ISSUE 57 July - September 2009

the Drinker Oxford Local Pubs Trail Oxford CAMRA’s Local Bicycle, Chester Arms, perseverance to hit the Pubs Week started well Fir Tree and then our target, which he did, on Saturday 23 May with final stop, the Beer poor eyesight a launch visiting to a Festival at the White withstanding. number of pubs on the Hart, in Old . Trail. It started from the At the branch social at Isis Farmhouse at the end of the week at Lock, previously the Isis the Turf Tavern, on Tavern. We then moved Saturday 23, we on to the Prince of Wales celebrated John’s in Iffley Village. birthday, having reached the ripe old age of 70. There was a great turn-out over the evening to mark the It was the first held by event. Dan and Carol and we were impressed by the range of beers and From there the crocodile ciders, and the great moved on to the Rusty food, in particular the chilli burgers!

At the pub games evening at the Mason’s Arms on Thursday 21, Matt Bullock seemed to have the best luck hitting The Local Pubs Trail is the dolly in Aunt Sally but the highlight was continued page 3 definitely John Mackie’s inside this issue: car survey trips the free newsletter of the Great British Beer Festival Oxford City Branch of CAMRA festival and branch diaries www.oxfordcamra.org.uk Abingdon survey crawl: Part 2 issue 57

page 2 the Oxford Drinker july 2009 now well underway with Outside the ring road: Those taking part need trail cards and stickers Ampleforth Arms, to visit 8 of the pubs now actually in each of inside the ring road and the 25 pubs featured: Old Anchor Inn, 8 of the pubs outside the Abingdon ring road to enter. Inside the ring road: Spread Eagle, Abingdon Anchor, Walton Manor White Horse, Abingdon 1st prize is 2 free passes to Chequers, High St Cricketers Arms, all sessions at the Oxford Chester Arms, Iffley Littleworth CAMRA beer festivals, with Fir Tree, Iffley Six Bells, Kidlington 2 beer glasses and t-shirts, Isis Tavern, Iffley Lock Angel Inn, Witney plus £25 in tokens to spend.

