The landlords of the newly crowned ‘summer pub of the season’ were “ecstatic” to discover they had won the prestigious award.

Kimberley Moody and Liam Carberry, who have run the Plough Inn in Long Wittenham for almost 10 years, were recognised by the South Oxfordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

“It’s fantastic. It’s like receiving a pat on the back,” said Ms Moody. “We were ecstatic and really pleased and made up.

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Oxford Mail: Liam Carberry is presented the award by a representative of the South Oxfordshire branch of CAMRA

"We said a large thank you to all the staff and to all our customers.

“Our pub is so family oriented in the summer. We have got the attraction of swings in the garden and the bouncy castle.”

The pub hosts the annual Wittfest music festival, which this year saw its largest turnout for at least 10 years despite a rain-soaked weekend.

Oxford Mail: Wittfest returned at the weekend as bands including Hazy Soul, Let it Bleed and Abingdon Brass

Oxford Mail: Wittfest returned at the weekend as bands including Hazy Soul, Let it Bleed and Abingdon Brass

Ms Moody said the pub’s strong selection of ales, including from local breweries, also helped it stand out from the pack.

“Liam takes really good care of all our real ales," she said. "We have got a good variety at the moment with three pumps running and two left specifically for local brewers.”

The two current local brewers are Loose Cannon in Abingdon and Butts Brewery from Hungerford.

The CAMRA branch, which presented the landlords with a framed certificate, described the Plough Inn as “a great village pub, serving excellent cask ales.”