WINDOW boxes and hanging baskets full of colourful flowers are one of the biggest assets of a popular riverside pub in Oxford.

That’s the view of Martin Gormley, the assistant manager of the Head of the River in St Aldate’s.

Last week the pub won the Best Kept Public House or Guest House category in the Oxford in Bloom competition.

Mr Gormley, 39, said: “The riverbrings the drinkers here and the flowers keep them here.”

He praised staff at the pub for creating such a green environment close to the busy Abingdon Road.

He said: “This place is a real sun trap, so we have to make sure all the flower boxes and hanging baskets are watered several times a day during the summer.

“In the summer, there are 30 staff here and we have two lads who go around every morning looking after the garden.

“It’s a very important part of making the pub look attractive and they really earn their money in the hot weather.

“We ask them to tidy up around the borders and make sure there are no bottles, glasses and food wrappers left lying around. People definitely come here because they know they can have a relaxing drink outside the pub, as well as good food – and our efforts with the flowers and hanging baskets are a big part of that.”

Mr Gormley said credit lay with Brian and Carol McNish, who have been licensees at the Fullers pub for the past nine years, and the rest of the staff.

He added: “All the staff here are delighted to get this award because it shows how hard everyone has worked.A couple of years ago we got silver, but now we have done even better.”

There were about 600 entries in this year’s Oxford in Bloom competition and more than 250 gardening enthusiasts attended the awards ceremony at the Roman Way Sports and Social Club last Thursday.

Presenter Wesley Smith hosted the event and the city’s Lord Mayor Mary Clarkson handed out the awards.

Oxford in Bloom chairman Karen Roberts said the year’s event, which is in its 21st year, was so successful that it could pave the way for a return to Oxford entering the Britain in Bloom competition next year.

The city council did not enter Britain in Bloom this year because of budget constraints.

Oxford in Bloom, run by the city council and backed by the Oxford Mail, is open to all residents and businesses within the city boundary.