Roundup of Abingdon Pub news November 2009
I’ve been a bit busy recently and not kept things up to date, so here’s a quick round up of pub related things that have happened around town over the last few weeks
The Kings Head and Bell reopened on 30th October. This is everything I expected it to be, good beer, reasonably priced food. It has retained the traditional feel to it, but is more welcoming than previously. Judging by its popularity over the last couple of weeks it fits in with what many people want in a pub. Beers are mainly from Hook Norton and Adnams and Fullers London Pride arrived this week. It is good to see a regular outlet for Hook Norton in Abingdon. Hook Norton is Oxfordshire’s oldest brewery and has recently been winning lots of awards
The Brewery Tap has had a 6th hand pump fitted, and has a lot of beers from local breweries including West Berkshire Brewery, Hook Norton, White Horse Brewery, Vale Brewery. The list of beers on last week were:
- Maggs mild
- Morland original
- Hardy’s and Hanson Bitter
- Hook Norton’s Flagship
- White horse Wayland smithy
- vale Brewery Grumpling ale
They are having a Winter ‘Beer, Cider & Sausage’ festival between 4th-6th December. Featuring 30 different cask ales, 5 real ciders and live music from Big Boys Blues Band on the Sunday from 4pm.
Morland’s Old Speckled Hen recently celebrated its 30th birthday. I’m sure most people already know its history. For more info see this article in the Oxford Times and this youtube video of Ode To Joy being performed on Speckled Hen bottles.
The Old Anchor has a charity event on 5th December in aid of stroke survivors. The main event is sold out. However there will be live music at 9pm to which people will be admitted for a £3 entrance fee.
The Nags Head is continuing to maintain a good variety of real ales which change on a regular basis, although I understand that Fullers London Pride may become a permanent offering.
The Broad Face has a new sign depicting a broad faced man’s head more in keeping to how it was few years ago. They are serving a guest beer alongside the regular Morland Original and Abott Ale
The Stocks Bar is continuing to maintain a good range of real ales, and has just some refurbishment including new flooring in the bar. They also now have a facebook page
White Horse has a good range of beers and live music most Saturdays.
The Cross Keys has a good program of live music and serving good beer including St. Austell’s Proper Job.
Punch Bowl had a Morris Dancing folk music jam session last Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Boar appears to be having some interior refurbishment going on
The Plough is serving a reasonable pint of beer, serves lunchtime food and has live music most weeks
The Black Swan has had some outside refurbishment, but seems the same inside
November 20, 2009
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Tags: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs, beer · Posted in: Abingdon, beer
Kings Head & Bell reopening soon
After nearly two years after closing due to structural problems with the historic building, the Kings Head & Bell on East St. Helens Street is due to reopen soon.
A large banner is hanging across the front of the pub proudly proclaiming that it will reopen on October 30th.
It looks like there is still a lot of work to do, but there has been a huge effort of activity from builders, plasterers, electricians and other tradesmen over the last month or two. A new extension has been built at the back going into the courtyard.
I am looking forward to the reopening of the pub and wish it’s new owners Foundation Inns the best success.
October 13, 2009
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New Brewery for Oxford
A new craft micro brewery called the Shotover Brewing Company is due to
open soon in converted stables in Horspath just outside Oxford. The
owner and head brewer Ed Murray has been craft brewing for over twenty years
and has made the decision to turn his interest into a commercial venture.
It is anticipated that beer will be on sale by the end of November.
There are photos of stables being converted into the brewery on their facebook group and their main web site is at www.shotoverbrewing.com.
I am hoping that one of the Shotover beers will be at the Brewery Tap‘s Winter ‘Beer, Cider & Sausage’ festival on Friday 4th December – Sunday 6th December. This festival promises 30 different cask ales, 5 real ciders. The Big Boys Blues Band will be playing live on the Sunday from 4pm.
Note to any publicans reading this… I don’t intend to only mention the Brewery Tap and the Stocks. There are many other good pubs in Abingdon including Nags Head, Spread Eagle, White Horse, Cross Keys, Punchbowl, Plough, Broad Face. If you have any news, information on guest beers, festivals, etc, then please let me know and I’ll post it here.
October 9, 2009
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Tags: Abingdon, beer festival, brewery, oxford, pub · Posted in: Abingdon, Breweries, Craft Brewing, beer, beer festivals
Abingdon Pubs who are members of The Head Brewer’s Club
Greene King announced yesterday that The Brewery Tap in Abingdon has been chosen as an exclusive member of the new Head Brewer’s Club, a collection of Greene King’s hero cask ale pubs. It was picked due to its dedication to great cask beer.
You can read more details on Greene King’s Run a Pub blog
More details about the Head Brewer’s Club can be found at www.headbrewersclub.co.uk
Other pubs in Abingdon and surrounding area who are also members of the Head Brewer’s Club include:
- The Old Anchor – The Wharf, Abingdon
- Spread Eagle – Northcourt Road, Abingdon: (This is well worth a visit for its unusual food menu and well served beer)
- Punchbowl – Market Place, Abingdon
- Black Horse – Gozzards Ford
- Merry Miller – Dry Sandford
- Plough – Appleton
October 9, 2009
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Oxford Beer Festival 2009
It is the Camra Oxford Beer Festival next week in Oxford town hall next week. It runs from Thursday 15th October at 5pm-11pm until Saturday when it closes at 8pm.
There will be around 140 different ales and 20 real ciders and perry’s available. This is a good opportunity to try out beers that may not be available locally, try beers from local breweries and to meet other people who appreciate good beer.
You can find more information including an up to date beer list at the Oxford Camra web site.
A new industry report published this week about Cask Ale says:
…over the last few years, cask beer has seen a remarkable turnaround. It’s now outperforming every other beer style, benefitting from the increasing demand for products with local provenance, natural ingredients and interesting flavours.
