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White Horse Branch Beer Festival

Our fourth annual beer festival will take place on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th November. This year we will be moving to a new, larger venue, the Civic Hall on Portway in Wantage - adjacent to the car park, and less than a hundred metres/yards from the Royal Oak.
(Item from 9th September 2011)


Mike Bellinger R.I.P.

We are very sorry to report the untimely death of Mike Bellinger, a founding partner in the recently-established Bellinger's Brewery, following a short illness. Mike was a loyal supporter of cask beer and cider in the Vale, both through the large collection of bottle-conditioned real ale in his shop and his roles in Bellinger's and Pitstop Breweries and Ginge Cider. We understand that Bellinger's Brewery intend to continue brewing.


Late summer beer festivals

The Eight Bells at Eaton will be hosting its autumn beer festival on Saturday September 24th with ten cask beers and five ciders. Entrance is 10 pounds; this includes the first drink, food, and six live bands. The traditional bouncy castle and pig-roast BBQ will be on offer.

The Prnce of Wales at Shippon is holding a beer festival from September 30th to the 2nd of October. Nineteen ales and assorterd ciders will be on offer.

East Hendred Village Hall will be hosting its third annual beer festival on the 9th and 10th September in aid of Snells Hall. Friday night (7-11) is an adults-only session, but Saturday (11-11) is for all the family; bouncy castle, live music from 8PM and a BBQ.

The Radnor Arms, Coleshil will be holding a mini beer festival on Saturday 13th of August to celebrate Old Forge Brewery's first birthday. Four guest beers will be racked up along with the usual range from Old Forge. A hog roast will also be taking place from midday

The Plough, West Hanney, will be hosting its second bi-annual festival over the August bank holiday weekend. This year's theme is West Country Ales, with beers from Palmers, Box Steam, Exmoor, Skinners, Roseland, Wooden Hand, O'Hanlons, Abbey, Cheddar, Cotleigh, Sharps and Butcombe. There will be live music and pig roast/BBQ on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

The same weekend finds the White Hart at Fyfield will be holding a beer festival featuring 13 cask beers, live music, and a hog roast and childrens' activities on the Bank Holiday Monday.

And the Fox and Hounds in Uffington will be holding its fourth annual bank-holiday beer festival from the 27th to the 29th August. Ten cask beers and real cider will be on offer, as will live music and (weather permitting) a BBQ.
(Item updated 9th October 2011)


Eight Bells beer festival

The Eight Bells at Eaton will be hosting a beer festival on Saturday July 18th in aid of Helen & Douglas House. Around 18 cask ales will be on offer, as will ice cream and a bouncy castle!
(Item from 18th June 2011)


Radnor Arms is Oxfordshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011

The Radnor Arms, Coleshil has deservedly been voted Oxfordshire CAMRA's 2011 pub of the year in a tough competetion involving all four of the local branches' champions. The Radnor Arms will now compete in CAMRA's Soutern Region competition with rivals from Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. An award presentation was made on Friday 8th July. Many congratulations to Alan, Gemma and the team.
(Item updated 7th July 2011)


Meet the brewer: Loddon

There will be an opportunity to meet Chris Hearne, the brewer from Loddoin Brewery, at the the Shoulder Of Mutton in Wantage on Thursday 16th June, starting at 7pm. There will eight Loddon beers for all to enjoy, and a buffet will be available during the evening for participating CAMRA members. Membership forms will be available for those who are not already members!
(Item updated 5th June 2011)


Bank-holiday Beer Festivals

The late-May bank holiday weekend (27th-30th May) plays host to the 15th Plough beer festival in West Hanney, featuring Oxfordshire ales and ciders. Of particular note this year are the first two beers from Bellinger Brewery and a special brewed by the pub's landlord. Expect live music and a BBQ on Sunday and Monday.

Also that weekend, the Volunteer, Grove, is holding its annual beer festival. Beers on offer include those from Box Steam, Mordue and O'Hanlons breweries. The pub will also offer a free first half pint to CAMRA members buying beer vouchers.
(Item updated 21st May 2011)


Local brewers celebrate Scots Guards

At 12:30 on the 21st May, he Scots Guards will exercise the Freedom of Wantage, marching through the town with drums beating, bands playing, bayonets fixed, swords drawn and Colours flying, where they will be given their Freedom Scroll. Local brewers Adkin, Best Mates and Betjeman will be marking the event by producing beers in hounour of the Guards, and these will be available at a number of Wantage pubs. The Shoulder Of Mutton in Wantage will be holding a weekend beer festival (20th-22nd) to celebrate the event with an esstimated 20 beers on offer, including the 7% Betjeman Imperial Russian Stout brewed in recognition of Lord Wantage's leadership during the seige of Sebastopol during the Crimean War when he served in the Scots Guards.
(Item from 12th May 2011)