Jack Russell, Marston Griffin Inn, Witney 2nd prize is Sunday lunch Kite Inn, /Botley Black Horse, Standlake for 2 at the Chester Arms, Plough Inn, Clanfield Tavern, Chester Street. Prince of Wales, Iffley Clanfield Royal Oak, Woodstock Sadders, New Yatt Other prizes including Rd Talbot Inn, Eynsham copies of the Good Beer Rusty Bicycle, Iffley Woodman, North Leigh Guide and a special prize White Hart, Headington for anyone managing to visit all 25 pubs! Oxford Brewers Group LocAle This Group is for brewers • tasting events The Cricketer’s Arms, in who meet to • bulk purchases Littleworth, was the first discuss how to brew better • visits to suppliers or pub in the Oxford beers and ciders. The professional brewers CAMRA branch area to group is informal and is be accredited with open to anyone - amateur 15 July: Social Meeting, LocAle status. or professional - who The Kings Arms values quality and variety. 1 August: Cotswold Joining the group is easy. Brewing Company Tour Just turn up to a meeting or sign up for the email list. More details on the There's no fee or website: qualification required. The www.oxfordbrewers.com group has no committee and is self organising so members make whatever Stuart and Angie are contribution suits them. strong supporters of local breweries and real ale, Their activities include: with a Tuesday Real Ale • monthly mid-week club every week - a night meetings to talk about all things • quarterly Saturday beer! meetings the Oxford Drinker page 3 issue 57 Abingdon crawl 2 Neil Hoggarth On a sunny Saturday the event, and the fact seasonal beers this afternoon in May a that it was FA Cup Final year) and Greene King number of us got day probably didn't Abbot Ale. I sampled the together to undertake help!). Mayhem (which was the second of our three quite pleasant, without planned Abingdon pub The Broad Face, being anything to get crawls. A write-up of Bridge Street excited about) and the crawl number one was We started at the Broad Abbot (which was rather published in issue 56, Face, which has recently average). Even those of the remainder of the had a change of us that had ventured pubs will be covered in management. It seems from Oxford had to say an article that should to have recently had a that we thought that appear in the next issue. nice interior redecoration beer was pretty pricey, This is the first in light, pastel shades. In at £3.10 a pint. comprehensive survey of recent years the pub had Abingdon that the quite a strong emphasis The Nags Head, The branch has undertaken on the restaurant side of Bridge since 2005 (appearing in its business. Although Our itinerary underwent Oxford Drinker issues the pub is still selling some disruption before 34, 35 and 36 under the food, I got the we'd even left the Broad editorship of Matt impression that it was no Face. The advanced Bullock). longer quite such a guard who had gone to dominant factor. the Nags Head on the There was a very good However, it isn't very bridge came back to turnout from the clear what the pub's report that there was Abingdon members, but focus is now, since it currently no real ale on - as with our first crawl in isn't a particularly beery the last pint having been February the attendance place or a community pulled just before they from the rest of the local either (to be fair we reached the bar! I'm branch was were making an rather sure this was a disappointing (though to early start, so neither temporary hitch, with be fair there had been a drinkers nor diners were unfortunate timing, as certain amount of to- out in force - possibly it we have heard good and-fro about the date of would liven up later!). The beers on offer were: Morland Original, Greene King Morris Mayhem (under the "Westgate Brewery" badge that they seem to be using for all their page 4 decemberjuly 20092007 things about the beer in as "a feeble washing-up King (Morland Speckled the Nags recently (with water of a beer"). In Hen and Hardy & up to four reasonably 2009 there was still only Hansons Olde Trip) on priced cask ales one ale available, but offer, and one guest ale normally available). We now it was Morland (Brains Reverend decided to press on to Original, and we found it James). Most of us had the next pub on our to be in pretty average the Rev. James, and organiser's list, and not condition. again found it okay but review the Nags as part unremarkable (I tasted of this crawl. The branch the beer before blasting is visiting the Nags for a my palate with chilli, CAMRA meeting in July, honest!). Someone who so hopefully we'll be able sampled the Olde Trip to include our commented that it was impressions of the pub in past its best. the third Abingdon write- up in the next issue. The College Oak, Peachcroft Road The Fitzharris Arms, Another estate pub, this Thornhill Walk one is adjacent to a row The Fitz is a large estate of shops. Inside there pub, dating from the were a lot of screens, 1950s, inherited by showing the Cup Final Greene King from the old and other sporting The Ox, Oxford Road Morrells brewery, by way events. The pub was When we visited in 2005 of the short-lived very busy - when we Matt commented that "Morrells of Oxford" pub surveyed in 2005 Matt the Ox was relatively company. My impression commented that the pub rare in retaining the was that the large single- was a thriving local traditional two-room room interior was a bit which served the layout (lounge and bar). gloomy, though this community of Peachcroft Recently refurbished, might just be an effect of well, and it is good to the pub is now one coming indoors from a see that this seems to large room. There are bright sunny day. As with have continued. We sat also a couple of tables many of the pubs we out on the flag-stoned at the front overlooking visited during the patio at the front of the the Oxford Road, and a afternoon we elected to pub. They have an car park and a small sit in the sunshine, in a extensive and very beer garden round the spacious outside area reasonably priced menu, back. At one point we covered in wooden so several of us took the got chatting to the decking. In 2005 the only opportunity to refuel on a landlord, Des. He and cask-conditioned beer on rather nice plate of chilli Ali have been running sale was Greene King nachos. There were two the pub for 10 years IPA (described by Matt real ales from Greene now. They had to

