Branch News

Here is the latest news about pubs and breweries in the branch area.

  • 25 years at the Bird in Hand Tuesday 6 November 2018

    Graham and Celia Steward at the Bird in Hand in Henley have clocked up 25 years of owning/running the pub: the exact date was Saturday 3rd November. Marisa Francini, on behalf of the South Oxfordshire branch, presented them with a Special Award certificate to mark the occasion, and made a small speech, emphasising the following points:

    • It is a fantastic community pub with a huge number of regulars of all ages.
    • They are open every day of the week, lunchtime and evening. (Not all of the pubs in town do so).
    • They have appeared in 24 consecutive editions of the Good Beer Guide
    • It is a credit to them that they have managed to stick to their initial plan to run the pub as a wet-led business for 25 years without having to resort to an extensive food offer in order to survive. They do serve snacks though!
    • Their success is all the more remarkable, considering that the pub had been closed for a period of time before they took it on and brought it back from the dead. CAMRA estimates that 18 pubs a week are closing, but the Bird continues to thrive and prosper, and long may this continue!

  • Branch Pub and Brewery News (October 2018) Tuesday 23 October 2018

    Pub news:

    The Reformation has reopened.

    The Three Tuns, Henley, has a new landlord.

    Brewery news:

    Bell Street Brewery’s recent seasonal was Henley on Toast (4.1% ABV) was created in collaboration with Toast Ale, uses surplus bread from Lawlor’s bakery in Henley.

  • Branch Pub and Brewery News (September 2018) Sunday 30 September 2018

    Pub news:

    The Chequers, Aston Tirrold has reopened as ‘The Fat Frog at the Chequers’.

    The Cherry Tree, Stoke Row, has new licensees and is currently very busy. They are selling hand-pumped cider.

    The Leatherne Bottel, Goring, has reopened as a restaurant.

    Brakspear has delisted the Crown, Nuffield, from its pub list, is in the process of making the Four Horseshoes, Checkendon, fully residential, and is advertising for a new tenant at the Cross Keys, Wallingford. On a more positive note, Brakspear has indicated that the Rising Sun, Highmoor, is in the process of acquiring a new tenant.

  • Branch Pub and Brewery News (August 2018) Monday 3 September 2018

    Pub news:

    The Mulberry, Didcot opened on 2nd July. Initial reports indicate that the refurbishment has been well executed and three ales were on sale: Good Old Boy, Abingdon Bridge and Roundhead.

    The Crown, Stadhampton, has closed: our current assumption is this is not permanent. This pub is owned by Hawthorne Leisure, i.e. the company created to take excess pubs from Greene King.

  • Branch Pub and Brewery News (June 2018) Sunday 1 July 2018

    Pub news:

    On 17th May there was a meeting of the people who have pledged to invest in the purchase of the Crown, South Moreton. This resulted in an increased offer to Worthmore Investments, which has been accepted.

    The Keep in Wallingford has installed a cider handpump, drawing the cider from a box under the bar.

    Ye Olde Leathern Bottel, Goring, closed on 13th May. It was once a pub but has been a restaurant, latterly Italian, for many years.

    Brewery news:

    Amwell Springs Brewery in Cholsey is installing a six-barrel plant, with support from Dave Maggs (ex-supremo of West Berks).