More upcoming Beer Festivals

The Cherry Tree, Steventon, will be holding its annual beer festival from the 13th to 15th of May. Beers from Elland, Quercus, Starthaven, Woodhaven and other breweries will be available. Dray horses will be there Saturday and Morris Men on Sunday. CAMRA members will be offered a free half pint when buying their first set of vouchers!
(Item updated 12th May 2011)


Bank-Holiday Beer Festival

The White Hart at Fyfield will be holding its annual mini beer festival over the May Day bank-holiday weekend (Saturday 30th April to Monday 2 May 201). At least 13 cask beers from independent breweries will be on offer; there will be live music and a hog roast from 1pm onwards on the Monday.
(Item from 23rd April 2011)


Pitstop = BBC and Betjeman

The Pitstop Brewery partners have gone their own ways. Mike Bellinger and son will retain the brewery's equipment, trade under the name of the Bellinger Brewing Company, and plan to concentrate on brewing and bottling for their shop. Peter Fowler has taken on the tenancy of the Shoulder Of Mutton in Wantage, and will set up a new brewery, currently to be named the Betjeman Brewery in honour of one of the town's most distinguished former residents, in an out-building at the back of the garden of the of the pub. We wish both partners well with their new ventures, and look forward to sampling their wares.
(Item updated 10th April 2011)


April Beer Festival at the Mutton

The Shoulder Of Mutton in Wantage will be hosting a small beer festival from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th of April. Beers on offer will include Butt's Jester, Shotover Prospect, Box Steam Golden Bolt, Durham Apollo, Brightwell Gold, Rebellion Rin Tin Tin, Dark Star Hophead Citra, and Ridgeway Bad Elf, along with three regulars from the bar.
(Item from 6th April 2011)


Radnor Arms is Branch Pub of the Year 2011; North Star and Royal Oak are joint runners up

The Radnor Arms, Coleshil has deservedly been voted White Horse CAMRA's 2011 pub of the year. As readers will know, this cosy National Trust-owned free-house installed its own Old Forge micro-brewery last year, and its "Hammer and Tongs" was the 2nd most popular beer at the Wantage Beer festival in November. The award was presented on Sunday 8th May, with many branch members joining in the celebrations.

Joint runners-up for 2011 are last year's winner, the Royal Oak in Wantage, and runner up, the North Star in Steventon. Many congratulations to all three pubs, spanning as they do the whole of the White Horse region.
(Item updated 10th April 2011)


Branch AGM

White Horse Branch will be holding its Annual General Meeting at the North Star, Steventon on Tuesday, March 15th at 7:30PM. All branch members are encouraged to attend and are eligible to vote; please bring your membership card! Only motions notified in advance will be permitted for discussion, so please send anything you wish to raise to the branch secretary before March 10th. A provisional agenda, that includes acceptance of the minutes of the last AGM, will be followed.
(Item from March 5th 2011)


March Beer Festival at the Mutton

The Shoulder Of Mutton in Wantage will be hosting a small beer festival from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th of March. Beers on offer will include Shotover Prospect, Slaters Why Not, Appleford Brightwell Gold, Dark Star Golden Gate, Loddon Hocus Pocus, Stonehenge Old Smokey, Durham White Magic and Tring Death or Glory, along with three regulars from the bar.
(Item from March 2nd 2011)


White Horse Branch Beer Festival

Plough Our third annual beer festival was once again, we hope you will agree, a resounding success; attendees seemed to like its more-spacious venue, the Comrades Club. Nearly five hundred thirsty drinkers consumed almost all of the beer, cider and perry, CAMRA signed up another 16 new members (welcome one and all!) ... and Festival workers now have their lives back. Old Bog Monstrous Mild was voted beer of the festival, Old Forge Hammer and Tongs came second, with Pitstop Sump third. Attendees and sponsors gave a generous 121 pounds to the Festival charity, Jean's Oxford Kidney Trust. We are already planning for next year's festival. Watch this space.
(Item from 4th December 2010)