page 5 issue 57 finance the refurb earlier Company. It has been been opened out into a this year themselves, extensively changed single large space. It with no help from the since. The pub had two retains something of a pub company. When we beers on sale: Greene old fashioned feel, with visited mid-afternoon King IPA and Morland wood beams and half- there was a small group Original (a third hand- timbering on display. of customers in, pump normally Three beers were watching the football. dispenses Morland available - the almost The real ale was Speckled Hen, but this ubiquitous Morland Morland Original, and wasn't available at the Original, and two guests: the general consensus time Brains Rev. James and was that it was in above of our visit). I had the Tom Woods Bomber average condition. We Morland Original and County. I tried both the again sat out, in the thought that it was in Original (having drunk it garden at the rear, good condition - one of in most of the other pubs admiring the the better examples of during the afternoon I industriousness of the the beer that I tasted thought this would be a team of blokes who were during the day. useful comparison!) and offering hand car the Tom Woods. Both washing, polishing and The Spread Eagle, were very good, and in valeting in the car park. Northcourt Road my opinion the best pints Looked at on a map, the of the afternoon by a order in which we visited comfortable margin. the various pubs looks rather eccentric, but I The next Abingdon trip is think that there was provisionally planned for method in the madness Saturday 22 August but of the organiser of our check the website for itinerary - they had confirmation and details. deliberately been saving The Boundary House, the best for last. The Oxford Road Spread was The Boundary House highly rated occupies a large, corner in our 2005 site surrounded by a visit, and spacious grassy green remains so. garden (which we of The pub is a course made use of on very old, this glorious day). Matt traditional notes that the building building was previously the though like private residence of so many Cecil Kimber, founder of pubs the Abingdon's MG Motor interior has page 6 the Oxford Drinker july 2009 beer festival diary Fri 3 - Sun 5 July Fri 17 - Sun 19 July Thurs 13 - Sat 15 Aug Beer on the Wye V Dun Cow Beer Festival 10 th Worcester Beer, Cider Hereford Rowing Club West End, Hornton & Perry Festival www.herefordcamra.org.uk 01295 670524 Worcester Racecourse www.worcesterbeerfest.org.uk/ Sat 4 July Sat 18 July 12 th Charlbury Beer Hook Norton Festival of Fri 21 - Mon 24 Aug Festival Fine Ales Stocks Beer Festival Charlbury Cricket Club Rural Fayre Field, (nr Crown & Thistle Hotel, www.charlburybeerfestival.org Pear Tree pub, Hook Abingdon (see p. 19) Norton) www.crownandthistle.com Sat 4 July www.hookybeerfest.co.uk Haddenham Real Ale Fri 28 - Mon 31 Aug Festival Fri 24 - Sun 26 July (bank holiday weekend) Youth & Community Centre Cotswold Beer Festival Woodman Inn Beer www.haddenham-beer- Postlip Hall, Winchcombe, Festival, North Leigh, nr festival.co.uk nr Cheltenham Witney 01993 881790

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk Wed 8 - Sun 12 July /cbf Fri 28 - Mon 31 Aug Greenwich Beer & Jazz Crown Inn Lechlade Beer Festival Fri 24 - Sun 26 July Festival Old Royal Naval College Falkland Arms Beer www.crownlechlade.co.uk www.greenwichbeerandjazz.com Festival

Great Tew, nr Chipping Sat 29 - Mon 31 Aug Wed 8 - Sat 11 July th Norton 6 Brill Beer Festival 20 th Ealing Beer festival www.falklandarms.org.uk Brill Sports & Social Club Walpole Park, Ealing www.brillbeerfestival.co.uk www.ealingbeerfestival.org.uk Fri 31 July - Sun 2 Aug

Chester Arms Beer Sat 29 - Mon 31 Aug Sat 11 & Sun 12 July Festival White Hart Beer Festival Woodcote Festival of Chester Street Main Road, Fyfield Ales (with Woodcote 01865 243203 www.whitehart-fyfield.com Steam Rally) Tidmore Lane, Woodcote Tues 4 - Sat 8 Aug Mon 31 Aug www.woodcoterally.org.uk/ Great British Beer Banbury Cherwell Rotary festivalofale.html Festival Club Beer Festival Earls Court, London Banbury Rugby Club Thurs 16 - Sun 19 July www.camra.org.uk Old Anchor Inn Beer Open 12 noon - 6pm only See over for more details www.banburycherwellrotary.org.uk Festival

