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White Horse Branch
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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)


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)


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: July 3rd 2010
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