White Horse Branch Beer Festival

Our third annual beer festival will take place on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th November. This year we will be moving to a new, larger venue, the Comrades Club on Newbury Street in Wantage - from the town centre, a couple of hundred metres/yards past the Royal Oak (if you can!).
(Item from 29th October 2010)


Meet the Brewer of Braydon Ales

On Saturday 27th of November, the White Horse Branch in association with the Star in Sparsholt will be hosting a "meet the brewer" event for CAMRA members and their guests. We will be offered 4 Wiltshire ales from Braydon Ales, one of the newest microbreweries in the area. In addition, a couple of beers from Marlow brewers Rebellion will be available. The festivities commence at 2PM. Don't miss it!
(Item from 29th October 2010)


Mini Beer Festival at the Black Horse

The Black Horse at East Hanney will be hosting a mini beer festival on on Saturday 2nd October to celebrate the money they made for charity at this year's Hanneyfest.
(Item from 11th September 2010)


Yet Another Local Micro Brewery

We are pleased to announce that a one-barrel plant has now been installed at the Swan in Faringdon. The new outfit will trade, perhaps unsurprisingly, as the Faringdon Brewery, and will be operated by Oak Taverns who have a similar setup in the very popular Cross Keys in Thame. The Swan itself is under new management, and reopened after a complete refit on Friday 3rd September. The pub offer a range of six cask beers. Exciting times in Faringdon, following on from the opening of the Portwell Cellar Bar earlier in the year.
(Item updated from 2nd September 2010)


Mid-September Beer Festival in East Hendred

East Hendred Village Hall will be hosting its second annual beer festival from the 10th and 11th September in aid of Snells Hall. Food, a bouncy castle (yuk!) and live music on Saturday evening are promised. Beers will include Rebellion Blonde, Oakham JHB, Cotwold Spring Codrington Codger, Sharp's Doom Bar, Milk Street Funkey Monkey, Purity Wild Goose, West Berks Dr. Hexter's Healer, Pitstop Penelope, and Best Mates Midsummer Madness and Alfie's. The festival opens from 7-11 on Friday evening and 11-11 on Saturday.
(Item updated 2nd September 2010)


Oxfordshire Pub of the Year Hat-trick for Royal Oak

For the third year in a row, the Royal Oak in Wantage has been voted Oxfordshire CAMRA's pub of the year by the county's CAMRA branches. There will be a Vale of the White Horse CAMRA presentation of the award at the Royal Oak at 2PM on Sunday 12 September at 2pm. All most welcome. The Royal Oak is now competing for the Southern-Region CAMRA pub of the year award with other champion pubs from Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
(Item updated 2nd September 2010)


Arkells September 2010 Beer Festival

Swindon brewers Arkells will be holding a beer festival on Saturday September 11th at the Kingsdown Brewery. All proceeds will go to the local charity Prospect Hospice. For more details see the Arkells' website.
(Item from 18th July 2010)


Bank Holiday Beer Festivals at the Fox and Hounds and at the Plough

The Fox and Hounds in Uffington will be holding its third annual bank-holiday beer festival from the evening of the 27th to closing time on the 30th of August. This coincides with the local White Horse show. Roughly 15 beers will be available, and live music will be on offer.

The Plough, West Hanney, is holding the second of its pair of annual beer festivals the same weekend. As always, food all weekend (BBQ Monday), live music Saturday and Sunday nights and Monday afternoon, and the ever-useful all-weather awnings just in case. Note for the unwary: the pub is closed on Sunday night!
(Item updated 2nd August 2010)


July Beer and Cider Festival in Newbury

The Newbury Rugby Club in Monks Lane is hosting its first beer festival on Saturday 17th July. Over 30 cask ales and ciders are promised from independent producers throughout the South of England. A hog roast, live music, and touch Rugby are also on the agenda, with the fun starting at 10AM ... beer from noon until late.
(Item from 3rd July 2010)


New Local Micro Brewery in Coleshill

We gather that a new micro brewery is being set up at the Radnor Arms, Coleshil by the same team who operate Halfpenny at Lechlade. Locals have come up with name, the Forge Brewery, and Forge installed a four barrel plant, in a converted outbuilding next to the pub, over the weekend of 25-26 July. The first test brews are now underway, and with luck we should be able to sample the results by mid August, with an ongoing programme of three brews per week thereafter. Four core beers have been chosen - Anvil Ale 3.8%. Sledgehammer 5%. Hammer & Tongs 4.2%. Blacksmiths Gold 4%. - with others to follow later in the year.
(Item updated 30th July 2010)


May/June Local Pub Beer Festivals

The Volunteer, Grove, is holding a beer festival from the 18th to 20th of June. More details when we get them.

The late-May bank holiday weekend (28th-31st May) plays host to the 14th Plough beer festival in West Hanney, featuring Oxfordshire ales and ciders. Expect live music and a hog roast on the Saturday night.
(Item updated from 26th May 2010)


Nation CAMRA Pub of the Year runners-up presentation

National Poty 2010 As readers should by now know, the Royal Oak in Wantage was voted one of three runners up in the National CAMRA pub of the year competition. This is an outstanding achievement, and testimony to the care taken by landlord Paul Hexter and his helpers. Pictured here presenting a certificate to commemorate the award to Paul is Jackie Parker, CAMRA Central Southern Regional Director.
(Item updated 1st May 2010)


Royal Oak is Branch Pub of the Year 2010; North Star is runner up

For the fourth year in a row, the Royal Oak in Wantage has been voted White Horse CAMRA's pub of the year. As readers are undoubtedly to aware, the Royal Oak is additionally both the reigning Oxfordshire and Southern-Region CAMRA pubs of the year, and, as announced above, was one of three runners up in the National Competition this year.

The CAMRA National Inventory-listed North Star in Steventon is this year's well-deserved runner up. Many congratulations to both pubs. A presentation to the North Star will be made at 1PM on Sunday, May 2nd, and to the Royal Oak at 8PM on Wednesday May 26th. Again, all welcome.
(Item from 24th April 2010)


Shivenham pub rises from the dead

We are delighted to hear that the Crown in Shrivenham has just re-opened as a free house. This follows a number of years as the Blue Strawberry restaurant! We gather that two hand pumps are on display; more news once we visit.
(Item from 13th March 2010)


Branch AGM

White Horse Branch will be holding its Annual General Meeting at the Hatchet, Childrey on Tuesday, March 30th at 7:30PM. All branch members are encouraged to attend and are eligible to vote; please bring your membership card! Only motions notified in advance will be permitted for discussion, so please send anything you wish to raise to the branch secretary before March 23rd. A provisional agenda, that includes acceptance of the minutes of the last AGM, will be followed. Of particular note will be the ratification of our draft constitution.
(Item from March 13th 2010)


Shoulder of Mutton re-opens

The Good-Beer-Guide listed Shoulder Of Mutton in Wantage has reopened following a short closure. The beer range continues to be from the Small Independent Brewers Association (SIBA) list, with generally two of the three beers on offer from Butts. In addition to local darts and poker teams, there will be occasional live music. We wish the new landlord all the best.
(Item from 10th December 2009)


New cask ale outlet in Faringdon

A new drinking venue with an emphasis on local cask beer, the Portwell Cellar Bar, has just opened on the market square in Faringdon Three to four gravity-fed beers are available at any one time; currently beers from Best Mates, Butts and Halfpenny breweries are on offer. The Cellar Bar is open from 7.00pm to 11.00pm on Thursday to Saturday and for lunch on Fridays and Sundays.
(Item from 10th December 2009)


White Horse Branch Beer Festival

Our second annual beer festival was once again, we hope you will agree, a resounding success. Over six hundred thirsty drinkers consumed almost all of the beer, cider and perry, CAMRA signed up a White-Horse-record 34 new members (welcome one and all!) ... and Festival workers now have their lives back. Pitstop Star was voted beer of the festival, Ridgeway's Bad Elf came second, with Thornbridge Jaipur IPA third. Attendees and sponsors gave a generous £280 to the Festival charity, Soundabout. We are already planning for next year's festival. Watch this space.
(Item from November 29th 2009)


Royal Oak is one of the top four CAMRA pubs in the UK

CAMRA has just announced that the Royal Oak in Wantage is one of four finalists in its national pub of the year competition. As readers will recall, the Royal Oak has been Central Southern Region CAMRA pub of the year for the past two years, and the latest accolade simply acknowledges what all local drinkers have known for years. The other finalists are the Crown Hotel, Worthington, Gtr Manchester, the Royal Oak, Friday Street, West Sussex and last-year's winner, the Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, The overall winner will be announced in February (Update: The Kelham Island Tavern was voted National Champion for 2010 in early March). Congratulations, once again, to Paul and Frankie Hexter and their staff. An award-presenting celebration will be organised in due course.
(Item from November 29th 2009)


