Despite recent pub closures (Fitzharris, Ox, Nags Head and Plough), Abingdon is still a good place for pubs and real ale with many of the still open pubs offering a good range of real ales in good condition and frequent beer festivals. Following on from the recent beer festival at the Cross Keys, there are 3 more local pub beer festivals coming up in the next few months.
Prince of Wales, Shippon: 30th Sep – 2nd Oct
Next weekend (Fri 30th September to Sunday 2nd October) the Prince of Wales in Shippon is holding a beer and music festival. This will feature over 20 real ales, 7 ciders and a pig roast on Saturday. This pub is within easy walking or cycling distance from Abingdon. Last year this pub was on the verge of closure with planning permission to convert it into housing, but was saved from closure and a lot of money and effort has been put into improvements over the last year. There are normally 6 real ales available including local beers from Shotover and Loose Cannon. Regular live music events, and is a favourite pub for several local morris dancing sides.
Brewery Tap: 7th-9th October
It’s been 20yrs since Mr Warrick’s Arms shut. Keith and Marilyn Heritage were the licensees and soon after opened The Brewery Tap, but the pub will be remembered more for the ‘Duchess of Ock Street’, Mrs Heavens, who had run the pub for close to sixty years!
To celebrate the anniversary and to commemorate British beer week, The Brewery Tap is holding a big old beer, cider & sausage festival, with their biggest range yet. The festival will in a double top hat marque adjacent to the pub in the pub car park. Live music will include Big Boys Blues Band and Flexamuscle on the Saturday evening and Nevada plus guests on the Sunday afternoon.
When the beer list and tasting notes are available, I’ll add them here.
The Brewery Tap is in the latest 2012 edition of The Good Beer Guide which was published by The Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) last week. They offer a discount on real ale and cider for CAMRA members and have been recognised by CAMRA as a real cider pub.
Broad Face: 18th-20th November
Following the success of the Broad Face’s first beer festival earlier this year in April, they are holding their 2nd beer festival in November. I don’t have many details, but I expect it will be similar to the April one with around 12 real ales and live music. More details will be added when I get them.
The Broad Face normally has a selection of 4 real ales, and offers a discount on real ales to CAMRA members.