Two village pubs threatened but Oak Taverns bags two more — and where’s the best beer city?
White Hart Wytham at risk
Villagers in Wytham, near Oxford, mounted a campaign to try to save their pub after its owners applied for permission to convert it into a house. Oxford CAMRA has also lodged an objection.
Vale of White Horse District Council is considering the application after owner Ace Pubs claimed it had lost a huge amount of money in the years leading up to its closure in September 2022. It invested heavily in outside covered accommodation and dining pods when re-opening was allowed after Covid, but this is now derelict.
Over £300,000 had been lost by 2019, according to Mark “Baz” Butcher of Ace Pubs who took over in 2015. Electricity costs had risen from about £2,000 to £7,000 per month, and gas was up by 50%. Marketing by Fleurets led to only 27 viewings of the property in three years, with only two offers being made and then withdrawn. Guide price was lowered from £975,000 to £600,000.
It now wants to convert the 17th century building into a four-bedroomed house, saying: “It is clear that after three years of marketing the White Hart, on both a freehold and lease basis, that the premises, as a public house, is no longer viable as a business concern. The property will never operate as a public house again unfortunately, and an alternative and viable use of the premises will be required.”
Dave King, chair of Wytham Parish Meeting, said: “This would be a terrible end for such a historic pub, and we have been trying hard to get as many people as possible to comment on the planning application.”
- Plans have also been submitted to convert the Woodman Inn in North Leigh, near Witney, into a private house. Again, Oxford CAMRA has objected.
Sheffield “the best beer city in the world”?
Sheffield CAMRA’s latest beer census on May 31 found that 375 different cask ales from 159 breweries were available in 158 pubs, after visiting eight daytime pub routes around the city followed by an evening focus on the city centre.
The final total nearly matched the pre-Covid 2019 record of 407 cask ales from 189 breweries, and it estimates that if independent craft keg ales are added, more than 500 different beers are on offer.
Sheffield is served by direct CrossCountry train services from Oxford and Banbury, with a more frequent service if you change at Birmingham New Street.
Two more pubs for Oak Taverns
Oxfordshire’s top independent pub company, Oak Taverns, has bought the freehold of the Rose & Crown in Charlbury and Three Pigeons in Banbury to bring its total in the county to 12. Renowned for its focus on real ale and policy of not serving food (but with a wide range of food vans visiting many of its pubs at busy times), it has successfully re-opened some village pubs that had been long closed.
Director Emma Stevenson said: “The Rose and Crown marks the first time Oak Taverns has purchased a pub already trading at the levels we usually aim to achieve, with exactly the type of trade we look to develop. Thankfully, we have maintained those levels and perhaps even increased them slightly. The pub offers eight cask beers and four real ciders.
“The Three Pigeons is a thatched pub just outside Banbury town centre, which has been refurbished to a very high standard over the last few years. It is also the first of our pubs where you can now stay overnight, with three very well-appointed letting bedrooms. We have increased the cask beer range from one national beer to three local or interesting options. In addition, we have introduced three real ciders.”
Over £400 raised for Maggie’s cancer support
Carla Seaman very kindly donated to Oxford CAMRA a set of 12 historic bottled beers, some over 50 years old, including brews to celebrate royal weddings or brewery anniversaries. It decided to collaborate with the Masons Arms in Headington and raffle the beers at its September beer festival, which returned in 2025 after a year off in 2024.
Oxford CAMRA has fund-raised for local cancer support charity Maggie’s in the past. It is based at the Churchill Hospital and Chris Meeson, landlord of the Masons Arms, felt this would be a great fit. The response on both days of the festival was astounding as people were amazingly generous. Those who hadn’t heard of Maggie’s were interested in hearing who they are, and it was humbling how many people had either been helped themselves by Maggie’s or knew someone who had.
With a curious collect of old beers that had been in a shed for decades, it wasn’t sure what the result would be as there was no guarantee the beers were drinkable. But customers of the Masons Arms opened their hearts and their wallets and raised an expectation smashing total of £427.80.
Carla was blown away when she was told. Chris Meeson and Oxford CAMRA would like to thank everyone for their amazing generosity; the money went to great cause. Https://www.maggies.org/our-centres/maggies-oxford/
Neil Crook, RIP
Ian Winfield of White Horse CAMRA writes on the passing of a colleague
I am saddened to report the passing of Neil Crook. Neil was chair of the White Horse branch of CAMRA for many years and remained an active member of the branch and volunteer at the Great British Beer Festival and many other festivals until shortly before his death on August 25, aged 71, after a short illness.
I first met Neil over 15 years ago at the Royal Oak in Wantage, where he was a regular, and always present for CAMRA meetings and get-togethers. Neil was passionate about real ale and was known by many fellow enthusiasts, not just locally but across the country. He was a long-standing CAMRA member and was for several years the local branch chair, which is not an easy job. I know this, as I followed him in that role and really appreciated the support that he personally gave me.
Neil volunteered every year at Oxford Beer Festival, where he was involved in the set-up and maintenance of the cooling system. He established the Wantage Beer Festival and volunteered there every year until the last, which was held in 2020 … mere days before Covid-19 swept the country. Neil’s final GBBF, only a short time before his passing, was at Birmingham NEC. He did what he loved, setting up from the Thursday before opening and staying on until Wednesday morning.
Neil moved from Faringdon to Ashbury four years ago and in true Neil style, settled into village life by helping to run the cellar at the Rose and Crown where he came to appreciate Arkell’s 3Bs. He will be sadly missed by his many friends at CAMRA, the local branch especially, and by many more people that CAMRA brought into Neil’s orbit across the country over many years.
I have many great memories sharing a pint or two and sometimes more with Neil at pubs, clubs, breweries and festivals across the country. When we meet again, we will have a pint of White Horse Bitter or Morrell’s, my good mate. Neil’s final words to his wife Carol were, “Can I have a pint of 3Bs in the pub?” That’s just SO Neil.
Greene King 25% discount offer
Greene King is continuing the spirit of Cask Ale Week (September 18-28) by offering CAMRA members a 25% discount on real ale right through until October 26. The offer applies only at GK managed pubs (rather than tenancies or franchises), which in Oxford include the Wig & Pen, Turf Tavern, Jude the Obscure and the Duke of Monmouth.
A 10% discount normally applies to CAMRA members at its 600+ managed pubs around the country. It is also offering a tasting paddle of three one-third pints for £3 between the same dates, but this can only be ordered via the GK app. The 25% discount offer on ales is available at the bar.