Shoulder of Mutton closes

The Good-Beer-Guide listed Shoulder Of Mutton in Wantage has closed following the untimely death of popular landlady Bev Dunn. The former White Horse Branch pub of the year has long been an excellent outlet for local cask beer. We can only hope owners Admiral Taverns find new tenants in the very near future.
(Item from 29th November 2009)


A revamp for the Lamb and Flag

The Lamb and Flag, Longworth, will be re-opening on the 17th of November. This Greene King pub will specialise in Thai food; rumours that it was to become a free house were apparently "premature". More news as soon as we visit.
(Item from 18th Nov 2009)


Branch Trip to Herefordshire

On Saturday 19th September, White Horse Branch visited Pridewood Hop Farm and Wye Valley Brewery in beautiful Herefordshire. Branch member Claire Hodkinson describes our day out.
(Item from 23rd Sep 2009)


Royal Oak is CAMRA Central Southern Region Pub of the Year ... again

For the second year in succession, the Royal Oak in Wantage has been voted Central Southern Region CAMRA pub of the year. The Royal Oak now goes forward with fifteen other regional winners for the National Pub of the Year competition. Congratulations, once again, to Paul and Frankie Hexter and their staff. An award-presenting celebration will be organised in due course.
(Item from 11th September 2009)


White Horse Branch Beer Festival in November

We are delighted to announce that the Branch will be organising its second annual beer festival in Wantage on Friday and Saturday, the 20th and 21st of November. For more details, see the festival web page.
(Item from 9th Sep 2009)


Steventon Apple Day

On Sunday 4th October from 2-4pm there will be an Apple Day at the North Star, Steventon. An apple press will be on site, and everyone is welcome to bring along surplus apples or pears to be pressed for juice... or for making into cider/perry. Don't forget to bring containers for the proceeds!
(Item from 21st Sep 2009)


Good Beer Guide Launch

The new Good Beer Guide has just been published. To celebrate, White Horse Branch will be holding launch events at our two latest GBG entries: at the Cherry Tree, Steventon, on Thursday 24th September at 8PM and at the Fox and Hounds, Uffington, the following Tuesday, 29th, at the same time - cheap beer will be available for CAMRA members!
(Item from 23rd Sep 2009)


Blowing Stone reopens

We are delighted to report that the Blowing Stone, Kingston Lisle, has reopened following a nine-month refit.
(Item from 11th Aug 2009)


Pitstop Brewery Expands

So popular have the beers from Grove micro-brewery Pitstop proved that owners Peter Fowler and Mike Bellinger are expanding. A new five-barrel plant has been ordered, and the current brewery, behind Bellinger's Garage, is being raised to accommodate the new brewing equipment. Also on the shopping list was a bottling plant. As local drinkers are aware, Pitstop makes a range of delicious, on average higher-alcohol beers including Pole Position, Penelope and the CAMRA award-winning Sump. Production is currently suspended while the brewery expands, although thirsty drinkers might still find offerings from the original plant in the Royal Oak in Wantage.
(Item from 16th April 2009)


Royal Oak is Oxfordshire Pub of the Year ... again

For the second year in succession, the Royal Oak in Wantage has been voted Oxfordshire CAMRA's pub of the year by the county's CAMRA branches. There will be a presentation of the award on Wednesday 9 September at around 8 pm. The Royal Oak is now competing for the Southern-Region CAMRA pub of the year award with other champion pubs from Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
(Item updated 28th August 2009)


Upcoming Local Beer Festivals

The Black Horse at East Hanney will be hosting the first Hanneyfest from Friday August 7th to Sunday August 9th. A number of Cask ales will be on offer, as will be a full program of live music. All proceeds will go to cancer research and Hanney pre-school.

The Eight Bells at Eaton will be hosting a beer festival on Saturday August 15th. Around 12 cask ales will be on offer, as will live music and a BBQ.

The Plough, West Hanney, is holding the second of its pair of annual beer festivals from the 29th-31th August - this one is celebrating Champion Beers of Britain; beers, including Triple fff's Alton Pride and Moondance, Purity's Madgoose and Ubu, Loddon's Ferryman's Gold, Hopback Summer Lightning and Yeovil's Summerset. As always, food all weekend, live music Saturday night and Monday afternoon, and the ever-useful all-weather awnings just in case. Note for the unwary: the pub is closed on Sunday night!

The Fox and Hounds, Uffington, is holding its second annual beer festival over the August bank-holiday weekend (29th-31st), once again to coincide with the popular White Horse Show on the outskirts of the village. Live music and a hog roast are promised, and children and dogs are most welcome.

It is the turn of the Chequers at Charney Bassett to host a beer festival on Saturday and Sunday the 5th and 6th September. Beer will be available in 1/3rd pint glasses. More details as we get them.

Another popular event is the Cherry Tree, Steventon's, second beer festival of the year, this one running from the 4th to 6th of September. 27 ales - with 6 more in reserve - and 8 ciders will be on offer, including Beartown Bearskinfull, Purple Moose Glaslyn Ale, Moorhouse Black Cat Mild, Brewsters Rotherkin, Rudgate Viking, Lodden Hoppit, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and most of the Wadworth's range. There will be a 'meet the brewer' session on Saturday PM with the Wadworth's head brewer.

East Hendred Village Hall will be hosting a beer festival from the 11th and 12th September in aid of Snells Hall. Food, a bouncy castle (yuk!) and live music are promised. Beers include Best Mates Midsummer Madness, Purity Gold and Ubu, Sharp's Doom Bar, Thornbridge Jaipur, Loddon Ferryman's Gold, RCH East St. Cream and Hook Norton Bitter.
(Item updated 4th Sep 2009)


Royal Oak is Branch Pub of the Year 2009

For the third year in a row, the Royal Oak in Wantage has been voted White Horse CAMRA's pub of the year. As readers will doubtless recall, the Royal Oak is additionally both the reigning Oxforshire and Southern-Region CAMRA pubs of the year. Landlord Paul Hexter and his staff will be presented with the Robert "Soggy" Sumner trophy at a Branch presentation at 8PM on Wednesday June 17th. All most welcome.
(Item from 31st May 2009)


Bank-Holiday Beer Festival at the Plough

The late-May bank holiday weekend plays host to the 12th Plough beer festival in West Hanney, featuring local ales and ciders. Expect live music and a hog roast on the Saturday night.
(Updated on 17th May 2009)


Bank-Holiday Beer Festivals

The White Hart at Fyfield will be holding one of its bi-annual mini beer festivals over the May Day bank-holiday weekend (Saturday 2nd to Monday 4th May). At least 14 cask beers will be on offer; there will be live music and a hog roast from 1pm onwards on the Monday.
Also holding their annual festival that weekend, the Cherry Tree in Steventon is promising more than thirty cask ales and four traditional ciders. There will be live music every night, and food, including a barbecue, at all sessions.
(Item from 23rd April 2009)


Planned Social Events

The Branch Social Secretary has a list of mouthwatering activities planned for Branch members. See the diary for more details.
(Item from 21st February 2009)


King and Queen, Longcot, and Kings' Arms, Wantage, back in business ...

The doors of both the King and Queen, Longcot, and Kings' Arms, Wantage, are open again. The King and Queen is reportedly now selling Wells Bombadier and Wadworth 6X, and the kitchen will be open again soon. The Kings' Arms is apparently under new management.
(Item from 2nd February 2009)


... as is the Barrington Arms, Shrivenham ...

The Barrington Arms in Shrivenham has reopened after a few months in mothballs. Big-screen sport is proving popular, as is the cheap Fullers London Pride during matches.
(Item from 2nd February 2009)


... and the Eight Bells, Eaton

We are delighted to report that the Eight Bells at Eaton has just reopened as a free house, following nine months of uncertainty after its sale by former-owners Greene King. Apparently there are three cask ales on offer, and food is available. More news when we have visited this rural gem.
(Item from 5th January 2009)


Kings Arms, Wantage, closes doors

We gather that the Kings Arms in Wantage has closed. This Greene King-owned pub has been advertising for a manager for some months, so presumably nobody has yet come forward.
(Item from 25th January 2009)


King and Queen, Longcot, closes ... again ...

Just as all seemed to be going well in Longcot it appears that the King and Queen has closed again. The pub had only re-opened in August last year, in the capable hands of popular landlady Julie Ann Gibbin Gibbin and her partner. Unfortunately, towards the end of December Julie received an unexpected letter from owners Punch Tavern, in which they announced their intent to sell the pub. The final straw came over the Christmas period when the pub's boiler failed, and Punch were unwilling to pay for its repair. Having already invested heavily in the pub, Julie reluctantly decided that she had had enough. A final farewell took place last Saturday, and the pub is now closed. Over 150 locals have signed a petition urging Punch not to close the pub, but given Punch's announced intention to sell 500 "less profitable" pubs nationwide, the future for Longcot's only remaining hostelry, and for the village's drinkers, does not currently look good.
(Item from 12th January 2009)


