An Oxford pub is raising a toast following the unveiling of this year’s National Pub & Bar Awards county winners.
The Rusty Bicycle, on the corner of Hurst Street and Magdalen Road, is one of 94 venues named the best in their respective counties.
The grand final awards ceremony takes place in London in June where the county winners will discover which pubs will be taking home a regional title, as well as which site is to be named the UK’s best, leaving with the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year accolade.
The Rusty Bicycle was the first pub to be renovated by Dodo Pubs Ltd in 2009.
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They describe themselves as "a group of foodies, restaurateurs, craft beer and wine lovers, graphic designers, artists, event creators and interior designers, who all have a passion for design, travel, food and drink".
They said the "boozer in the back streets of East Oxford.. stank of stale smoke and old dog and looked like granny’s living room".
"We shrugged our shoulders and cracked on with the renovation, and the Rusty Bicycle was born.
"Within a few months the neighbourhood seemed to have embraced the Rusty, and before we knew it the place was filling up night after night.
"We figured we’d better start serving some food to soak up the booze, so we dug out an old electric 4-hob range cooker that looked like it’d fallen arse end out of the 1940s and fired her up.
"She worked first time. Word spread, and we quickly realised that we’d need something more heavyweight to cope with demand… so we invested in a proper commercial kitchen.
"The rest is history: by the end of the second year, the Rusty Bicycle was firmly established at the heart of the neighbourhood, where it's remained ever since."
The Rusty Bicycle runs Burger Wednesdays, 6 Quid Pizza lunchtimes and cocktails for £6 on Thirsty Thursdays.
There are also regular pub quizzes to win a £20 bar tab.
Meanwhile Dodo Pubs has grown to include The Rickety Press in Jericho, The Up in Arms on Marston Road in Oxford, the Part and Parcel in Witney, the Bottle of Sauce in Cheltenham, The Last Crumb in Caversham and The All Inn in Bristol.
Hundreds of venues entered outlining the details of their operation, summarising the work that goes into design, training, team welfare, sustainability, food, drink, marketing and many other areas.
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“We were overwhelmed by the level and quality of entries this year,” says Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which runs the awards.
“It just goes to show what magnificent work is going on across the UK hospitality sector.
"With outrageous energy costs, recruitment shortages and a punishing taxation system, these businesses are once again facing tough times. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that people support their local pubs and bars.”
The prestigious National Pub & Bar of the Year award was won last year by The Frogmill in Cheltenham.
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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris
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