Two Oxford pubs are making their first appearance in next year’s Good Beer Guide.
Teardrop is a tiny bar converted from a stall in Oxford’s Covered Market, while the Jolly Farmers is an historic, traditional pub whose main client base is the LGBTQ+ community.
Teardrop was the first bar to open in the market but has since been joined by Tap Social’s Market Tap, which opened in May, while bookshop Gulp Fiction also sells beer.
READ MORE: Former hardware store hit by LTNs to be demolished
Teardrop is the only one selling cask ale with two beers poured directly from the barrel, with a further seven keg lines, said Dave Richardson, a spokesman for the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).
He said: "Teardrop is operated by Christian and Luciana Gyuricza who own Church Hanbrewery, and their market interests have since expanded to include a wine and deli shop in the next unit, and Sartorelli’s pizzas in the former Nash’s bakery stall.
"Church Hanbrewery’s often unusual beers account for most of its beer sales but it also sells the products of some other local independent breweries, plus other artisan drinks suppliers such as Hitchcox cider.
"Any of its beers can be turned out in cask and the range includes porters, wheat beers, and beers made with wild berries, raspberries or beetroot."
Inclusion in the guide gives a boost to Teardrop at a time of increased competition.
READ MORE: Hotelier calls for new traffic 'task force'
Mr Richardson said sales of beer at Teardrop have fallen off since the Market Tap opened, but sales of wine have increased.
The Jolly Farmers is first recorded as a pub in 1829, although the building is at least 100 years older.
The pub is owned by the city council but on long-term lease to Spike Greenwood and his husband Rob Jordan, and it is a free house.
The other pump is often taken by a local independent brewery such as LoveBeer, which recently supplied a golden beer named after the pub’s Bassett Hound, Sherlocked – “ale of the Baskervilles”.
A third hand pump may be added, possibly for cider.
The Jolly Farmers has a large garden where performing artists are often on show.
It doesn’t sell food but invites customers to order in food to eat on the premises.
Oxford CAMRA’s next branch meeting will be held there on Monday.
READ MORE: 'Neighbour from hell' claimed he had a shotgun
Returning to the guide for the first time in over 20 years is Greene King pub the White Horse in Abingdon's Ock Street.
Dropping out of the 2024 guide, in each case because of a change of management, are the Butchers Arms in Headington, King’s Arms in Kidlington and Seven Stars in Marsh Baldon.
These are likely to be contenders for the 2025 guide, as will the Lamb & Flag and The Grapes in Oxford, which hadn’t reopened long enough to be considered for the 2024 guide.
A few pubs appear in the guide year after year without fail.
These include the Rose and Crown in North Parade Avenue, appearing in the guide for the 32nd time, while the Masons Arms in Headington Quarry has appeared in every edition since 2005.
Help support trusted local news
Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe
As a digital subscriber you will get:
- Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website
- Advert-light access
- Reader rewards
- Full access to our app
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.
You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel