A teetotal landlord who has been pulling pints for 35 years has won praise from real ale enthusiasts.
The Oxford branch of CAMRA has been handing out a number of long service awards to pub landlords in the county.
And Martin Kearney - known as Matt - at the Masons Arms in North Leigh near Witney is one of the longest serving.
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He will mark 35 years at the pub in August this year, when Oxford CAMRA plans to call in with his Long Service Award.
Mr Kearney is an Irishman who worked in the building trade in England and also ran a shop on Oxford’s Cowley Road.
He bought the Mason’s as a free house, although it had been run previously by Bass Charrington and a long-gone Banbury brewery, Hunt Edmunds.
It's a very old pub, much extended to the rear, with some very loyal customers who, Matt admits, sometimes serve themselves.
He believes he has seen up to 20 tenants come and go at North Leigh’s other pub, the Woodman, during his time there.
He said: "The Butcombe is very popular, but our biggest seller is Guinness which, I’m told, is the best this side of Dublin.
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"The building dates back about 500 years and was originally a workhouse. Some say it still is!”
It also boasts a large garden with Aunt Sally, and in an outbuilding is a take-away food business open on Fridays and Saturdays trading as El Antojito, serving Mexican dishes.
Members of the Oxford branch of CAMRA have been handing out long service awards to landlords who have been serving drinkers for 25 years and more.
In January, a presentation was made to the landlord and landlady of the Kings Arms pub at The Moors, Kidlington by the local branch of Oxford CAMRA.
Gerry and Chris McGrath received their certificate from Tony Goulding, chairman of the branch, and secretary Steve Lawrence in recognition of over 25 years behind the bar.
The presentation couldn't take place on the actual anniversary date due to previous Covid restrictions during the pandemic.
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CAMRA said Mr and Mrs McGrath have been a pillar of the local community and in particular Chris who has provided home cooked, locally sourced food and wholesome meals for customers and local care establishments during their residency at 4 The Moors.
Graham Wareham, a regular at the pub, said earlier: "Gerry and Chris are planning to retire in June but the Kings Arms, a local's free house, will continue to thrive through the support of the multitude of locals who come in, sometimes while supposedly walking their dogs to sample the good range of real ale, malt whisky and fine wines."
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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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