Reading CAMRA merchandise and membership challenging me to a bet over stands, with an annexe who would win, with the loser especially for the ciders, having to buy the winner their perries and wines. There was next drink. I was rather grateful another annexe with a stage when he said he thought area for entertainment. Plenty We then heard the results of “Captain Slow” (James May) of seating was dotted around the West Midlands Cider and would win as I knew Oz is inside all the parts of the Perry of the year competitions. something of a wine marquee and outside near the The Cider picking up 3 rd place connoisseur and surely this food outlets. The festival was Dunketons – Medium, 2 nd would do him some favours organisers were promoting the place went to Wilkins and the when it came to brewing beer. national CAMRA campaign of Gold medal winner was The panel found it rather hard LocAle, with all beers coming Newton Court – Medium. The to judge the beers with both from within a 30 mile radius results for the Perry of the year really needing another couple bearing the LocAle logo on the competition were Gold to of weeks’ conditioning and it barrels. Olivers and Silver to Malvern ended up being a very tight Magic. There was no Bronze score. I am pleased to report I We were lucky enough to medal awarded this year. was the winner of a free drink, attend a day on with an with James May receiving 128 alcoholic “Olympics”, with no The final competition we were points and Oz Clarke just less than 4 competitions were treated to was a rather less pipping him to the top spot with being held. The first of these conventional CAMRA affair - a 129. was the West Midlands Mild of beer brewing competition the year competition, and the between the BBC’s Oz Clarke It was really nice to see a good selection of stouts, porters and and James May. Following the turn out from all our mild beers at the festival was success of their Big Wine surrounding branches which so good, this member didn’t Adventure television series and led to a great atmosphere. page 14 the Oxford Drinker october 2008 The Perfect Pub - an apology Rob Walters When I wrote the article on Imagine then my horror to Meanwhile the letter asked if ‘The Death of the Oxford Pub’ read the anonymous letter in anyone wanted to take over for the drinker I defined my the last Drinker. It explained the Marlborough. Hmm. We dream pub like this: It’s a pub that John and his family who now know from the Publican which is always warm in winter, run the Chester had also magazine that the with a characterful personality taken on the Marlborough Marlborough was one of over behind the bar and many more House after the long term 1200 pubs to close last year, in front. Naturally it has a range tenants had departed. And I nearly double the number of of well-kept, constantly said in my article that none of the previous year. I thought of changing real ales, a smoking the tenants who followed this as I cycled out to the room (!), darts, pool and other stayed long enough to Chester and then on to the games, an Aunt Sally team, establish a presence! Well I Red Lion in Old Marston (for a locals who can answer was wrong, as the letter points session of live music). Along questions on any topic without out John and his family had a the way I saw a good number reference to the Internet, good shot at making a go of of pubs that were almost regular draws particularly at the Marlborough and my empty – and that was a Friday Christmas, music nights with a comments should only refer to night, it’s scary. variety of live performances in the period following the end of Meanwhile there is light on the function room, small scale their tenancy. the horizon – four candles are commerce in the public bar illuminating George Street, (particularly the supply of Mortified by the letter I went to and an impressive number of garden produce) and so on – the Chester to apologise in handpumps face you as you and on. There are no pubs in person and to sink a delicious enter this new Wetherspoons Oxford that exactly fit the bill – pint of Deuchars). My apology pub. Is cheaper beer in large but one that comes pretty near was received very graciously city pubs the answer to the is the Chester Arms just off the and I was invited to the music death