St Helens Wharf, Abingdon Wed 12 - Sun 16 Aug Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept 01235 521726 Windsor Beer & Jazz 8th Headington Beer Festival Fri 17 & Sat 18 July Festival Alexandra Gardens Merton Beer Festival Mason's Arms, Headington www.swmcamra.org.uk Quarry Merton Village Hall 07792 683424 www.masonsquarry.co.uk continued over page the Oxford Drinker page 97 issue 57 Great British Beer Festival August 4 - 8, Earls Court, London The Great British Beer roles. It is therefore no and variety, then pre-book Festival (GBBF), Earls surprise that GBBF as limited places get Court , is almost upon us organiser Marc Holmes booked up very quickly. once again, celebrating described the event as some of the best real ales, a ‘true success for The Great British Beer ciders, perries and foreign CAMRA and the real ale Festival offers the chance beers from around the and pub industry’. for attendees to forget the world. credit crunch blues and As well as the variety of sample some of the world’s There will be at least 450 beer on show, there’s finest craft beer creations beers available plenty to occupy people amongst thousands of other throughout the festival at this year’s festival, like-minded individuals. Join including golden ales, fruit with an array of CAMRA at Earls Court in beers, stouts, bitters and traditional pub games, August for what promises to some international real live music and tutored be an unforgettable lagers. As well as a great beer tastings by some celebration of Britain ’s selection of beer there is of the industry’s leading national drink! also cider and perry, all experts. The festival is available in pint, half pint also a great opportunity For further information visit and third pint measures. to sample some the official GBBF website at traditional pub grub and www.gbbf.org.uk 60,000 people attended a variety of foreign last year’s showcase for cuisine. Opening Times : British real ale and over Tue 4th August: 5.00pm to 1,000 CAMRA volunteers Tickets for 2009 are 10.30pm gave up their time to now available and can Wed 5th, Thu 6th and Fri construct the bars, be pre-ordered for a 7th: 12noon to 10.30pm steward, and serve the discounted price from Sat 8th: 11.00am to 7.00pm beer to name but a few the ticketing website at www.seetickets.com/ The branch social at the gbbf . With such demand GBBF is on the Thursday. Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept at the door of Earls Wallingford Bunkfest Court for tickets, pre- www.bunkfest.co.uk ordering is a sure fire way of not missing out Tues 22 - Sat 26 Sept on the Festival fun! Autumn Beer Festival Tutored tastings can Far from the Madding also be booked on this Crowd, Oxford. website. If you would www.maddingcrowd.co.uk like to join some of the beer world’s biggest Fri 25 - Sat 26 Sept names such as Roger 3rd Ascot Racecourse Protz, Jeff Evans, Tim Beer Festival (see p.20) Webb, Melissa Cole and Bookings via 0870 7271234 or www.ascot.co.uk Simon Jackson in a tutored journey of taste page 8 the Oxford Drinker july 2009

