Some of Oxford's lost pubs are being remembered by real ale enthusiasts.

The city's branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

And as part of the celebrations members, including Oxford branch spokesman Dave Richardson, have been remembering pubs the city has lost over the years.

These include The Roebuck Tap in Market Street, just off Cornmarket.

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It began life in 1610 as The Roebuck Inn, taking its name from the coat of arms of Jesus College.

By 1740 it had become a large coaching inn on the London to Gloucester route and in 1850 it was rebuilt as a new hotel.

Oxford Mail: Women at The Roebuck TapIn 1924 the Market Street site was taken over by Woolworths but the pub reopened after the old vaults were rebuilt in 1938 and later became the Bar Oz.

The Roebuck Tap site is now occupied by Wagamama.

Long before it closed down it underwent a transformation in 1960 when a new bar opened, appealing to women.

The inaugural meeting of the Oxford branch of CAMRA was held at the Kings Arms in Oxford in March 1974, this being one of 23 pubs listed in a modest publication (Read Draught Beer in Oxford, which cost 5p) which appeared the following year.

Oxford Mail: Mr Richardson has been looking through annual beer guides and it has prompted memories of pubs in Oxford that have closed over the years.

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He told the Oxford Drinker, CAMRA's magazine: "The 1977 guide brings to mind many Oxford pubs that are no longer with us – examples including the Carpenters Arms in Jericho, Coach & Horses in St Clement’s, Crown & Thistle in Headington, Horse and Jockey in Woodstock Road, Nuffield Arms in Cowley, Roebuck in Market Street and Seven Stars in Lake Street.

"Some have since changed their names but still operate, such as the Bulldog in St Aldates (now St Aldates Tavern), Gloucester Arms in Friars Entry (White Rabbit), Oranges & Lemons in St Clement’s (Angel and Greyhound) and Waterman’s Arms in Osney (the Punter).

Oxford Mail: Chris and Debbie Long"And back in the 1970s, no-one had heard of Wetherspoons, micro-pubs or bars converted from market stalls!"

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Oxford CAMRA founder members David Longrigg (first chairman) and John Rutherford (first secretary) spoke to the Oxford Drinker in 2013, recalling that in the 1970s, the local branch mainly attracted university people – very different from today.

“In the old days we had to persuade brewers such as Morrells and Morland to continue putting hand pumps on, but CAMRA has achieved what it set out to do,” said Mr Longrigg at the time.

Oxford Mail: The Marlborough Arms“We were often described as anti-keg beer, but that was not the case. We were simply pro-choice, and choice is what we have today.”

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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