A rolling round-up of news from Oxford and surroundings
Fox, Boars Hill
Re-opened in March 2022 after many years of decline under various lease holders and pubcos, this imposing old country pub in a wealthy village just outside Oxford is thriving again under the management of experienced local landlord Tommy Pritchard. Up to four real ales are usually on offer, with a bar atmosphere provided in parts of a pub which is also re-establishing its reputation for food and offers fine views over the countryside.
One regular beer is supplied by Timothy Taylor, but rather than the ubiquitous Landlord this is usually Boltmaker, a previous CAMRA national champion. One or two beers are usually supplied from Oxford Brewery (formerly Shotover), often Prospect or Trinity. The other pump rotates, with recent offerings including Tring’s Side Pocket for a Toad, and a Butcombe beer and Woodforde’s Wherry due on the bar soon.
Tommy, who is also head chef, said he was determined to retain a pub atmosphere although much of the pub is laid out for dining. Previously working in Oxford pubs including the Bear Inn and the Punter, his vision is for a traditional village pub with good food on offer. Tables at the front are not laid out for dining, and he has even put back a darts board (which was in use during a recent visit), and Aunt Sally in the garden. “I wanted to run a pub, not a restaurant,” he commented.
It is a characterful old pub with exposed beams and an ancient fireplace, and there is plenty of car parking as most people drive there, Boars Hill having no public transport. The pub, now owned by Heineken’s Star Pubs and Bars division, offers regular special food nights including a Steak and Lobster evening on August 5.
Drummer’s Bar, Witney
Witney’s first and only micro-pub shut abruptly on July 23 and remains closed, although there remains a possibility of re-opening under different owners and possibly a different name. The closure came as a surprise to regulars although the business’s owner, Simon Scamp, made no secret of his wish to retire and move on from day-to-day running of the pub to pursue other interests.
Closure was hastened by a decision by West Oxfordshire district council to enforce its denial of retrospective planning permission for a conservatory added to the front of the building during the Covid restrictions, which allowed Drummer’s to effectively double capacity. If a new owner takes over it seems likely that this would have to be removed.
Drummer’s had two hand pumps and a larger range of craft keg beers, mainly from local suppliers, as were other drinks including gin and whisky. It built up a loyal following and became first stop in Witney for many beer afficionados, and is in the Good Beer Guide. Other GBG listed pubs in Witney for 2023 are the Angel Inn and Eagle Tavern, but none of the many other pubs have the cosy atmosphere of Drummer’s. Live music was often played at weekends, and customers were sometimes invited to bring in their own food to share.
“In many ways I enjoyed running the bar, but not enough money was coming in,” said Simon. “In principle the council didn’t object to the extension, but the conservation people wanted it to be smaller. We extended it because of Covid as we needed more space to make it viable but now electriicity has gone up threefold and I can’t see an end to it. I’m still trying to sort something out so it can re-open.”
The bar opened in 2018 as Oxbrew, taking the same name as the brewery started in Enstone in 2016 by Simon and his stepson, Aaron Baldwin. Oxbrew merged its operations with Little Ox in Freeland in 2019 as Little Ox Brew Co, with Simon and Aaron going their different ways and Simon renaming the bar Drummer’s, being a drummer himself. He is a signwriter by trade, designing the beer glasses for the Oxford Beer and Cider Festival last year.
Drummer’s first appeared in the Good Beer Guide in 2020 – “to my mind, the best thumbs-up a bar can get”, commented Simon. It will be sadly missed and let’s hope it can be reborn.
Cricketer’s Arms, Littleworth
Another Good Beer Guide listed pub, the Cricketer’s in Littleworth, on the outskirts of Wheatley, has shocked villagers by closing down on July 30. The future of the independently owned and operated pub is unknown, but permanent closure would be another sad loss for real ale lovers.
It was taken over in 2020 by David Nelms, who wrote to customers in a recent Facebook post: “It’s been a pleasure to serve you over the years and hopefully (I’ll) be back behind the bar one day in the future.” He took over the pub in 2020, re-opening after the first Covid lockdown. A builder who lives locally, he leased the free house for three years from previous owner Stuart Bull, a website designer who had returned to Sheffield with wife Angie. Under Stuart’s 11-year ownership the Cricketer’s ran regular beer and sausage festivals, which David continued, and secured a place in the Good Beer Guide.
David told the Oxford Drinker at that time: “Stuart had been looking to get out of the pubs business for some time, and being a local I didn’t want to see it close as developers were hoping to turn it into housing. If the pub proves to be viable then I hope to buy it, and support has been fantastic.”
Broad Face, Abingdon
In late July it appeared to be “business as usual” at Oxford CAMRA’s current Town and Country Pub of the Year, although the company running it is seeking permission from creditors to appoint a liquidator, according to a notice placed the The Gazette (“Official Public Record”) by Imran Khan, of Vital Events (UK) ltd. A virtual meeting of creditors is due to be held on August 14 to appoint the liquidator.
Virtual Events runs the Broad Face and King Charles Tavern in Newbury, also still trading, both being leased from Greene King. The pubs were free of tie on real ales and the Broad Face has been selling a wide range from near and far, with landlady Kealey Hitchings adding a genuine woman’s touch to the pub with floral displays. It is also associated with a third pub, the Great Shefford near Hungerford, Berkshire, not part of the same company. All three are in the Good Beer Guide.
Seven real ales were on offer during a recent visit to the Broad Face by CAMRA member Michael Sibbald, including a couple from Oakham, Loose Cannon’s Abingdon Bridge, an ale from LoveBeer, Wadworth’s 6X and Greene King Yardbird. We hope that the range continues to be varied even if it reverts to Greene King.