Connect with us

Crime & Safety

Ipsden pub named South Oxfordshire pub of the season

Published

on



The South Oxfordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale has awarded the King William IV pub in Ipsden the coveted pub of the season title.

A popular drinking spot for locals, farmers and visitors from further afield, the rural pub has been run by Emma Righton for the past two-and-a-half years.

READ MORE: Air Ambulance statement after Banbury crash involving boy

Ms Righton said: “It was quite funny, as we were celebrating National Farm Animal Day. We always do a dress-up day on a Friday so we were all wearing t-shirts with a farm animal on for the award.”

The farmer-turned-landlady is close with Chilterns farmers that surround them and bills itself as ‘the pub with the view’ because of the stunning scenery that surrounds it.

A spokesperson for South Oxfordshire CAMRA said: “A most enjoyable late afternoon presenting South Oxfordshire CAMRA’s Spring 2026 Pub of the Season award to Emma Righton and her team at a packed King William IV, Ipsden.

READ MORE: Roadworks in Oxford cause Botley Road traffic chaos

“Well done to everyone at the pub, which has the best pint of Brakspear beers for miles around.”

A spokesperson for CAMRA described it as in the “perfect setting to sip down a well-kept pint of Brakspear Gravity, which is always served straight from the cask”.

The King William IV joins another nearby pub, the Cross Keys in Wallingford, which was voted branch Pub of the Year and branch Cider Pub of the Year for 2026.





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime & Safety

Banbury – Police issue update after taxi crashed into house

Published

on



As previously reported, a car was smashed into the side of a parked white Peugeot taxi in Woodgreen Avenue.

It then caused the taxi to collide with the house it was parked outside of, leading to significant damage to the bricks.

READ MORE: Abingdon – Man sentenced for breaking window at ex-partner’s home

Nobody was injured in the crash, but the road was taped off for most of Monday, August 18 last year while officers investigated.

Two people were arrested shortly after the crash, with two more shortly afterwards.

All four of those arrested were released on conditional police bail pending further enquiries by investigating officers.

However, Thames Valley Police have now confirmed that no further action will be taken.

A spokeswoman said: “All those arrested have been released from police custody with no further action to be taken.

“Following a thorough review of all the lines of enquiry available to us in this case, this investigation has now been filed.”





Source link

Continue Reading

Crime & Safety

Police drugs raid at home near to major Oxfordshire school

Published

on


Thames Valley Police has revealed that it carried out a drugs warrant today (Friday, April 17) on Leach Road in Bicester.

This is only a road away from The Bicester School which educates over 1,000 pupils from 11 to 18.

READ MORE: Citroen Picasso seized by police on A41 near to Oxfordshire town

The police added that investigations in the case are ongoing and encouraged anyone with any information to get in touch with them as soon as possible.

A spokesperson for the Cherwell unit said: “Earlier today, the Bicester and Kidlington Neighbourhood Policing Team carried out a drugs warrant at an address in Leach Road, supported by colleagues from West Oxfordshire and Banbury Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

Police conducting the raid in Bicester (Image: TVP)

“Investigations remain ongoing. We continue to encourage our community to report any information or concerns about drug activity.

“Your reports help us target our activity, protect vulnerable people, and reduce drug offences across the area.

READ MORE: Named ‘delivery rider’ pleads guilty after cocaine arrest in Oxfordshire town

“You can either do this online or by telephoning 101. If you don’t wish to speak to police directly, you can also report to Crimestoppers, anonymously and free of charge by calling 0800 555 111.”

This drugs raid follows several recent drugs-related arrests in another Oxfordshire town Wantage.

Earlier this week a man pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A, namely cocaine, having been arrested in the town.





Source link

Continue Reading

Crime & Safety

Cotswolds rival to Jeremy Clarkson pub targets June opening

Published

on


Nigel Bailey, who is close to becoming the new owner of the former Horse and Radish in Burford Road, Minster Lovell, has said he wants to have the watering hole opened in the summer during the upcoming Football World Cup.

Mr Bailey and his wife, who live in Brize Norton, had an offer accepted for the pub earlier this year and hope to finalise the deal with Stonegate soon.

READ MORE: Cotswolds rival to Jeremy Clarkson pub could reopen soon

The Minster Lovell tavern was on the market for £850,000 last summer although that fell to £650,000 late in 2025.

Mr Bailey confirmed that they would give the pub a new name and said it would be based on English literature.

He said: “We’re eyeing English writers as a source for the name, people who have taken inspiration from the Cotswolds. That’s the concept.”

Horse and Radish in Burford Road, Minster Lovell (Image: Savills)

He added that the food would be traditional British but with a twist and that he is hopeful it will be open for the busy summer season.

“A good thing is that we have got the World Cup coming up,” he said, adding: “I mean it’s going to be all hands-on deck when we get the keys.

“I’ve got contractors lined up and we’re already looking for stuff but not really going into high gear until we have got the keys.”

Boasting 2.092 acres of Cotswolds views, the pub is less than two miles away from Jeremey Clarkson’s boozer The Farmer’s Dog in Asthall.

However Mr Bailey said he expects the upgraded Horse and Radish to complement the former Top Gear man’s boozer as well as The White Hart in Burford.

Horse and Radish in Burford Road, Minster Lovell (Image: Savills)

He said that it will be a pub stitched into the community and that they hope to hold plenty of community events there.

It dates back more than 100 years to 1871 when it was first mentioned in The Census with the name New Inn.

Over the years the New Inn had several transfers of ownership with tenancies lasting on average two years.

READ MORE: Historic Oxfordshire high street hotel up for £2.5m sale

It continued to be called the New Inn into the 21st century and then it reopened in May 2006 after a major refurbishment which included an extra single storey being built to the pub at the rear and side. 

In 2013 the Inn was renamed The Dovecote before being rebranded again as The Horse and Radish.

The pub comes with planning permission for eight shepherd’s huts in the adjacent wild paddock, granted in 2022 and – according to the Land Registry – it was last sold for £465,000 in September 2017. 

Inside the pub is a three-section trading area with multiple entrances, a raised bar section with 22 seats leading to three sets of customer toilets, a central bar-servery section split either side of a feature fireplace and a larger dining area suitable for 46 people at the back.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending