A FAMILY-run favourite for real ale lovers has been crowned Oxford City Pub of the Year for the fourth time in a decade.

The Mason’s Arms in Headington Quarry won the 2014 title from the Campaign for Real Ale Oxford branch.

Judges said the pub was chosen for its selection of real ales, its ambience, how clean and tidy it was and its community spirit.

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Oxford CAMRA branch chairman Tony Goulding hailed it as a ‘real community pub’.

He said: “When you walk in you’ll have anyone there from 18 to 88. It is a pub for all ages, which is wonderful.

“It is good to see the family have kept it going, they have worked hard for this and there is a lot of competition in this city.”

Landlord Chris Meeson bought the pub with his brothers Andrew and Matthew and their mum Stephanie 14 years ago.

Andrew now runs a microbrewery in what used to be the outdoor ladies’ toilets, called the Old Bog Brewery.

The pub has regular live music nights, comedy and hosts the Headington Beer Festival each September.

Chris, 47, said a big factor in the pub’s success was down to the family being originally from Headington and a part of the community.

He said: “Just to get mentioned is fantastic.

“We are out of the way, a bit of a back-street pub so it’s a real honour.

“We are from Headington, which helps, and it is a family-run business.”

The father-of two, who lives over the pub, said his 13-year-old son Archie ‘loves helping out’.

The Mason’s Arms beat competition from about 100 other pubs in Oxford.

CAMRA members first selected 15 potential winners, then had the task of visiting each one and sampling the ale and ambience at length to get that down to a shortlist of six.

The other five were the St Aldate’s Tavern, the Royal Blenheim, the Lamb and Flag, Chequers in High Street and the Rose and Crown in North Parade.

Mr Goulding said: “In this city the competition is really very tight, there is bound to be some heartbreak.”

  • Find out more at themasonsarmshq.co.uk
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