Pub of the Year voting now under way to choose the two best in and around Oxford
Wheatley has its first entry in the Good Beer Guide for many years after the Sun was chosen for the consistently good quality of its beer, while several old favourites return to the guide after periods of closure or because they have improved their beer offer.
The Sun was re-opened by Oxfordshire-based independent pub group Oak Taverns in December 2022, and follows many of its other pubs into the guide including the Cross Keys in Thame and the Kings Arms in Wantage. Real ale is at the heart of what Oak Taverns does, and recently re-opened pubs that could make the Good Beer Guide in future include the Red Lion in Yarnton.
Dating from the 18th century and a Grade II listed heritage building, the Sun is a large, stone-built pub with a varied clientele which serves up to four mainly local real ales. Like all other Oak Taverns pubs it does not serve food, but welcomes independently run food vans at weekends providing a wide variety of cuisine.
Two old favourites in Oxford return to the guide for 2025 after re-opening following a period of closure. The Lamb & Flag in St Giles is another historic pub with a major focus on real ale and a strong following among students and academics as well as locals and visitors. Since re-opening in October 2022 it has been run by a community group called the Inklings on behalf of owners St John’s College, and has again become very successful.
The Grapes, on George Street, returns to the guide having re-opened in August 2023. Here too the focus is mainly on local real ales and ciders, plus a very eclectic range of craft keg options. Morgan Pub Co, which operates the Grapes and the Gardeners Arms on North Parade Avenue, has just taken on a third pub in Oxford – see separate story.
Also back in the guide are St Aldates Tavern in Oxford, the Kings Arms in Kidlington and the Nag’s Head on the Thames in Abingdon, all good real ale pubs that hadn’t featured for a year or more. Competition to get in the guide is intense, with 24 places available for pubs in the Oxford branch area which also covers Abingdon, Kidlington, Witney and nearby villages. CAMRA members choose the entries based on beer quality scores on CAMRA’s national platform, Whatpub.com, and six pubs drop out for 2025 to make room for the new and returning pubs.
All in all the Good Beer Guide entries for 2025 reflect an upbeat scene for pubs in and around Oxford, which has become a destination city for real ale drinkers keen to try the strong selection of beers made by local breweries and breweries from further afield. Despite the continuing gloomy picture of pubs closing nationwide, only one pub in central Oxford – the Eagle and Child – is long-term closed. New owners the Ellison Institute have pledged to retore it.
- CAMRA members are now voting for the City Pub of the Year and Town and Village Pub of the Year. Eight pubs in the city and six in towns and villages are vying for the title, having been chosen for achieving the highest beer scores made by over 200 people. The Royal Blenheim in Oxford and Brewery Tap in Abingdon are the current Pubs of the Year, and voting closes on October 28.