of our local boozers? Or Iffley Road. I go there often and session on the following night. will those fork handles be would be there more often if it It’s a great pub – a local with used to bury more of our were not the other side of town the power to draw in people pubs? from where I currently live. from all over Oxford – long may it continue. inn and around oxford Darren and Beth Payne, the Morris - has a new manager, Vale Brewery are now managers at the Eagle and yet again! His name is Dave producing Hadda’s Autumn Ale Child since April, are engaged Gardner and we wish him well. at 4.5%. This is a copper to be married in October. They coloured premium ale and is joined Mitchells and Butlers 2 The Jack Russell in Marston available at The Royal Oak in years ago and are both very now plays host to an electric Oakley and The Hope Pole in passionate about the business blues jam or open mic session Aylesbury. and the pub. They are looking on alternate Thursdays. They forward to becoming part of the also have a music quiz on The Brakspear Oxford Ale Oxford pub and real ale scene, Tuesdays and pub quiz on Trail runs for 3 months from and plan to take the pub Wednesday. A group of us October 1st and covers 13 city forward offering customers the recently spent a very pleasant centre pubs. Trail ‘maps’ are best choice in food, wine, ale evening there at an open mic available from all 13 pubs - free and excellent customer service. session and I (ed.) even got t-shirt when you get 6 stamps, the chance to play the free pint when you get all 13. The Wetherspoon pub in the tambourine! Live music every Details at www.brakspear- Cowley Centre - the William Saturday night too. beers.co.uk and our website. the Oxford Drinker page 15 issue 53 Letter to branch & response “I am writing to you with some The Campaign for Real Ale is advocates of consumer choice, dismay over an advert placed supportive of all aspects of real we would like to encourage in the August/September ale. The Oxford Drinker is sorry those who choose to drink at publication of ‘The Oxford to hear about your difficulties home (for whatever reason) to Drinker’. I write with reference and understands your consider drinking real ale rather to an advert on page 5 concerns. Oxford CAMRA has than the cheap, pasteurised regarding the Vale Brewery great sympathy for licensees fizz that is so often peddled and their encouragement for who are struggling to keep their cheaply by the supermarkets. people drinking at home heads above water at the instead of supporting local moment, and we would and do The same issue of our pubs. of course encourage people to magazine contained adverts for use and enjoy their local pubs. Ascot beer festival, which could I have always been an avid CAMRA campaigns to support be argued took people away reader of ‘The Oxford Drinker’ pubs and oppose closures, and from the pub for a few days, and always enjoy your write to encourage governments and and also for Wychwood ups etc, but I can’t understand other authorities to introduce Hobgoblin, which has had you printing this advert when measures to make the pub tremendous success as a bottle your organisation is meant to trade a more sustainable beer as well as in the cask be campaigning to keep the business. form. Vale are brewers and traditional great British pub wholesalers, and were using alive. Nevertheless, CAMRA has also their advert to promote some of always supported the these strands of their business, As an ex publican who was breweries, without whom there in what must be a difficult recently declared bankrupt, I would be no beer to drink. As a climate for them to operate too. feel very strongly about this rule, the Oxford Drinker does issue as it is hard enough for not discriminate against HAVE YOUR SAY us to make a penny, let alone a anyone when it comes to We welcome comments from pound. advertising. We welcome members of our community on adverts from pubs, brewers this or other aspects of real ale. I look forward to your reply and and off licences alike, as long If you have something to say hearing what your members as they sell real ale, whether it please send your comments to have to say about this issue.” be on draught or in a bottle. As the Editor. Details on page 22. Good Beer Guide Abingdon

