BRANCH NEWS 

The Black Head, Stonesfield

No longer doing food, but concentrating on well kept real ales. Walkers are welcome to eat their sandwiches in the bar. Saloon bar remains a non-smoking area. New opening times: Mon-Fri: 4-11pm. Sat & Sun: open all day from 12 midday.

The Farmers, Charlbury

Purchased on 21st May by Barry and Sally-Anne Dodman-Edwards and will continue as a Free House, soon reverting to its original name ‘Ye Olde Three Horseshoes’. Barry comes from generations of publicans in North Wales. His grandfather opened a pub in 1875, and his father retired from running a pub in 1988. Some of Barry’s collection of pub memorabilia will be on display. Hook Norton beers at present, soon to be augmented by a beer from their own microbrewery to operate from the back of the pub. Sally-Anne, formerly laboratory manager at Morrells of Oxford, will look after the brewing. A family friendly pub featuring Aunt Sally, darts, cribbage and a regular quiz night. They hope to open the restaurant soon offering reasonably priced pub grub, and offer barbecues in the summer. A new innovation is that the pub will be open weekdays from 10am-3pm for the sale of non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks. Normal opening: Mon-Fri: 5.30-11, Sat: 12-11, Sun: 12-10.30.

The Bell Inn, Lower Heyford

This Pubmaster pub has seen several changes of landlord over the past five years, and it good news that at last much needed continuity has been given to The Bell by Trevor and his crew who have recently celebrated their first anniversary in the village.  With three regular ales available, Greene King IPA, Young’s Special and a new addition will be a guest ale changing every Friday (or before if we drink it all).  To complement the excellent quality of ale is a good and varied menu and don’t forget that the last Friday of the month is Jazz night!

                                    The Black Prince, Woodstock

                                                    A rather showery day in March saw the start of the Morris Dancing season in                                                     Woodstock. Proceedings began at The Black Prince where the Kirtlington Morris                                                     hosted Berkshire Bedlam and the St John’s Cloggies from Southampton. Having                                                     sampled the excellent four real ales in the bar, the three sides ventured out to the                                                     car park where they danced with great enthusiasm, a certain nimbleness of leg, plus                                                     much clashing of sticks and brandishing of handkerchiefs. Among the musicians was                                                     Graham Hubbard from the Icknield Way Morris Men at Wantage, who wore a                                                     wonderful coat made out of bar towels, including a CAMRA one. 

                                   

 

                                    Swan, Long Hanborough

                                                   Welcome to the new licensee, Julian Bones, who aims to create a ‘Good Food Pub’ and                   local that is open seven days a week. He wants to bring the pub to life. JJulian comes            from a catering background and will provide home cooked food using fresh produce from  local suppliers. Ever present in the pub is his great companion, a pedigree Bearded Collie called Hebe. At the time of visiting, Julian and his father had already   painted the interior throughout and were working hard on getting the large garden into good shape for summer use and for larger events. The real ales were in fine fettle.          

Tollgate Hotel, Kingham

Arguably North Oxfordshires newest pub, this B&B has grow up into an hotel that has a full non- residents licence—which by definition makes it a public house. More importantly, it is serving real ale of a very acceptable standard; delicious Hook Norton Bitter. The bar area is light and area, and on every occasion we’ve visited has been well patronized by local villagers, giving it very much a ‘local’ atmosphere. A fuller report, with hopefully some comment on the restaurant (separate from the bar area) is planned for a future issue.

 Bell Inn, Chipping Norton

After a relatively settled period with ‘Fanta’ and Kim Clark at the helm, the Bell once again sees a change of landlord, as Fanta and Kim have gone orf to pasteurs knew (that’s a pun). Brian Galbraith (of Stones, and Norton Inns) has secured Michael George to run the Bell for him. Michael, like Josh at The Chequers, is an ex-HGV driver, and has run successful pubs in Gloucester. A Cherry-and-White supporter, he tells us the wide screen will feature Rugby as often as possible (in preference to the girly game of soccer). Also, as a real ale drinker himself, while he will keep the Greene King IPA on as the standard house real ale, he hopes to be able to introduce other real ales and foresees a burgeoning demand. 

Peyton Arms, Stoke Lyne

A big welcome to Angus and Jeanette Stinton as the new licensees of this special pub in our Branch. They are helped by their son Kenneth, who is taking a particular interest in keeping the garden tidy, and their border collie, Ben, who thinks that he is the new licensee. Angus was previously an international lorry driver, but has opted to run the pub that he has known for the last twenty years or more. He and Jeanette do not intend to make any big changes. They want to sell good beer, simple food at the weekends, and to be open lunchtimes and evenings            throughout the week.