The most authoritative pub guide in the UK is published today — what’s new?
The real ale scene in East Oxford has taken a big step forward with two pubs added in the new guide published on September 25 – the Star in Rectory Road, and the Oranges & Lemons in St Clement’s.
The guide was first published in 1974 but the Star has never been in before – while the Oranges & Lemons last featured in 2014 when it was known as the Angel and Greyhound. Also completely new to the guide is the Red Lion in Yarnton, a village pub off the main A44 road saved from closure in December 2023 when re-opened by independent pub group Oak Taverns.
Altogether there are 24 pubs listed in the Oxford CAMRA branch area, which covers Abingdon, Kidlington, Witney and nearby villages, as well as Oxford city. One pub included in the printed guide but listed only under closed pubs on CAMRA’s database is the Broad Face in Abingdon, which shut in August awaiting a new tenant.
Back in after two years out is Fuller’s Harcourt Arms in Jericho, while dropping out for 2026 are the Chequers and Teardrop in Oxford, the Nag’s Head in Abingdon and the Angel in Witney.
Pubs are chosen based on beer scores by CAMRA members from all over the country, judging the quality of real ale rather than the number of real ales offered, and not taking into account food, ambiance or any other factors. Due to restrictions on numbers allocated to each branch, many good real ale pubs fail to make it.
We should also pay tribute to pubs which appear in it every year. These include the Rose and Crown in North Oxford (every year bar one since 1997), the Masons Arms in Headington (since 2005) and the Brewery Tap in Abingdon (since 2008). Other regulars in recent years include Oxford pubs the Royal Blenheim, Gardeners Arms (Plantation Road) and White Rabbit, plus the White Hart in Headington.
The addition of two pubs in East Oxford for 2026 is particularly welcome as there hasn’t been a pub in the guide from the Cowley Road area for many years, while Iffley Road pubs have appeared only occasionally.
The Star is an independent pub just off Cowley Road leased since 2020 by Gus Rogers, and over the last couple of years it has increased its focus on real ale with a very eclectic range. On draught recently were Utopian Brewery’s Best Bitter, Marble Beers’ Late Summer Pints, and Young Leith Steam from the Pilot brewery in Edinburgh.
“Trade has been good since taking over and our large garden saved us when Covid restrictions kicked in,” said Gus, son of Ian Rogers who was joint owner of Wychwood brewery in the 1990s. “We get a cross-section of customers here, and were still busy in the summer when the Cowley Road pubs were dead because they appeal mainly to students.”
Bar manager Daisy Mulford, who joined recently from the O2 Academy, added: “We get quite a few families before about 8pm at weekends. Customers like to see their favourite ales like Bass back, but will often ask, ‘what’s next’?”
An even wider range of ales is available at the Oranges & Lemons, reverting to its previous name after re-opening by Morgan Pub Collective – which also runs the Grapes – last February. On the bar recently were regular Harvey’s Sussex Best plus Oakham’s Oranje, Tempo Pale Ale, Ossett X and Rooster’s London Thunder porter, plus two real ciders on hand pump.
Real cider is also a feature at the Red Lion in Yarnton, with up to 10 served from boxes in summer and five usually available all year from names including Seacider, Lilley’s, Hitchcox and Old Rosie. Real ales on a recent visit were regular Trunk IPA from new local brewery Twisted Tree, Rebellion IPA from Marlow, and Wipeout from Little Ox.
The village is on the S3 bus route from Oxford towards Chipping Norton or Charlbury, operating every half hour during the day and hourly in the evenings. The Red Lion was closed and put up for sale by Admiral Taverns in 2022 and subject to a failed community buy-out bid, but Oak Taverns now successfully operates the pub which also has a large garden.
Landlady Jess Dixon said: “It means a lot to get into the guide for the first time as we are really trying to push real ale in this area, and I would like to keep expanding it. The village really wants the pub to succeed after various changes of ownership over the years.”
Live music is played on some weekends and although it doesn’t serve food – like all Oak Taverns pubs – it welcomes food vans at weekends and on Wednesdays.