Branch AGM

White Horse Branch will be holding its Annual General Meeting at the Plough, West Hanney on Tuesday, January 20th at 7:30PM. All branch members are encouraged to attend and are eligible to vote; please bring your membership card! Only motions notified in advance will be permitted for discussion, so please send anything you wish to raise to the branch secretary before January 15th.
(Item from December 20th 2008)


White Horse Branch Beer Festival

The beer festival was, we hope you will agree, a success. Over four hundred and fifty thirsty drinkers consumed almost all of the beer, cider and perry, CAMRA signed up 29 new members (welcome all!) ... and we now have our lives back. Pitstop Sump was voted beer of the festival by those who attended; their Pole Position was runner up. We are now planning for next year's festival. Same time of the year, same venue. Watch this space.
(Item from December 20th 2008)


White Horse Branch Beer Festival in November

We are delighted to announce that the Branch will be organising a beer festival in Wantage on Friday and Saturday, the 21st and 22nd of November. This is not the first Wantage beer festival - readers with long memories may recall a charity event in the early 1980s - nor the first CAMRA event - the as-was-then Vale-of-White-Horse-Sub-Branch organised one in East Challow in the early 90s. But it is certainly the first in a long time. We are intending to provide 24 cask ales, local and from far away, light and dark, strong and meek, as well as ciders and perry. The Festival will take place in the Masonic Hall. More details on the festival web page.
(Item from November 2008)


Pitstop Brewery

The Branch area has yet another new brewery. Pitstop Brewery has just started production behind the Bellinger's Garage in Grove. The initial beer, the heavily-hopped 5% Pole Position (née Starter's Orders), made its first public appearance, to universal acclaim, at the Royal Oak. The follow up, the 6% Sump, is now in cask and will be on sale at our beer festival; a strong American-style IPA and a 5% mild are next in the works. The brewery is the brain child of Peter Fowler of Londis fame (see below) and Mike Bellinger. We wish them well, and look forward to sampling more of their beers in local hostelries.
(Item updated November 8th 2008)


White Horse Brewery Tap

White Horse Brewery has just obtained its first pub, the Royal Blenheim, 13 St Ebbes Street in Oxford. White Horse beers and guests will be on sale. The pub apparently reopens on Friday 24th of October. We wish White Horse Brewery well, and will visit as soon as we can.
(Item from October 22nd 2008)


Royal Oak is Central Southern Pub of the Year 2008

Oxfordshire POTY 2008 The Royal Oak in Wantage has added the 2008 CAMRA Central Southern Pub of the Year award to the Oxfordshire and White Horse CAMRA accolades it won earlier in the year. The Royal Oak now goes forward with fifteen other regional winners for the National Pub of the Year competition. The award will be presented on Wednesday 22nd October at 8PM; all welcome. Pictured here at the presentation in mid July of the Oxfordshire pub-of-the-year award is Landlord Paul Hexter displaying his latest award, accompanied by White Horse CAMRA Chairman Neil Crook, Southern Region Regional Director Jackie Parker, and Mayor of Wantage, Patrick O'Leary. A good time was had by all!
(Item updated October 19th 2008)



Duke of Wellington, Faringdon, reopens ...

We are delighted to hear that the Duke of Wellington, Faringdon, has reopened after a month or so of inactivity. A cask of Adnams Bitter was apparently finished within hours by thirsty locals!
(Item from September 2008)


... as does the King and Queen, Longcot ...

Good news too in Longcot where the King and Queen, has reopened after five months of uncertainty. Village locals celebrated at the reopening party on August 15th. The pub currently stocks Wadworth 6X and Wells Bombardier. Home-cooked food is also back on the agenda, as is en-suite B&B for those who may have over-indulged! More details from their website.
(Item from August 2008)


... and the Bystander, Wootton

The Bystander at Wootton has now emerged from its welcome refurbishment and appeared to be busy when we passed yesterday. The pub is part of the Hungry Horse chain.
(Item from August 2008)


Bank-holiday beer festival at the Fox and Hounds ...

The Fox and Hounds, Uffington, is holding its first beer festival over the August bank-holiday weekend (22nd-25th). This coincides with the popular White Horse Show on the outskirts of the village. Beer will be available by the third pint if required along with more usual measures; offerings from Banks's, Butts, Jennings, Mansfield, Marston, Ringwood, West Berks and Wychwood as well as cider are promised. There will be live music on Saturday/Monday and a hog roast on Sunday; children and dogs are most welcome!


