Changes in Abingdon as micro-pub shuts but Greene King increases its presence
The Broad Face in Abingdon re-opened on October 20 in a tenancy deal between Greene King and the Healy Family Group, writes Pete Flynn. Healy operates two other GK pubs in Abingdon, the Black Swan and the Punchbowl, plus the Red Lion in Drayton within its small portfolio of about 15 pubs. The Broad Face will only be selling cask beer within the range offered by GK for the first 12 months, including guests. On opening day it offered Wadworth 6X, Hardy & Hansons bitter (GK), St Austell Tribute and GK Abbot. After the initial 12 months a greater diversity of cask ale will be available, and the Broad Face is likely to have a food offering, quiz and theme nights.
Annual rent was advertised as £25,500 plus 5% of weekly net sales, with entry costs of £22,625. Annual turnover was estimated at over £500,000.
The quality and wide range of independent ales previously offered made the pub a favourite with real ale fans, winning Oxford CAMRA’s Town and Village Pub of the Year award in 2023 and securing a place in the Good Beer Guide. For now the range is reduced, but new manager Agnes Wisniewska brings plenty of experience in the pub trade following stints at the Fox & Hounds in Uffington and Prince of Wales in Shrivenham.
The Broad Face closed on August 25 when the previous tenant gave up. It is a large and characterful hostelry close to the Thames whose name is unique in the UK. The pub sign shows a bloated face which has led some to assume it is named after a corpse pulled from the river, but no-one knows for sure. Another theory is that it is the face of a prisoner at Abingdon Jail, just across the road, which has been converted into apartments.
In other Abingdon news, the Craftsman Tap micro-pub on Stert Street is due to pull its last pint on Friday (October 31) after the couple running it decided to concentrate on building up their small brewery, also called Craftsman. Justin and Sam Evans took the plunge by opening their own micro-pub on May 1, in what had been the Cowshed Drinks bar (opened 2022) in the former Added Ingredients deli. But the income did not pay for the rent, and as both have full-time jobs as well as operating the home-based brewery since 2016 they have decided to call it a day.
Craftsman brewery is being expanded as it has won critical acclaim, and its Naughty Pappa IPA (4%) and Scooby Dooby Doo IPA (also 4%) were the first to sell out at the last Oxford Beer Festival in 2024. Magic Midget bitter (4%) recalls the MG Midget car which was made in Abingdon and gave its name to a Greene King pub on Preston Road, recently renamed the Roaring Raindrop.
- The Old Anchor Inn, re-opened in September after being closed since May 2023, is back running again following a short period of closure and staff upheaval. The pub is no longer leased by Greene King but sells only GK beers.