October 7, 2009
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Tags: beer, beer festival, camra, oxford · Posted in: beer, beer festivals
Brewery Tap increases its range of real ales
This week the Brewery Tap on Ock Street in Abingdon, one of the two entries in this year’s Good Beer Guide, will have some more real ales available at the bar. These are:
- White Horse – Wayland Smithy
- West Berkshire – Maggs mild. If there is enough support this may become permanently available
- Highgate – Highland whiskey ale
- Clarks – Westgate gold.
They are also examining the possibility of installing another 2 hand pumps which will bring the selection of ales up to 7 pumps.
September 15, 2009
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Tags: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs, beer · Posted in: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs
Two pubs in Abingdon are awarded entry into the Good Beer Guide 2010
In previous years The Brewery Tap in Abingdon has been able to claim the accolade of being the only Good Beer Guide pub in Abingdon. This year however, it is joined by the Stocks Bar (at the Crown & Thistle Hotel) in the latest edition of the guide which was published last week.
The Brewery Tap has been in the guide for several years being known for consistent good beer quality and a traditional pub environment. The stocks is a well deserving newcomer this year having introduced a large range of real ales and being one of the first pubs in the area to be awarded Camra LocAle status.
The Cherry Tree in Steventon which is about 3 miles South of Abingdon has also made the grade. I’m afraid I don’t get down to Steventon often enough so can’t really comment on this.
Congratulations to them. Entry into the Good Beer Guide can only be achieved by being a good pub that serves good beer.
There were several other pubs in Abingdon on the shortlist this year, but unfortunately the book only has a finite size and the Oxford branch is only allowed a set number of entries for its area. For more information on other pubs in Abingdon, I recommend picking up a copy of the Oxford Drinker (for free at most good pubs in the area) or downloading it from the Oxford Camra web site, which has been doing a series of articles surveying every pub in Abingdon over the last 3 issues.
To find out more details then buy the Good Beer Guide 2010. I have seen copies in Mostly Books [please support your local shops], or it can be bought directly from Camra, or you can buy it at the Oxford Beer Festival between October 15th-17th.
The Good Beer Guide is an annual publication by Camra (Campaign For Real Ale), which was set up to prevent British Beer heritage from being destroyed in the 1970′s by large brewers replacing real ale with bland low quality keg beer and global lager brands. This campaign has been a success, with Britain now having more breweries than any other country, and real ale consumption seeing an increase in an otherwise declining industry and economy.
Entries in the Good Beer Guide are decided by local Camra branch members. A short list is made based upon ratings of beer quality during the year. Camra members can enter ratings for any pubs they visit during the year. The final choice for pubs from the Oxford area are made by a vote from Camra members at one of the monthly Oxford Camra branch meetings. To be in the guide requires a consistent quality of beer throughout the year.
If you want to help influence what pubs go into next year’s edition, then consider joining Camra. If you are already a member then please come along to branch meetings or social events.
September 13, 2009
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Tags: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs, camra, good beer guide · Posted in: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs
Abingdon Brewery Tap improves beer range
The Brewery Tap on Ock Street in Abingdon, is now offering a wider choice of real ales with two hand punps being free of tie. Initially these include White Horse Brewery’s Wayland Smithy, and Slater’s Top Totty.
The Brewery Tap has always been known for its quality of ale, and was the only pub in Abingdon to appear in the Camra 2009 Good Beer Guide and has been Cask Marque accredited every year since it started. However as it is a Greene King pub it has been restricted in its choice of beers.
The improvements are due to Kane who previously managed the Stocks bar, and has now moved to the Brewery Tap. Whilst at the Stocks bar, he was responsible for dramatic improvements to the beer range and quality, turning it into one of the top pubs in the Oxford area for real ale drinkers.
There are plans to hold a beer festival at the Brewery Tap at the beginning of December, and to try to obtain Camra LocAle status by permanently stocking beers from the White Horse Brewery.
This is good news for Abingdon, which over the last few years has seen a big improvement to the quality and range of beers.
September 7, 2009
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Tags: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs, beer, camra · Posted in: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs, beer
West Berkshire Brewery Wins Bronze Medal at Great British Beer Festival
I have just heard that local brewery The West Berkshire Brewery has won bronze medal today at the Great British Beer Festival for its Dr. Hexters’s Healer
The other winners include:
- Champion Beer of Britain: Rudgate Ruby Mild
- Silver: Oakham Attila
In Abingdon, you can often find West Berkshire Beers including Doctor Hexters Healer at the Stocks Bar in Abingdon and at Music At The Unicorn.
The Stocks bar is the only pub in Abingdon with Camra LocAle status (awarded by Camra to pubs that consistently server locally brewed beers), offsers discounts to Camra members and is having its summer beer festival in a few weeks time on 21st-24th August.
Music at the Unicorn is a monthly music event featuring top acts from the folk music world in the historic Unicorn theatre in Abingdon abbey. Blackheart and Maybelles are performing there this Thursday (6th August). The licensed bar always features beer from West Berkshire Brewery.
August 4, 2009
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Tags: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs, beer, brewery · Posted in: Abingdon, Abingdon Pubs
A New Abingdon Brewery?
Abingdon may get its very own micro brewery soon. Since the Morland brewery was bought by Greene King in 1999 and subsequently closed down and converted into flats, Abingdon has been without a commercial brewery.
Loose Cannon Brewery have applied for planning permission on the Ashville Trading Estate 6 Suffolk Way, Abingdon, OX14 5JX for Change of Use from B1/B8 to Class B2 for use as a micro brewery.
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July 7, 2009
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Tags: Abingdon, brewery · Posted in: Abingdon, Breweries, Craft Brewing, beer
