Greene King pubs in Abingdon and Didcot are among those competing to be named Oxford Mail Best Pub 2022.
They are the College Oak, on the Peachcroft estate in Abingdon, and The Queens Arms in Manor Road, Didcot.
Eddie Cavanagh, who is originally from Liverpool, runs the College Oak with his wife Carol.
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Before that they ran The Bowyer Arms in Radley for 17 years.
Mr Cavanagh said: “I think the College Oak has only been here since the mid-1980s.
“When we arrived it was just a lads’ pub but it’s changed - we do lots of good pub grub.
“There’s an extensive menu with kids’ meals, Sunday roasts and pub classics.
“You can get two fish and chips for £11.49.”
The beer is also competitively priced - it’s £2.80 for a pint of Carlsberg and a pint of Greene King IPA is £3.20.
Mr Cavanagh said the College Oak has a good reputation as a sports pub, sometimes showing different sports of different TV screens on the same night.
He added: “We get people coming in to watch different sports including the football.
“We have nine TV screens and three Sky boxes - people know this is a good place to come and watch sport - it’s a good atmosphere.
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“Some people have been ditching their own subscriptions because of the cost so they come to us instead.
“People come to watch football but we also show Formula 1, golf and the cricket.”
Daniel Rolls has been manager of the Queens Arms in Didcot for just over a year.
He said: “We have a lot of loyal customers and some of them play darts, pool or Aunt Sally.
“We have Sky and BT Sports to show games and since we took over the pub has been refurbished, and we have extended the beer garden so there is more seating.
“Hopefully our customers will vote for us.”
The shortlist for the competition is: The Black Boy, Old High Street, Headington; The White Hart, St Andrew’s Road, Headington; The Brewery Tap, Ock Street, Abingdon; College Oak, Peachcroft Road, Abingdon; The Masons Arms, Quarry School Place, Headington; The Royal Blenheim, St Ebbe’s; The Turf Tavern, Bath Place, off Holywell Street; The Victoria Arms, Mill Lane, Oxford; The Queen’s Arms, Manor Road, Didcot; The White Hart, Godstow Road, Wolvercote.
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Drinkers are now being asked to vote for their favourite by sending in voting tokens which will be featured in the Oxford Mail every day until today.
Post your voting coupon to: Oxford Mail Best Pub 2022, Richmond House, Units 1 and 2, Edison Park, Hindle Way, Swindon, SN3 3RB.
The closing date for postal entries is Sunday, August 21.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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