... and the Plough

The Plough, West Hanney, is holding the second of its pair of annual beer festivals from the 22nd-25th August - this one is celebrating beers and ciders from the West Country. Beers include a brace each from Butcombe, Cheddar, Sharps and Skinners, and offerings from Cotleigh, Hopback, RCH, Red Rock, St. Austell, Wickwar and Yeovil. Food all weekend, live music Saturday night and Monday afternoon, and all-weather awnings if it is wet!
(Items from August 2008)


Royal Oak is Branch Pub of the Year 2008

WH Poty 2008 The Royal Oak in Wantage has rightly retained its position as White Horse CAMRA's pub of the year. Readers with long memories will recall that the Oak was last awarded this coveted accolade back in 2006 ... rule changes from HQ meant that 2007 has been declared a non year! As all discerning drinkers in the Vale and beyond know, the Royal Oak serves a mighty fine pint; indeed it is not uncommon for there to be seven or eight different gravity-delivered cask ales to sample. Landlord Paul Hexter and his staff were presented with the Robert "Soggy" Sumner trophy at a Branch presentation on Wednesday April 23rd. Pictured here is a rather emotional Paul, splendidly dressed for the occasion.
(Item from June 2008)


Bank-holiday beer festivals at the Waggon and Horses ...

The Waggon and Horses, Southmoor, is holding its annual beer festival from the 23rd-26th May. Live bands, pig roasts and barbeques throughout the weekend, and children and dogs are most welcome!


... and the Plough

The Plough, West Hanney, is also holding one of its pair of annual beer festivals from the 23rd-26th May - this one is celebrating beers and ciders from Oxfordshire. Karaoke, live music, and hog roasts throughout the weekend, and a bouncy castle and face painting for the your at heart on Monday. And all-weather awnings if it is wet!
(Items from May 2008)


Beer Festival at the Prince of Wales in early May ...

Early-May bank-holiday weekend sees the annual beer festival - or "POW-FEST" as they have it - at the Prince of Wales, Shrivenham. Festivities run from Friday (2nd May) until Monday (5th) evening. Live music, BBQ on Monday lunchtime, and 10 cask beers. Best of all, card-carrying CAMRA members get a free half pint ... and there is a "guess-the-mystery-beer" competition. Simply too tempting!
(Item from May 2008)


Best Mates Brewery

The Branch area has a new brewery. Best Mates Brewery has started production at Sheep House Farm, Ardington near Wantage. As soon as we have tasted their wares, we will have more news. But reports suggest that their beer is already on sale in the Tea Rooms and Boar's Head in Ardington and at the King Alfred's Head and Swan in Wantage, and bottles of Vicar's Daughter (3.7%) and Alfie's (4.4%) may be found at Londis in Grove (see below).
(Item from May 2008)


Beer Festival at the Cherry Tree in April ...

The Cherry Tree, Steventon, is holding its annual beer festival from the 25th-28th April. Beers are being chosen by popular demand, and on past experience, this is a good night (or lunchtime) out.
(Item from April 2008)


Eight Bells, Eaton

The Eight Bells at Eaton has just been sold at auction. There is a poignant sign outside reading "If you care about losing this pub, don't be apathetic. Make your feelings known...". We sincerely hope that the new owners plan to continue running this pretty former Greene King pub as a going concern.


An Aladdin's Cave in Grove

Next time you fill up your car with petrol at the Jet (ex-Texaco) filling station in Station Road, Grove, make sure you pop into the attached Londis stores. Beer-mad manager Peter Fowler has started stocking bottle-conditioned ales from around the UK. Currently there are almost 400 tasty brews to choose from. Peter offers a discount on beer for card-carrying CAMRA members, so all the more reason to join.
(Item from March 2008)


Bystander, Wootton

The Bystander at Wootton, until recently part of the Hungry Horse chain, is currently boarded up. Let's hope this is simply a refit, or even that it has been acquired by Crouch Vale ...
(Items from March 2008)


Branch Relaunch

After a number of months of inactivity, the former Vale of the White Horse Branch of CAMRA has been reborn as, simply, the White Horse Branch. The Branch has an all-new committee, a new vibrancy, but the same old thirst. Please bear with us while we get to grips with how things work, and get out to meet our publicans and brewers. In the mean time, we would love to see you all at our monthly meetings - check the diary for more details.

We would like to thank all the members from the previous committee for their many years of service.




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Last updated: October 9th 2011
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