The Tile Shop Ale House in Headington has made it into the 2023 edition of the Good Beer Guide.
At the same time, eight pubs are back in, including the 'community-owned' White Hart in Wolvercote, last featured in 1982.
The 50th edition of the Good Beer Guide includes 4,500 pubs all over the UK and an alphabetical listing of all breweries and pubs in each county, this being an innovation as previously the guide listed breweries alphabetically nationwide.
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The quality of cask beer is the decisive factor for inclusion although a range of other factors are considered including family and disabled facilities, and special events. CAMRA volunteers score pubs for the quality of their beer throughout the year, and there is no charge for inclusion.
CAMRA’s Oxford branch – also covering Abingdon, Witney, Kidlington and nearby villages – has 24 pubs in the guide again this year, including some regular performers. Among those back in for 2023, in addition to the White Hart in Wolvercote, are the Harcourt Arms in Jericho, Oxford (last featured in 2011), the Morris Clown in Bampton (2015) and the King’s Arms in Kidlington (2017). Returning to the guide after a brief absence are the Cricketers Arms in Littleworth, the Seven Stars in Marsh Baldon and the Old Bookbinders in Oxford.
Dave Richardson, of Oxford CAMRA, said: "All pubs making it into the Good Beer Guide should be congratulated, as this is a very competitive process and many good pubs don’t make it because of the limit on numbers imposed on every CAMRA branch. It is particularly pleasing to see the Tile Shop come in, as micro-pubs are a trend nationwide.
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"It only opened in April 2021, but the people running it have shown they know all about keeping and serving real ale. It’s the first micro-pub converted from a shop in Oxford, although there were already several others around the county, and also a bar converted from a market stall in Oxford. The Tile Shop generally serves two real ales from Tring Brewery, plus a third guest beer."
The local CAMRA branch also highlighted The White Hart in Wolvercote, where landlady Amanda Jones and her team serve a great range of mainly local ales.
Being served during a tour of Community-Owned pubs this month were Coolbreak Kid by Loose Cannon, Tumbling Jack by North Cotswold and Brock’s Den by Vale.
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The Harcourt Arms, also in the guide, is sometimes regarded as the most traditional pub in Jericho. Ian Stuart is the current landlord.
CAMRA has also praised pubs that appear in the guide year after year, such as the Masons Arms in Headington Quarry (in every year since 2005) and the Rose & Crown in North Oxford (in every year bar one since 1997).
CAMRA expects the reopened Lamb & Flag in St Giles to be in contention for 2024, as it has eight hand pumps.
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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
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