LAST summer when I was working at The Fishes we decided to throw a great big party in the pub’s garden that would have a real festival atmosphere and get everyone dancing, enjoying a few drinks and some serious grazing.

So the great Fishes Festival was born and what a cracking day it was.

One year and one promotion on – I’m now the manager of the pub – it’s back.

On Saturday at noon we shall be partying once again as we say hello to Fishstock 2016, a natty little name I think we may have accidentally borrowed from this paper.

It’s not every day that you get the chance to put on a festival in your own back garden and I for one can’t wait.

For weeks we have been planning, putting in phone calls to some of our favourite suppliers to be there on the day, thinking about the food we’ll cook and lining up some live entertainment which this year goes on well into the evening.

Like any decent festival, it’ll have some great live music on the Fishes main stage that we’re busy building in the pub garden.

First up will be talented young Oxford musician Patrick Amos who sings and plays acoustic guitar, followed by the groovy tunes of Funk Brother who will get everyone in the mood for a boogie.

You can also dance till late as we’ll have a DJ in the pub in the evening.

The wrist band you get on the way in is your key to the food hub and watering hole that we’ll have on offer at Fishstock this year.

Some of our best friends, who supply the pub, will be back out in force, offering you free tasters of what they produce, bottle or cook, as well as the chance to buy, take home or – more likely – gobble up there and then.

Sample a serving of seafood paella fresh from the giant pan on the Kingfisher Paella Bar or something from Aubrey Allen’s ultimate BBQ.

Sweet treats and pick and mix sweets from a retro sweet cart will also be on offer.

You can sit and watch a butchery demo over in the tipi with one of our head chefs.

Jack Bull, a finalist in this year’s National Burger Awards, will be taking a side of Aubrey Allen beef and showing you how to prepare every last bit of this great British produce.

When it’s time for a refreshing beverage, there’ll be several different watering holes to choose from. Aspall’s Cyder will have their full range of ciders on tap, and there’ll be delightful fizz from Boutinot. Have a classic cocktail mixed for you at the Havana Mojito Bar and slide over to the Brockmans pop-up cocktail bar to learn a bit about the history of gin. With games like giant Jenga, Connect Four, draughts and skittles as well as space hoppers dotted around the garden, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained. There’ll even be some flower power with giant gerberas and sunflowers decorating the place.

It’s my first full-blown festival at the pub and it’s looking like a brilliant day in the making.

Come along and join in.

GO THERE
Tickets at brownpapertickets.com/event/2545768.
The advance price is £10 and that gives you one free food and drink sample; otherwise it’s £15 on the day.
Kids free fishesoxford.co.uk