the Oxford Drinker page 9 issue 57 inn and around oxford Now the only pub open on (their green beer), Hopback Brewery House now owned the whole length of the Crop Circle and Coach by St John's College and Woodstock Road, The House Squires Gold, leased M&B. Damaged by Royal Oak , serves always in good condition. fire in 1981, still retains the locals, academics and Meet the brewer nights are sloper dip (uneven floor). visitors in an efficient and a recent successful This small busy pub serves caring style. Offering good attraction. good food and up to four value and tasty food this beers including Brakspear M&B house leased from St After forcing yourself to Bitter and a regular White Johns College dispenses up leave the Eagle cross over Horse Brewery beer. Just to 4 ales in fine condition. the busy St Giles to the across the road is the On a recent visit these were Lamb and Flag , a true King's Arms , an Oxford the regular Brakspear Bitter, free house owned and run institution. This 17th century Brakspear Jericho Ale, a by St Johns College. This former hotel first licensed in new beer for sale in the 17th century impressive 1604 was once owned by local area, Wells coaching in with parts of the Tolley Cobbold and then for Bombardier and Fullers interior dating from the 14th years a free house. In 2000, London Pride. This century has been one of the Young's of London sprawling multi roomed pub local branches top pubs in purchased the freehold. The opposite the old Radcliffe recent years. Snacks are range of Young's beers is must always be the starting served lunchtimes in this supplemented by up to 2 point for the 3 pubs around sprawling multi roomed pub guests and good value food the St Giles crawl. but the Lamb is foremost a is served all day long. This boozer. Apart from being building is divided into many Walking a 100 yards down Oxford’s West Country rooms all of which have St Giles we come to the connection, serving beers been involved in Oxford’s Eagle and Child , one of the from Palmers, Skinners and history. city’s oldest and most Sharps, a rare dispense of famous buildings. This 17th Theakston’s Old Peculiar is A 5 minute walk under the century pub the meeting available. A couple of guest bridge of sighs will bring place for the authors J R beers are usually from local you to the Turf Tavern. Tolkien and C S Lewis micros but Spitfire is This 13th Century building serves fine food including popular. This can be a very is hard to find behind New fish meals. Once a Halls busy pub with the usual mix College. For many years a house, the “Bird and Baby” of St Giles drinkers in or out free house is now owned by is now leased by the owners of term time. You could the dreaded Greene St Johns College, again to spend all weekend drinking King. Up to 12 beers from M&B. Up to 4 beers are in these 3 pubs with up to far and wide are dispensed. served from a very 15 beers available. Another sprawling multi imaginative selection. roomed building with Brakspear Bitter is the A 10min walk around the outside drinking areas. regular beer (it’s good to corner into Broad Street you Once again good value food see a LocAle, a beer from a are confronted with 3 more is served all day. Beer local brewery, being sold) pubs serving up to 20 festivals are a regular along with on a recent visit different beers. The White feature. Stonehenge Sign Of Spring Horse , a small 16th century former Halls of Oxford page 10 the Oxford Drinker july 2009 The Bell at Hampton Poyle O'Grady's manager Aron near Kidlington is now open McIver, has got rid of the after being closed since Irish theme and made it January 2007, when then more like a traditional landlord Des O'Toole left English pub with, unlike for Spain. It was acquired before, real ales! There is a by George Dailey who also tie to Marston's and they runs the Eyston Arms in intend to always have 3 or East Hendred and has a 4 beers from that stable history of running food which includes the oriented pubs in the Rosie O'Grady's on Park Brakspear and Wychwood county. It has been End Street has been ranges brewed at Witney. considerably altered and redecorated in lighter extended, and has a colours and is now called Chuck Berry who Greene restaurant area, but there is the Duke's Cut after a King persuaded back from a largish drinking area competition for a new name Spain to run the Grapes in around the bar including 2 in the Oxford Mail. The George Street Oxford has small separate rooms. The name comes from a been rewarded with one of London Pride and 6X are in channel between the River the brightest stars in their good condition and there is Thames and the Oxford firmament - the Turf a 3rd handpump which they Canal near Peartree Tavern . are thinking of using for a roundabout. James Knox, guest beer. It is good to who runs the new business, Continued page 18 see a pub reopening in assisted by former Rosie these hard times. The Cricketer’s Arms Littleworth (Wheatley) HOME TWO MADE HOOK FOOD NORTON SERVED ALES AND EVERY A LOCAL DAY GUEST ALE

