It’s been a tough 18 months for our pubs, and indeed all of us, so it’s great that we can again gather back in our pubs and CAMRA can make awards to the best we have. The Fleur de Lys, East Hagbourne has been awarded the South Oxfordshire Branch’s Pub of the Year for 2021. This is the third time that Darren and Ruth Sargisson (pictured right and centre, with our Branch Chairman, Graham Hards, on the left) have picked up the Award, the last times bring in 2017 and 2019. They have been at the Greene King tenanted pub for eight years now and have brought it back up from rather a low point to a much-loved and vibrant cornerstone of the local community. Community involvement is a big thing – the pub is the natural meeting place for many local groups, from cyclists to bell-ringers and hosts many popular pub games such as crib, darts and Aunt Sally. The pub also kept going during the various lockdowns and stayed open as much as possible to provide takeaway meals and drinks to their local community. The Fleur also hosts twice-monthly music evenings with local musicians and also arranges large set-piece events, such as the Fleur Fest, and an annual folk weekend featuring (amongst others) Fairport Convention.

And we must mention the cask ales of course. Despite being a Greene King tenancy, the pub offers six real ales on hand pump, always including ales from the nearby Love Beer and Loose Cannon breweries. All the beers are served in a consistently excellent condition throughout the year.

The Fleur fought off stiff competition from the Flowing Spring, Playhatch, Highwayman, Exlade Street, Checkendon, Plough, Long Wittenham, and the Plum Pudding, Milton to become the well-deserved winner of South Oxfordshire’s Pub of the Year 2021, and the Branch gathered at the pub on Thursday 22nd July to make a small presentation of the Award to Ruth and Darren. The following day, Friday 23rd July, was the first day of Fleur Fest 2021 and the Award was more formally announced from the stage (pictured right) in the break between the bands, and was rapturously acknowledged by the large crowd attending the highly enjoyable event.

Many congratulations to Darren and Ruth, and to all the staff – a great pub!

Graham Hards & Paul Dixon