A shop selling beer in Abingdon has been given a warm welcome by customers.

The latest pub conversion from a shop, the Cowshed in Stert Street opened on December 9.

Stuart Fanson, who runs the business, resists calling it a micropub even thought it looks like one, as most of the premises is devoted to off-sales of beer, wine, cider and spirits, with only about a dozen seats for drinkers.

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Dave Richardson of the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said it was a welcome addition to Abingdon’s drinking scene, with three cask ales and plans for keg lines, supplied by XT, in the near future.

Cask ales available before Christmas were Geminids, a session pale by Luna (from White Horse brewery); Dark and Seedy by Little Ox; and a session IPA by London craft operator Brew by Numbers.

Opening of the Cowshed - so-called because a previous business set up by Stuart was in a cowshed - means there is once again a licensed premises in Stert Street, which had three pubs about 40 years ago.

Across the street from Cowshed is a branch of Pizza Express with the tell-tale ceramic plaque in the wall depicting the Morland Artist, a trademark of this long-gone Abingdon brewer’s pubs.

This was previously the George and Dragon, while further along the street were the Beehive (now an Indian restaurant) and the Plough (now a chemist).

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The Cowshed operates in a listed building which was previously the Added Ingredients delicatessen, and deli owner Jill Carver is now Mr Fanson’s landlady.

He told Oxford CAMRA’s magazine the Oxford Drinker: “What we sell can’t be bought in a supermarket and off-sales are the majority of our trade - we are primarily a bottle shop for independent brands.

“A lot of businesses along this street are independent, and there’s a lot of demand for all kinds of takeaway in Abingdon which you can see from the number of people carrying coffee. I believe that even in a recession, people will still drink, whether at home or in a pub.”

Bottles and cans from many local breweries are stocked, and there is also a good choice of imported beers including German brands and unusual wines too.

A 17% stout from Tartarus brewery was among the Christmas offers.

Mr Fanson worked for a beer importer after spending more than two years at the King’s Arms in Wantage, and as his grandparents ran a pub in Haddenham and he worked at pubs as a young man.

“The running costs of a traditional pub are very much higher, and for us our main costs are heating, lighting and the fridges,” he added.

“Before opening I spent a lovely three days driving around looking at other shop conversions, and I found a real spirit of co-operation in the drinks industry.

"I’m confident, and we describe ourselves as an artisan bottle shop with a micropub on the side.”

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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