We had particularly important business to attend to at our monthly branch meeting last night (13th March): the final opportunity to cast a vote and then the official count-up of all of the votes for this year's South Oxfordshire branch Pub of the Year.

It is with great pleasure to announce the Cross Keys in Wallingford as our Pub of the Year for 2024!

In just the couple of years since Oak Taverns acquired the pub from Brakspear, licensees Dave and Emma Howse have really raised the bar ever higher when it comes to both the quality and variety of their real ale offerings on their 4 hand-pumps.

With three ever-changing ale offerings from around the country (although there is thankfully a slight bias towards LocAle) to accompany the XT-brewed house beer, many of us, myself included, can't wait to discover what is currently pouring on each visit! I feel like I'm reliving my childhood visits to the sweet shop!

Lest we forget, the pub is judged on merits beyond the hand-pumps, with cleanliness, friendliness and community spirit all considered (almost) as important as the beer. Thankfully Dave and Emma score highly in these aspects too, especially in light of the weekly quiz nights and the nightly food van offerings. The fact that the pub is busy every night of the week is testament to the popularity Dave and Emma have built of the pub.

The branch would like to wish Dave and Emma huge congratulations and we will look forward to presenting you both with not only the Pub of the Year but also the Cider Pub of the Year during the beer festival over the Easter weekend.

It would be remiss not to mention the other pubs that were shortlisted for the award, which were the Bird in Hand, Henley; the Black Horse, Checkendon; the Red Lion, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell; and the Spire & Spoke, Watlington, all of which are great pubs at the heart of their communities and serve excellent cask ale.