A rolling round-up of news from around Oxfordshire and beyond
Mother’s Pride film a hit
A “feel good” film backed by CAMRA has proved to be a hit, although purists have objected to parts of it which lack authenticity. It took in over £700,000 in its opening weekend, giving it fifth place in the UK box office chart.
Mother’s Pride was still being shown in local cinemas at the end of March, although its main run was over. Released on March 6, it is rooted in pub culture, with a cast including Martin Clunes, Jonno Davies, James Buckley, Josie Lawrence and Mark Addy.
It tells the story of an ailing West Country pub threatened by closure, which decides to brew its own cask ale in a last-ditch attempt to keep open. It competes in the fictitious Great British Beer Awards, modelled on CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition.
“The film shows what can be achieved by working together to protect our pubs – and the power of the people campaigning for their survival,” says CAMRA, which co-operated in the filming. “It is a reminder that sometimes the smallest ideas can spark the biggest change. Reinvigorating pride in pubs, Mother’s Pride places the pub at the heart of the village – reminding locals it is still the life and soul of the community.
“With UK pubs battling against a backdrop of rising costs, the film’s release couldn’t come at a better time to shine a spotlight on the day-to-day struggles pubs face.”
Like all unashamedly “feel good films”, Mother’s Pride can be simplistic and takes liberties with how some types of people are portrayed. The most obvious of its inaccuracies is to give the impression that a barrel of real ale transported over many days by horse and cart could win a major award as soon as it’s unloaded.
But overall it is good for CAMRA, real ale, pubs and independent brewers, and also for Butcombe whose pump clips feature prominently. It was filmed in 2024 in the village of Norton St Philip, Somerset, where Butcombe runs the George Inn and the Fleur de Lys with the latter renamed the Drovers Arms for the film.
BMAN to open Oxford riverside taproom
Oxfordshire micro-brewery BMAN plans to open a taproom at Salter’s boatyard, Donnington Bridge, on April 11. Previously based in Chalgrove, the brewery – which does not produce cask ale – has been run since 2021 by Alex Berryman with a focus on IPAs and unusual styles such as Saison.
Now it is expanding the brewery and moving it to a site at Donnington Bridge, which connects South Oxford and East Oxford across the Thames. BMAN beers are also available in a few local pubs including the Lamb & Flag, Star and Library.
Charlbury Beer Festival
This year’s festival is set for Saturday, June 27, when it will celebrate serving 100,000 pints since it started in 1998. It will offer around 60 real ales, over 20 craft beers, a range of ciders and perries, wine, gin, and Pimm’s; and a selection of food, live music and other entertainment, plus the World Aunt Sally Singles Championships. The event, at the cricket club, raised £340,000 for charities last year.
Major award for Oak Taverns
Oxfordshire independent pub group Oak Taverns was voted Best Community Pub Operator in the 2026 Publican Awards run by the Morning Advertiser industry portal. It operates 12 pubs in Oxfordshire plus others in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, and is notable for not serving food although food vans visit some of its pubs at weekends.
Bar billiards back at the Crown
The Community-Owned Crown in South Moreton, near Didcot, has introduced a bar billiards table and also joined a darts league. Bar billiards was once a popular pub game but has almost disappeared.
Bell in Great Bourton saved?
Villagers in Great Bourton, north of Banbury, are celebrating after permission was refused to turn its pub into private housing. Closed by Hook Norton brewery in 2023, it is now the subject of a community buy-out bid by the Save the Bell Inn Action Group.
Spring Light debut
Hook Norton Brewery is to launch Spring Light, a hazy, zesty seasonal beer claimed to be light in strength at 3.2%, but full of flavour. The launch is at the Falcon, Thame at 5pm on April 2, when the pub celebrates a £50,000 investment and refurbishment by the brewery.
