Branch News

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

  • An Eazy Evening at Amwell Springs Brewery Saturday 14 September 2019

    Members from our branch were lucky enough to spend an excellent evening at Amwell Springs Brewery in Cholsey last Wednesday (11th September). Andrew Gibbons, Head Brewer (pictured next to the stillage), explained the brewery’s beginnings, including the fact that the brewing water is sourced directly from chalk-filtered springs located only a few hundred metres from the brewery.

    Andrew’s father, David (also pictured in the foreground), who is the chairman of the brewery (and is the inspiration for one of the names of the beers!) helped Andrew explain the stories behind the intriguing beer names!

    Liquid refreshment was kindly provided in the form of a fresh barrel of Eazy Geez, which received many compliments.

  • Branch Pub and Brewery News (September 2019) Saturday 14 September 2019

    Pub news:

    • The Crown in Benson, has been bought by Hook Norton Brewery. Branch Chairman, David Cooper attended a meeting with James Clarke, Managing Director of the North Oxfordshire brewery, and signs are very positive with the brewery planning to invest heavily into making it a good community-focussed pub. The plan is to re-open the pub before Christmas following some major refurbishment.
    • The Reformation, Gallowstree Common has re-opened under a one-year tenancy of Bob Hurst. Gravity and Oxford Gold on pump, but only snacks and sandwiches at lunchtime food-wise.
    • The ACV for the Fleur-dy-Lys in Dorchester expired in April 2019 and has not been renewed. The pub remains closed.
    • The Red Lion in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, is once again being run by very popular landlady Sue Robson, and is proving to be very busy and popular with the locals. However, as her intention was not to continue running the pub in the long term, she has put the lease back on the market, but will only hand this over to someone who will run it as she and the community would like.

    Brewery news:

    • The owner of the Lovibonds site in Henley has won his appeal for his application to demolish and build anew in the tap room area.

  • Branch Pub and Brewery News (July 2019) Wednesday 28 August 2019

    Pub news:

    • The Dog & Duck, Highmoor, has finally been demolished.
    • The Reformation in Gallowstree Common may reopen soon. The Parish Council has canvassed locals asking for previous events they’ve attended there for evidence to support an ACV.
    • Sat Sandhu has finally left the White Lion, Crays Pond. The pub does have an ACV.
    • There is a new landlord at the Red Lion in Peppard Common
    • The freehold of the Crown in Benson is for sale at £495k. The previous tenant estimated that it will need ≈£750k to bring it back to a satisfactory standard. Branch Chairman, David Cooper, is looking into getting an ACV on it.
    • The Big Bash at the Butchers Arms in Sonning Common, was a success attracting around 1200 people.

  • Central Southern Cider Pub of the Year 2019 in our Branch Monday 29 July 2019

    The Plum Pudding in Milton has just become the 2019 Cider Pub of the Year for the Central Southern Region; this means that the pub owners Mandy and Jez Hill (pictured either side of Elvis Evans who is the Regional Cider Coordinator) had to fend off other cider pubs from Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, as well as Oxfordshire.

    Lets hope we can get another Oxfordshire based National winner, as we did in 2012 with the Royal Oak in Wantage taking the crown.

  • Branch Pub and Brewery News (June 2019) Monday 17 June 2019

    Pub news:

    • Our reigning Branch Pub of the Year, the Fleur de Lys (East Hagbourne) won the first round of the Central Southern Region Pub of the Year and is now up against the Bell (Aldworth) and the Rising Sun (Haddenham).
    • The Bear at Home (North Moreton) and the White Lion (Crays Pond) have both had their ACV renewed
    • David Cooper (Branch Chairman) reported to the May meeting that the ACV application for the Reformation (Gallowstree Common) failed because of lack of substantiation on community use. SODC is actually supportive of the application but is wary of granting approvals that could subsequently be challenged.
    • It was previously noted that the Bottle & Glass management plans to open a bar/restaurant in the recently-closed Cau restaurant. There are no plans to sell real ale – Loddon and West Berks bottled beers only.
    • Ei is advertising for a new tenant for the Bird in Hand (Sonning Common).
    • The Sun (Hill Bottom) has new tenants and is now open seven days a week.
    • The Royal Standard (previously the Partridge, Wallingford) is being run by a small pubco, Punch Monkey, owned by the ex-Town Arms tenant, and is currently selling Amwell Springs.

    Brewery news:

    • Brakspear has rebranded its beer range. Brakspear’s Bitter will now be known as ‘Gravity’.