Staff at East Oxford pub The Rusty Bicycle are looking forward to competing with other boozers for a national title.

They found out last month they had won the National Pub and Bar Award for the best pub in the county, with a chance to represent the area against pubs in other parts of England.

Now they have been given a date for the national final next month.

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It will be held in London on June 28, and will feature 94 venues going head-to-head with only one picking of the national accolade of best pub in the country.

The Rusty Bicycle in Magdalen Road is part of the Dodo Pubs Co, a small pubs group that started out at this site in 2009.

This was the first of one of three Arkell’s Brewery pubs that the group took on and ran in their own style, redefining the neighbourhood pub.

The company's model is to offer craft beers, artisan coffee, Neapolitan style pizzas, chicken wings and burgers, often with a smoky twist.

Oxford Mail: Staff at the Rusty Bicycle

They also host regular events, providing the community with, as one of the Dodo founders Chris Manners describes "an experience".

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He added: "We have a relaxed service style, quirky staff and playlists and we have great parties. We hope we add something to the community."

Arkell’s, the Wiltshire brewery, could see the potential in Dodo from the very beginning.

Alex Arkell, now the head brewer for the Swindon-based family run business, studied with Dodo founder Chris Manners, then later worked with him as the first landlords in the Rusty Bicycle in 2010.

Mr Arkell said of The Rusty Bicycle’s achievement: “The Rusty and Dodo have come a long way since those early days, and of course the late nights.

"We’re incredibly proud to have been involved from the start. It is also a great award for Oxford and Oxfordshire as a county.”

Oxford Mail: Staff at the Rusty Bicycle

Mr Manners added: “We were incredibly fortunate to get the backing of the brewery in those early years.

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"As with all start-ups, you have hundreds of ideas and you need someone to believe in you. Arkell’s backed us 100 per cent and we delivered three fantastic neighbourhood pubs with them.

"This gave us the cornerstone to grow the business and we continue to work closely with them.”

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.

To book a table or to find out more about The Rusty Bicycle visit DodoPubs.com

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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