A rolling round-up of developments in and around Oxford
Banks’s for the chop in 2025
The closure of Banks’s brewery in Wolverhampton in 2025 will eliminate some historic real ales as owner Carlsberg concentrates all future cask production on the Marston’s brewery in Burton-on-Trent.
Carlsberg has acquired total control of Marston’s brewing interests, with Marston’s now simply a pub company. Martson’s operates pubs in Oxford including the Lighthouse, the Seacourt Bridge in Botley and the Corner House in Headington, and has supply agreements with others.
Real ales brewed in Wolverhampton that will be axed include Banks’s Mild, Amber and Sunbeam; Eagle IPA, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Marston’s Old Empire and 61 Deep; and Ringwood Boondoggle and Old Thumper, plus a couple of keg brands. Other brands brewed in Wolverhampton may be at risk in the move to Burton, including Hobgoblin Gold and IPA (formerly Wychwood at Witney); Brakspear Gravity, Oxford Gold and Special (formerly Wychwood and before that Brakspear of Henley-on-Thames); Tetley Bitter; Wainwright Amber and Gold; Bombardier and Bombardier Gold (formerly Charles Wells); Razorback and Fortyniner (formerly Ringwood); and London Original and Special (formerly Young’s).
Some of these are also expected to disappear, while top sellers such as Hobgoblin Ruby continue at Burton. This has brought mixed reactions in CAMRA circles, with some mourning the likely loss of famous brands while others feel they were already changed beyond recognition.
Midget/Roaring Raindrop, Abingdon
Greene King has stirred up emotions in Abingdon after renaming the Midget, on Preston Road in Abingdon, when it re-opened after refurbishment this month. It is named after an MG sports car that was made close by, but GK’s senior public affairs manager, Chris Shimwell, said: “In recent years, we have been reviewing our pub names as we want our pubs to be places where everyone can feel welcome, as we believe all pubs have an important role to play in promoting inclusive venues across the UK. We have therefore decided to change the pub’s name to the Roaring Raindrop, another record-breaking car manufactured in Abingdon.”
But local resident Nigel Stead questioned whether the word midget is offensive, and started a petition to keep this name which GK ignored. “It’s imperative to state that this name does not in any way symbolise disrespect towards people with dwarfism,” he wrote.
“Our local customs and traditions, like Aunt Sally, stem from a history that we proudly carry forward. Let’s stand up to preserve our heritage and identity.”
Bat and Ball, Cuddesdon
Closed for over a year after being put up for sale by Admiral Taverns, this pub in a village near Wheatley re-opens on January 8 and will become more of a dining pub. It has been taken over by Ben Moss, who runs the Lamb Inn in nearby Little Milton, his Montgomery Group being well-known for restoring failing pubs.
The move was welcomed by villagers who had been mounting a community buy-out bid for the property. One of the organisers of this, Nicko King, said: “The whole village was shocked when the pub closed suddenly and without explanation. We’d lost a central part of our village life. We were then very worried that it would be yet another pub turned into a housing development.”
Cricketers Arms, Littleworth
This previous regular entry in the Good Beer Guide, about a mile from the centre of Wheatley, closed in summer 2023 and has again been put up for sale. The owners say the pub is “no longer needed nor is it economically viable”. It was put up for sale for £350,000 in 2019, with the agents saying: “The feedback we received from prospective purchasers was that the trading areas of the property are much too limited to be viable, given there are three other pubs with food within walking distance.” Whether the council agrees to a change of use remains to be seen.
Earl of Abingdon, Abingdon
A sports-themed pub has opened as part of Coxeter House at the junction of Ock Street and Stratton Way in the town. One or two real ales are served including Timothy Taylor Landlord and Sharp’s Doom Bar.
It is run by Andrew Fudge and Kylie Buckle, who previously ran the Grapes on Abingdon High Street as a sports bar. Many of their customers have come with them and the Grapes has closed, future unknown, although it is a historic building.
The Old Anchor Inn beside the Thames also remained closed at the time of writing and up for lease, having shut in May 2023.
White Hart, Wolvercote
Rob Yeatman has taken over as manager, with Jude Campbell continuing as assistant manager, at the Community-Owned Good Beer Guide pub, previous manager Amanda Jones having moved to Pembroke College. A good range of mainly local real ales is served, 12 years after being rescued from probable closure.
Church Hanborough Beer Festival
Thiswill take place from 12-10pm on Saturday, February 1 at St Peter’s Church in the village. It is organised by Church Hanbrewery, which operates the Teardrop bar in Oxford’s Covered Market.
Port Mahon, Oxford
Re-opened in September after investment by Greene King, it has introduced a “Kill the Cask” offer of £3.50 a pint on Tuesday evenings, until the beer runs out. Despite being a Greene King house it serves two real ales free of tie, Chiltern’s Beechwood Bitter being a regular.
Crown & Thistle, Headington
Closed and derelict since 2011, it is up for sale through Fleurets for £375,000, and has attracted interest from the Oxford Preservation Trust. It opened in 1669 as the Titup Hall, and the city council has twice turned down redevelopment plans.
Gardiner Arms, Tackley
This pub has re-opened after a year’s closure and is being run by volunteers from the village, which is on the Oxford-Banbury bus and rail routes. Real ales have come from breweries including Renegade, Tring and Fuller’s, and it is open from Thursdays to Sundays.