ONE of Oxfordshire's newest pubs has been included in a guide listing the nation's best boozers.

Oxbrew, based in Witney's Langdale Court, is in the prestigious 2020 Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide, despite only opening in August 2018.

The micro-pub is one of 24 establishments in the Oxford branch of CAMRA that made the cut, with 13 in the city and 11 in the county's towns and villages.

In just over a year, Oxbrew has already increased its opening hours, started serving food and moved its brewery from Enstone to Freeland, near Witney.

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But Simon Scamp, who runs the pub with step-son Aaron Baldwin, revealed being included in CAMRA's guide topped the lot.

He said: "So many people take the book on holiday to read, so that will be a big plus for us in the coming year.

"When we started, someone asked us what our business plan was and I replied 'to sell really good beer'. If you sell the best possible product, then everything falls into place behind it.

"We interact with our customers and do our best to make people feel at home - it's like a big family."

Only the top-scoring pubs in each CAMRA branch are included in the guide, which is released today and is entirely dependent on beer quality.

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Oxbrew is based on the same site as the award-winning Little Ox Brewery and sells some of its beers, plus guest ales and other drinks from across the county.

Mr Scamp added: "CAMRA is still the quality controller of British beer. Without it, all this doesn't happen."

Also in this year's guide is the historic Bear Inn in Oxford, which makes an appearance for the first time since 2012.

City pubs the Rose and Crown, Lamb and Flag and Masons Arms, plus the Brewery Tap in Abingdon, have now all been in the guide for at least 10 years.

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Dave Richardson, Oxford CAMRA's publicity officer, said: “It’s great to see the Bear back in the guide as it is one of Oxford’s most characterful pubs."

He added: "Micro-pubs such as Oxbrew, that concentrate on beer rather than food, are helping bring back the art of conversation, and supporting local breweries, gin distillers and other local producers."

CAMRA is now preparing for the Oxford Beer and Cider Festival at Oxford Town Hall from October 24 and 26.

The full list of Oxford CAMRA branch pubs in the 2020 guide:

  • Oxford: The Bear Inn, The Butcher's Arms, The Chequers, The Fir Tree, The Gardener's Arms (Plantation Road), Lamb & Flag, The Masons Arms, The Old Bookbinders Ale House, Rose & Crown, The Royal Blenheim, St Aldates Tavern, The White Hart (Headington), The White Rabbit
  • Abingdon: The Brewery Tap, The Broad Face, Nags Head, The Narrows
  • Beckley: The Abingdon Arms
  • Carterton: The Siege of Orleans
  • Marsh Baldon: The Seven Stars
  • Northmoor: Red Lion
  • Wheatley: Cricketers Arms
  • Witney: The Angel Inn, Oxbrew