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

www.cricketers-arms.co.uk 01865 872738 the Oxford Drinker page 1311 issue 5745 Around the county Tony Goulding Recently the usual views of The Ottmoor Plain. pub owned by The suspects have been out on Weymouth Brewery serves very satisfying visits to very good quality Thai food some of our rural pubs. with well kept Weymouth One such trip started at Chesil Bitter and Tom The Nut Tree , Murcot Browns Bitter at good value where our group has prices. always received a warm welcome. The Nut Tree has Final visit of the night, The seen the odd appearance in Cricketers at Littleworth, the GBG and a couple of was again being run down recent changes of The Crown at Charlton On for closure until rescued by ownership but the present Otmoor was not visited but the enthusiastic couple couple have really done the we were reliably informed who have made this pub a business with first class that this cosy village local proper village local. Again food, a Michelin Star (a rare still serves Greene King good quality food is served award in the area) being IPA and guest in good but it’s the beer that makes recently awarded. The best condition. this pub. Again local thing though about this pub breweries are represented is the beer. Drinkers are Two other pubs in Stanton with Hook Norton always always welcome and with 3 St John, The Star , serving on tap assisted by two local beers always from local good value food and up to micros. West Berkshire, breweries available The 3 Wadworth beers, and The Loddon and Vale are very Nut Tree is always popular. Talk House , a Fullers supportive of the pub. Beer The beers on the night house serving quality and and Sausage festivals are were Hook Norton expensive food with London a regular feature. Bitter, Vale Hadda’s Spring pride and seasonal beers, Gold and Oxfordshire Ales again were not visited on Travels to the north of Marshmallow. this occasion but regular Oxford found our party at good reports are heard. The Chequers , in Cassington. The original pub was built in the 17th century and was a Morrells house until demolition in 2000. The present building tastefully built in stone is The Abingdon Arms at part of a development to Beckley has just changed include a village hall and landlords and despite this The only pub in Forest Hill, cottages. A free house until still serves good Brakspear The White Horse , a long 2005, the pub is now part Bitter and Oxford Gold. time ago Morrells house, of The Wells and Youngs This fine old rambling pub was until a couple of years estate. Good quality food is also serves good quality ago threatened with served along with Youngs food and should you find closure. What a difference Bitter, Wells Bombardier the large garden you will an enthusiastic and friendly and St Austell Tribute in see one of the best pub Asian landlord makes. This good condition. page 1012 the Oxford Drinker july 2009

Around the corner is the along with 2 seasonals, rambling old pub has seen only true locals pub in this Wild Hare and April Fool, troubled times in recent area - The Red Lion . This all in good condition were years and on this occasion spacious 3 roomed 14 the beers available on the no real ale was available. century building even bar. We will call again -good includes the post office luck for the future. next door. Good food is A short distance along to served in this friendly place the main road appears The Want to know all the with the 2 beers in fine Turnpike , which was latest news and condition even though they formerly The Grapes. This events? were the dreaded IPA and is now a large comfortable Tetley Bitter. Food Factory serving good Share information value food along with 3 about what’s Travel a couple of miles to beers. Brakspear Bitter (a happening in your Yarnton and you will find good local ale), Timothy area? another Red Lion , which at Taylor’s Landlord and one time was a locals Brains’ The Reverend Sign up to our Morrells house. This pub James in fair condition. has changed completely This Vintage Inns house e-mailing list.

over the last decade and is serves its purpose. now a sprawling Details on the comfortable food outlet. The final call of the night website at: Apart from quality food was The Royal Sun , on the www.oxfordcamra.org.uk/ mailing-lists.php Greene King IPA (yuck) old A34 at Begbrooke. This the Oxford Drinker page 13 issue 57 CAMRA credits.... As well as helping with current The Oxford Drinker is the newsletter of Oxford campaigns that include the CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale. promotion of localism, the The next publication will be in May 2009. reduction of beer and saving 3000 copies of each one are breweries and pubs that are distributed free of charge to pubs and under threat from closure, other drinking establishments across membership of CAMRA also the city and its surrounding area. gives you:

£20 worth of free JD editor: Wetherspoon real ale Sam French vouchers - this offer runs for [email protected] 12 months is for all members, new and old. valuable contributions have been received for this issue from: A monthly copy of CAMRA’s Ray Borrett, Tony Goulding, colour newspaper ‘What’s Neil Hoggarth, Richard Queralt et al. Brewing’.

