BEER lovers have crowned the most pitcher-perfect pub in Oxford as Headington’s Masons Arms.

The family-run boozer has now won the Oxford CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year for a sixth time, with judges hailing its unbeerlievable quality beer and ambience.

CAMRA spokesman Dave Richardson said: “It’s great to see the Masons reclaim the City POTY award having won it several times before.

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“It’s a rare example of a thoroughly traditional non-food pub with lots of sports teams and a real connection with the local community, and of course a great choice of traditional ales.”

He added: “It’s an independent business run by the Meeson family for many years which makes it all the more pleasing that it’s come out on top.”

Landlord Chris Meeson took on the reins at The Masons Arms along with his two brothers – Andrew, who runs the pubs micro-brewery, and Matthew – just over two decades ago.

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Mr Meeson, who has been a Headington Quarry resident his whole life, found out the pub won on Tuesday.

 

He said: “It’s a surprise. We’ve had it before but we are really, really pleased.

“There was so much more competition this year and loads more pubs in the line-up... delighted, just really happy.”

He announced the exciting news on Twitter, thanking regulars for all their support and for ‘making the pub what it is’.

Toasting to 2019, the tweet sparked a thread of congratulatory replies.

One user tweeted: “Congratulations! Roll on wet February.”

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Mr Meeson has recently spoken out on Dry January, saying the annual sobriety campaign could be ‘crippling’ for smaller pubs.

Any pub that is listed in the Good Beer Guide was eligible for this year's CAMRA accolade, with members voting using various criteria including beer quality, inclusiveness, value for money and ambience.

One of the Masons' biggest contributions to inclusivity in Headington is putting on some of the biggest events in the community calendar each year, most of them involving drinking in one way or another.

At last year's Headington Beer Festival, kegs of beer, ale and cider were drained to the last drop by the thirsty revellers.

On Boxing Day it also swung open its doors to locals for the the traditional Mummers Play where Morris dancers dressed as knights battle in the backyard of the boozer.

The Brewery Tap in Abingdon was crowned Oxford CAMRA's Town and Village Pub of the Year.