The pubs have been selected by a panel of pub experts using the criteria including a welcoming, lively atmosphere, high-quality drinks, and a strong sense of community,

10 Oxfordshire pubs made the list, which aims to encourage people to discover some of the UK’s finest venues.

The Peyton Arms. (Image: Google Maps)

The Peyton Arms at School Lane in Stoke Lyne, a village near Bicester was one of the lucky pubs shortlisted,

Under the Hook Norton Brewery Co banner, the watering hole is run by landlords Mick and Jean Weston.

The Peyton Arms was also nominated as a finalist in the North Oxfordshire CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year 2016, and was also named best pub in the county by The Times in 2025.

The Rose & Crown on Parade Avenue in Oxford (Image: Newsquest)

Meanwhile, The Rose & Crown on Parade Avenue in Oxford was also named among the best.

For 43 years the Hall family has been in charge, and they have been praised for their efforts by real ale drinkers in the city.

Mr and Mrs Hall run the pub with their son Adam, and in 2023 they celebrated their 40th anniversary in charge by creating a special cask ale at Hook Norton brewery to mark the occasion.

Oxford CAMRA members with former landlord Phil Gammon outside the Lamb & Flag Photo: Phil Gammon (Image: Newsquest)

Another Oxford pub on the list is The Lamb & Flag, on St Giles’ Street.

The pub was shut down by its owners St John’s College at the start of 2021 due to a fall in trade caused by the pandemic, but it reopened in October 2022 following a takeover by the Inklings community group and has been busy ever since.

The pub is so busy is now selling branded tote bags, mugs and other items to tourists and local drinkers.

The Bear Inn (Image: The Bear Inn)

Another city favourite is The Bear Inn on Alfred Street.

Its history dates back to 1262, but the current building was constructed in 1606 and then known as the Jolly Trooper.

It’s recommended by punters as a place to relax after a summer walk and to cosy up and escape the cold during the winter months.

Steve Mace, left, with Dave Richardson (Image: Photo: Dave Richardson)

The Morris Clown on High Street in Bampton is another Oxfordshire favourite.

Landlord Steve Mace has been in charge for 36 years and was presented with a long service certificate from the Oxford branch of CAMRA in 2023.

During the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 landlord Mr Mace took to his bicycle to deliver ale to his customers’ homes, often in harsh winter weather and still in the shorts he always wears.

The Butchers Arms in Balscote (Image: Google Maps)

Village pubs near Banbury top the list with The Butchers Arms on Shutford Road in Balscote and The Red Lion in Horley selected by experts.

The Butchers Arms in Balscote is a lovely little find.

Hidden away in the North Oxfordshire Countryside, it has been a Hook Norton Pub since 1878 and still has the original Ice house in the garden as well as boasting a Grade II Listing.

The Red Lion in Horley (Image: Google Maps)

Meanwhile the Red Lion in Horley was voted in CAMRA’s top 200 pubs in 2015 and was featured in CAMRA’s 2023 Good Beer Guide.

Rose & Crown, Charlbury (Image: Google Street View)

Charlbury-based boozer The Rose & Crown in Market Street is another of the best pubs of the year.

A freehouse, the pub has been featured in the Good Beer Guide for 31 years in a row and is described as a strong supporter of local breweries.

The Cross Keys in Thame being presented with the Pub of the Year award in 2024 (Image: CAMRA)

The Cross Keys on East Street in Thame is also listed amongst the best.

The pub was formerly a Brakspear pub, and was bought by the Thame-based pub company, Oak Taverns early in 2022 and reopened with Mr and Mrs Howse at the helm in May of that year.

Landlord Dave Howse previously told the Oxford Mail the pub is a ‘wet-led’ pub, and doesn’t rely on providing a food service, although the regular visiting pop-up street food vendors are proving to be a more than welcome alternative.

Will Hawkes, The Telegraph’s beer, food and travel journalist, said: “Despite desperate operating conditions, Britain still has hundreds of magnificent pubs, offering warmth, atmosphere, character and fantastic drinks. You’ll find the best of the best in our guide.”

The Crafters Emporium, which previously boasted stores in Oxford, Didcot and Faringdon, previously announced that its shop on Sheep Street, Bicester will close in October.

But now it has been revealed that the landlord of the store, Makespace Oxfordshire, has given the business a notice of forfeiture.

Crafters collecting their unsold stock from the Oxford store (Image: Contributed)

Forfeiture is the legal right that allows a landlord to terminate a lease if the tenant is in breach of the lease, this could mean not paying rent or violating terms of the lease.

On Saturday, July 18 the landlords re-entered the property and put the notice of forfeiture on the shop window, permitting anyone from entering the premises unless allowed to do so by the landlord.

