Saints or Masochists!
Sadly, long serving landlords are an endangered species, particularly since the growth of the Pub Companies. Out of the 218 pubs in the North Oxfordshire Branch of CAMRA only a handful of landlords have been in the same pub for more than fifteen years.
After twenty nine years in the road transport industry, Dave Andrews, together with his wife Shirley, took on a Bass tenancy at The Bell in October 1985. It was a challenge for local boy Dave. A one bar local, with a ‘Jug and Bottle’, it was a male dominated pub, where women were seldom seen, and traditional pub games were taken seriously.
They set out to turn it into a friendly pub for all ages. This was helped in 1989 when an extension created to large comfortable lounge we know today. The closure of a road destroyed their food trade, and now it is wet sales only. Punch Taverns bought the pub eight years ago and Dave chooses his four real ales from their guest beer list. Regulars are Hancocks HB and Highgate Dark Mild. There are lagers, but no smooth beers. A long term Good Beer Guide entry and Cask Marque Award ensures that this is an oasis for real ale drinkers, who are assured a warm welcome and a good laugh with Dave and Shirley, who are very much in charge in this popular pub.
Mike and Sue Willis bought the Tite Inn at Chadlington in September 1986. Mike had previously been involved in property, music and the rag trade. The idea was to escape from London to own an idyllic village pub. It required strong nerves, because the one bar local was run down and had an outside loo. The customers were very basic and it certainly was not patronised by the ‘great and the good’ of Chadlington.
Mike and Sue set out to work a miracle. The pub was closed for six months for a major refurbishment, and re-opened in May 1987 to become the comfortable, well run pub we know today. One of the pub’s great original assets was a good cellar, which enabled Mike to establish his reputation for excellent real ales. Sue developed the food side, for which the pub is noted. The last remaining pub in the village, it is a centre for community activities such as Easter Egg Rolling and a Christmas Pantomime. A pub for conversation, with no juke box, one armed bandit, television or pool table. It is child, dog, and walker friendly, has superb loos, and a lovely garden with views over the countryside and an interesting collection of shrubs.
In May 1987, Tom Page bought the pub from the redoubtable landlady known as ‘Big Olive’. Prior to that he was an accountant. Some years before, the pub had been converted into a pseudo-Victorian pub called The Charlbury Tavern. Initially carrying on with the tradition of food and drink, in 1991 Tom made the brave decision to concentrate on wet sales only, turning the former kitchen into a pool and games room, very popular with the younger drinkers.
A member of CAMRA and keen real ale drinker, Tom concentrated on serving excellent real ales. An entry in the Good Beer Guide for many years, his hard work and dedication has been rewarded by being voted North Oxfordshire Pub of the Year 2001 and 2002. He now offers one regular beer and five guest beers, many from Micro-Breweries. In all, he serves about 200 different beers a year. Tom and Annette and all the staff can be proud that they have created and maintained such a flagship pub for real ale drinkers.
John and Jo Oldham bought The Royal Oak, Ramsden in September 1987. Like so many pubs, it had fallen on hard times and was crying out for imaginative, enthusiastic new owners. John’s background was in the restaurant and pub trade in London, and he is an accomplished chef. So a reputation for good food was soon established. Jo concentrated on ensuring that the customers received a warm welcome from behind the bar. Consistently serving good real ales, with excellent wine and food, has ensured them of an entry in all the major pub guides. With no music, television, games machine or pool table, they have created a pub which their discerning customers enjoy. In addition to a good local following, they also serve a large catchment area, and it is a popular venue for special occasions. In 1999/2000 a major and highly successful refurbishment was carried out, which enlarged the restaurant and created a snug bar, which added to the overall ambience. There is an attractive patio, and comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation. John and Jo have never lost their enthusiasm, and this also reflected in the many friendly long-serving staff.