A FAMILY-RUN Oxfordshire pub has once again been recognised for its excellent beer.

The Rose and Crown in Charlbury has been named the Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year in North Oxfordshire for the fourth time.

The traditional pub won the award after Camra’s 400 north Oxfordshire members were asked to judge the best venue in the area.

It is the fourth time the pub has scooped the prize since 2001.

The venue was barred from entering the annual competition for the other four years because of its previous success.

The award has delighted landlord Tom Page, 56, who runs the pub with his daughter Nicola, 23, and stepson Tom Longfellow, 26.

Mr Page, who has managed the pub for 22 years, said: “We are just a wet sales pub, a traditional bar is all we have ever done and the majority of our business is traditional ale.

“This means everything to us because good beer is our lifeblood.

“The smoking ban has made no difference to business, trade has kept up and maybe slightly improved.

“We’ve been banned from entering for four years so as far as I’m concerned this is four wins on the bounce. We are very proud of that.”

The pub was complimented by Camra members for keeping seven real ales on tap at any one time, as well as cider and perry. Over the course of the year, the pub has taken beers from Scotland, Ireland and Wales as well as from Oxfordshire’s Hook Norton brewery.

Camra branch chairman Mark Bates said: “There can be no doubt the Rose and Crown is a worthy winner.

“Quite simply each time the pub is eligible to enter the competition it is voted top, a credit indeed to the work of Tom Page and his team in turning out the top quality interesting beers which he has become known for.”

The pub now goes forward into the next round to compete for the title of Camra’s Oxfordshire Pub of the Year.