This comes just weeks after The Enforcement Agency repossessed the company’s remaining shop on Cornmarket Street, Oxford due to unpaid rent. 

The Crafters Emporium in Cornmarket (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Crafters who sold stock in the Oxford shop were told to collect all their items earlier this month, it is unknown if they have been told the same about the Bicester store.

The business is now expected to file for insolvency after reports of crafters who sold stock in the store being left out of pocket by thousands of pounds. 

The business also announced the closure of their Faringdon store last month after six years in the town.

The Crafters’ Emporium has declined to comment.

European Technology Group has acquired financial support portal Lightning Reach, bringing the UK platform into its GovTech investment portfolio.

Lightning Reach said the change in ownership will leave its operations and team intact. Chief Operating Officer Rhiannon Sheridan has become Chief Executive Officer, while founder Ren Yi Hooi will remain involved as a Director on the Board.

The acquisition comes as pressure grows on public bodies, charities and utilities to improve how financial aid reaches households. More than 20 million people in the UK live in financially vulnerable circumstances, and more than £24 billion in support goes unclaimed each year, according to the companies.

Lightning Reach was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic to bring different support schemes into one digital application journey. Since launching in late 2021, its platform has reached more than 300,000 people and facilitated more than £25 million in financial assistance.

The business works with more than 100 organisations across the UK, including utility providers, local authorities, charities, housing associations and banks. Its model is designed to reduce administrative work for institutions while helping people find and apply for support spread across multiple schemes.

Leadership change

The transaction also formalises a leadership handover already under way. Sheridan, previously Chief Operating Officer, takes charge as the business enters its next stage under ETG ownership.

Hooi described the sale as the point at which the company could continue its mission beyond its founding leadership.

“I’m incredibly proud of this milestone. Lightning Reach started as a nascent idea during the pandemic and is now a thriving impact business, helping hundreds of thousands people access over £25 million in financial support with over 100 partners across the UK. I’ve always wanted to make sure our impact as a company can outlast my role as the founder, and it’s clear we’ve reached this point. Rhiannon has been an exceptional leader since she joined our early team nearly five years ago and is the ideal person to lead our next phase, with ETG providing the dream long-term home that will allow us to stay laser-focused on our mission,” said Ren Yi Hooi, Founder, Lightning Reach.

Rhiannon Sheridan, CEO of Lightning Reach, said the company would continue to focus on access to support while expanding its reach.

“When I joined Lightning Reach, we were a tiny team with a big goal, to make it easier for people to access support while removing the manual work that slows organisations down. It has been a privilege to be part of the journey and I’m honoured to take on Ren’s legacy as CEO as we enter this next chapter. With ETG’s long-term backing, sector expertise and clear alignment with our mission, we have the right partner to help us scale sustainably, deepen our partnerships and keep investing in the platform as we work towards helping one million people access financial support by 2028,” said Sheridan.

Growth plans

ETG said Lightning Reach is its third investment. The group focuses on software businesses serving the public sector and other regulated industries in Europe, and says it has more than 400 public sector clients across six countries, serving a combined population of more than 14 million citizens.

For Lightning Reach, ETG’s appeal appears to lie in access to a buyer with experience in public sector technology and procurement. That matters in a market where councils, charities and service providers often face fragmented systems, budget constraints and reporting demands when distributing grants and other support.

Lightning Reach said it had quadrupled annual recurring revenue over the past year while remaining cash-positive. It was previously backed by nearly 30 investors, including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Big Issue Invest and Techstars.

ETG’s management framed the acquisition as a bet on a business with an established footprint in a part of the social support system that remains difficult for many households to navigate.

“Lightning Reach is tackling one of the most important challenges out there: making sure people in financial hardship can actually access the help they are entitled to. The team has built something genuinely special, with a brilliant product and real proof of impact. We see a significant opportunity to grow its reach across the UK and beyond, and we could not be more excited to support Rhiannon and the team as they scale,” said Lars Becker, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, ETG.

The wider problem Lightning Reach is trying to address is not only low awareness among potential applicants, but also the patchwork nature of support provision. Help is often offered by different organisations using separate rules and manual processes, making it harder for individuals to claim and for institutions to deliver aid efficiently.

That operating environment has created a growing market for platforms that sit between support providers and claimants. Lightning Reach says its system offers a single route into different types of assistance and helps partner organisations process applications more quickly.

“What drew us to Lightning Reach was the combination of a genuine social mission, an exceptionally talented team, and a platform that makes accessing and delivering financial support faster and simpler for everyone involved. With our long-term backing, resources and entrepreneurial culture, we believe Lightning Reach can continue scaling its impact to support many more people. We are thrilled to be part of the next stage of the journey,” said Sjoerd Smaal, Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder, ETG.