Free or reduced entry to photos courtesy of: over 150 CAMRA beer Dave Cogdell, Matt Bullock, Sam and Stuart Bull festivals advertising is available Discounts on CAMRA books at excellent rates from: Sam French 07905 212318 Discounted Membership of [email protected] the CAMRA Beer Club contributions and bribes accepted by the editor at: The opportunity to become an active member of the 31 Rivermead Road organisation Rose Hill, Oxford OX4 4UE Complimentary Clubs or call 07905 212318

How do I join? please share this magazine with other interested people You can join by completing the and dispose of your Drinker carefully membership form opposite. Alternatively, please call CAMRA HQ on 01727 867201 Don't miss a single copy of the Oxford Drinker. or visit www.camra.org.uk/ Why not subscribe to the Oxford Drinker? To do this, joinus , in particular for send some A5 size stamped addressed envelopes to: concessionary rates or non- Oxford Drinker, 31 Rivermead Road, direct debit membership. Rose Hill, Oxford OX4 4UE We will send you as many issues as you send envelopes * For non Direct Debit prices, Young Member and please send any pub news for inclusion to: concessionary rates please visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus [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 2009 page 14 the Oxford Drinker july 2009

the Oxford Drinker page 15 issue 57 what’s on Saturday 4 July Friday 14 August 11.20am 9am Social at the Charlbury Outing to Worcester Beer useful Beer Festival Festival 11.20am train from Oxford Meet at Oxford Station in camra Station. good time for the 9.21am train. Contact Neil Hoggarth contacts Monday 6 July [email protected] Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe 7.30pm 01865 794438 to re-check David Roe travel details closer to the date. 01296 484 551 Branch Meeting [email protected] Nag’s Head, The Bridge, Saturday 22 August Abingdon OX14 3HX North Oxfordshire Abingdon Crawl 3 Alan Mitchell Saturday 11 July Contact Neil (details above) or contact@northoxfordshire check website closer to the 11am camra.org.uk date for confirmation and www.northoxfordshirecamra. Rugby Pub Crawl details. Day trip by mini-bus. org.uk

Contact Neil Hoggarth Wednesday 2 September White Horse Branch [email protected] 7.30pm Neil Crook 01865 794438 to reserve a [email protected]. place. Branch AGM uk King’s Arms, Holywell Street, Oxford OX1 3SP. www.whitehorsecamra.org.uk Friday 17 July 6.10pm Nominations for committee positions should be made in South Oxfordshire Social at the Merton Beer writing to the branch secretary, Hugh Steele Festival signed by a proposer and www.soxoncamra.org.uk Catching the 94 bus service seconder. from St Giles (outside Oxford Branch Ashmolean museum) at Tony Perry Friday 4 September [email protected] 6.10. Return by shared 7pm www.oxfordcamra.org.uk taxis. Branch Social Headington Beer Festival, Oxford Drinker Editor Thursday 6 August Mason’s Arms, Headington please send any material to 10am Quarry, Oxford OX3 8LH [email protected] Outing to the Great British Beer Festival Saturday 5 September CAMRA Earl’s Court, London. Meet 230 Hatfield Road Noon St Albans, Hertfordshire at Gloucester Green bus Regional Social AL1 4LW station for the Oxford Tube Inter-branch Aunt Sally 01727 867201 coach. match at Headington Beer [email protected] Festival (as above). www.camra.org.uk Tuesday 11 August 7.30pm Saturday 19 September Oxford Trading Standards 01865 815000 Branch Meeting Weekend in Manchester. Victoria Arms, Mill Lane, Contact Matt Bullock Old Marston, Oxford ([email protected] OX3 0PY 07977 517 514) if interested. page 16 the Oxford Drinker octoberapriljuly 20092007

“Oxford’s Number One Rock Pub” • 5 local Cask Ales from Hook Norton and Vale Breweries, certified by Cask Marque. • The best Jukebox in town. • Weekly Events including Heavy Metal Karaoke, Sunday Price Crash, and Sunday Pub Quiz, as well as frequent DJ nights and Theme nights. • Happy Hour 3-7 weekdays - many drinks reduced. Open 12 - 12 weekdays; 12 - 1am Friday - Saturday; 12 - 10:30 Sunday Behind the Oxford Playhouse theatre, and right next to Gloucester Green - pop in for a break from the market or after a film. Feel free to bring in your own food - Noodle Nation and various other takeaways are but minutes away! The Gloucester Arms Friar’s Entry, Oxford, OX1 2BY Tel: 01865 727 107 the Oxford Drinker page 17 issue 57 Guinness drinker Chuck has seen the landlord of wondered what its future was doing a good job with nine years succumb to the would be. It seems our the real ales at the Grapes high rental cost when he information was out of so we hope he will do even moves from the pub into a date! The Fox has been better with the greater village cottage. It is hoped running under new range of beers he will now that the new tenant can management for the past have and of course we keep up the standard of the year, and is now owned by hope that GK will allow him beers. Admiral Taverns. It's a to keep this greater range. warm, welcoming, family- Chuck says, “we are New stillage has been friendly pub serving good, looking forward to installed at The Masons , reasonably priced launching, from the 1st to Brize Norton, with cellar homemade pub food, and 31st July, the opportunity cooling and cooled pythons is shortly due to be for ale enthusiasts to come to the beer engines. refurbished. It serves a up with their own name Obviously it’s worth looking good quality pint of and flavour for a new ale to keep and improve for Brakspear, and at busier which will be sold across real ales. They will have a periods a guest beer. The the county this coming one day beer festival on Fox can cater for family October”. Sounds like a August Bank Holiday – a parties from a landmark challenge all real ale small and friendly one. birthday to a wedding drinkers would enjoy… anniversary. It has a large They will be continuing the There is news of two family-friendly garden in a twice yearly beer festivals. microbreweries starting in beautiful Oxfordshire the autumn, one associated village, and is well worth a Meanwhile The Grapes , with a well known pub. visit. another of GKs better pubs Details next issue. although it only has their The Old Anchor on St standard range of beers, is The Star , Eynsham, is Helen’s Wharf, Abingdon, being cared for by a relief under Enterprise Inns not which is well known for its manager until Chuck's Admiral as previously real ale, now has a replacement takes over reported. monthly jazz jam session shortly. on the second Sunday of The Halfpenny Brewery , each month at 8:30pm (call In Witney, the Rowing Lechlade, has extended its 01235 535689 for details ). Boat has a new but brewing capacity by moving temporary landlord. He is into the washing machine The White Horse CAMRA ex-landlord of the Cock at room. They have also branch presented its Combe and also the Red invested in wooden casks. Robert "Soggy" Sumner Lion in Corn Street, These are refurbished by Trophy for local pub of the Witney. During his current Wadworths but are year to Paul and Frankie tenancy he hopes to extremely expensive but Hexter of the Royal Oak , inspire some more life into are a distinct feature for the Wantage , the second year this estate pub by putting bar (or even a party), in succession the award in another varying real ale available in firkins or pins. has gone to the pub. The to supplement the current lounge bar was packed for Greene King IPA. In our March 2009 issue we the presentation and those reported that a former present included two The Strickland Arms in Morrells local, The Fox in brewers whose beers are Ducklington, near Witney, Stanton Harcourt was being served at the pub . run by Punch Taverns, and page 18 the Oxford Drinker july 2009

the Oxford Drinker page 2319 issue 57

the Oxford Drinker is published by Joshua Horgan, Oxford