The good news of being a Greene King pub so they which have been added this included in the Good Beer are limited in the range of real year, and their Sunday rib Guide 2009 was delivered to ales they can offer. However, roasts are always a sell-out the Brewery Tap pub in they always have 4 beers on and bookings are taken in Abingdon in September - the at any time and at the time of advance. third consecutive year the pub the presentation they had has made it into the Guide. It is Everards Tiger, Hardy’s and also the only Abingdon pub Hason’s Bitter, Morlands which is in the Guide, and the Original and Titanic White licensee Matt, his wife J.D., and Star. There are two other their staff (pictured) were beers waiting to come on in delighted with the news. the next few weeks from Davenports and Tribute. In order to be included in the Guide, pubs must serve In addition to serving very consistently good beer with the good quality beer, the pub Brewery Tap indeed does. It is now offers 3 en-suite rooms page 16 the Oxford Drinker octoberapril 20072008

Rose and Crown P.H.

North Parade Avenue Oxford

(Second left off after leaving St Giles)

Oxford City CAMRA Pub of the Year 2001 Listed in the Good Pub Guide 2006 www.rose-n-crown.co.uk the Oxford Drinker page 17 issue 53 Oxfolk credits.... The Oxford Drinker is the newsletter of Oxford Oxfolk - Oxford’s premier CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale. series of ceilidhs - relaunches The next publication will be in October 2008. on Saturday 11th October in its new home at Kennington 3000 copies of each one are Village Hall and is marking the distributed free of charge to pubs and welcome return of real ales to other drinking establishments across this long-running series of the city and its surrounding area. dances. The bar will be run by John of the Oxford CAMRA editor: award winning General Elliott Sam French in South Hinksey. The pairing [email protected] of top-notch beers and ciders, and top quality music and dancing, means that valuable contributions have been participants are in for some received for this issue from: really cracking ceilidhs! Helene Augar, Matt Bullock, Tony Goulding, David Hill, Neil Hoggarth, Tony Perry, Rob Walters et al. The monthly series of energetic barn dances starts with The photos courtesy of: Woodpecker Band, Oxfordshire Helene, Tony P., Neil and Sam favourites with a national profile. This folk rock dance band is firmly rooted in local advertising folk traditions and they deliver is available at excellent rates from: infectious and irresistible tunes Matt Bullock 01865 439 664 with electric rhythm. Gordon [email protected] Potts is calling with boundless energy and style, and an contributions and bribes accepted by the editor at: interval spot is provided by the 31 Rivermead Road marvellous Rockhopper Morris. Rose Hill The venue is Kennington Village Oxford Hall, with a beautiful sprung floor. OX4 4UE Just off the A34 and easily or call 07905 212318 accessible on the 35 bus from Oxford. please share this magazine with other interested people The next dances are on Saturday 8 and dispose of your Drinker carefully November - The Hosepipe Band with Andrew Swaine and Saturday 13th December - Boldwood with Don't miss a single copy of the Oxford Drinker. Why not Fee Lock and Cat Kelly. subscribe to the Oxford Drinker? To do this, send some

For more details of times and A5 size stamped addressed envelopes to: entrance fee go to Oxford Drinker, 20 Victoria Road, Abingdon OX14 1DQ www.oxfolk.org.uk or call 07866 We will send you as many issues as you send envelopes 804220 / 07515 410211 please send any pub news for inclusion to: [email protected]

The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the branch or CAMRA limited. © Oxford CAMRA 2008 page 18 the Oxford Drinker october 2008

THEBUTCHERSARMS HEADINGTON  RenownedforthequalityofourFullersAles OpenAllDaySevenDaysaWeek TrueValueforMoneyFoodServed12-9DailyandSundayRoastAvailable  WarmWelcomeAssuredWithOurRealLogFireandCoveredHeatedPatio- AvailabletoBookforPartiesAllYearRound  SundayNightQuizfrom9pm Upto£100JackpottobeWon+OtherPrizes  TuesdayNightBingoandSaturdayNightKaraoke  RoyandJames,5WilberforceStreet,Headington,OxfordOX37AN Pasttheshark,firstleft,firstright

the Oxford Drinker page 2319 issue 53 The Prince of Wales Church Way, Iffley Village, Oxford OX4 4UE

Open all day every day Lunches 12 - 3, Evening Meals 6 - 9, Food All Day Sunday ½ portions available

All Beers Now Cask Marque Guest Beers, Good Wine and Good Atmosphere

All Customers Welcome, New and Old

For bookings contact Peter 01865 778 554 / 07990 630793

the Oxford Drinker is published by Nuffield Press, Abingdon