Visit The White Hart in Headington for its delicious pies

The friendly community pub in St Andrew’s - a short distance away from neighbouring hostelry The Black Boy - features in our list of top 10 pubs to be nominated for Oxford Mail Best Pub 2022.

The White Hart, run by Dan Smaje and his wife Carole, has been listed in the Good Beer Guide for nine consecutive years and was awarded the Oxford CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2014 and 2017.

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It has seven different beers and ciders on hand pumps, as well as a good selection of draught and bottled beers.

The pub is owned by Everards. Its website says: “Be sure to check out our food menu, we serve good quality traditional pub food, including our ever popular range of pies and our famous Sunday roasts.”

Mr Smaje and his wife have been running The White Hart for the past 14 years.

“A lot of our customers work at the local hospitals,” said Mr Smaje.

“And of course there are lots of locals - it’s a good mix.

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“We have a lovely walled garden which we take great pride in and we are busy every evening, especially when the weather is good and the sun is out.

“We struggled a bit during Covid like everyone else but once we reopened we hit the ground running.

“The cost of living is high at the moment - everything is going up.”

Before taking over The White Hart Mr Smaje worked at what is now The Royal Blenheim in St Ebbe’s for five years.

The shortlist for the competition is: The Black Boy, Old High Street, Headington; The White Hart, St Andrew’s Road, Headington; The Brewery Tap, Ock Street, Abingdon; College Oak, Peachcroft Road, Abingdon; The Masons Arms, Quarry School Place, Headington; The Royal Blenheim, St Ebbe’s; The Turf Tavern, Bath Place, off Holywell Street; The Victoria Arms, Mill Lane, Oxford; The Queen’s Arms, Manor Road, Didcot; The White Hart, Godstow Road, Wolvercote.

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Drinkers are now being asked to vote for their favourite by sending in voting tokens which will be featured in the Oxford Mail every day until Saturday, August 13.

Until then we will be featuring all the pubs which made it into the top 10 after being nominated by our readers.

Oxford Mail editor Andrew Colley said: “I’m delighted these 10 pubs have been nominated and they are all in with a chance of winning.

“Pubs which have been selected are clearly at the heart of their communities and now it’s the important bit - voting for your favourite.”

Post your voting coupon to: Oxford Mail Best Pub 2022, Richmond House, Units 1 and 2, Edison Park, Hindle Way, Swindon, SN3 3RB.

The closing date for postal entries is Sunday, August 21.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF