Oxford News
Brewpub owners gets positive feedback after delayed opening
Scarlet River Brewing Company was set up by former Tap Social head brewer Jason Bolger and his partner Niki Sibson, a scientist and medical researcher.
The new pub, Scarlet River, next to Marks & Spencer in Marriotts Walk shopping centre, had been due to open in January but the 10-year lease was only signed in February following delays with construction.
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The brewpub finally opened its doors to customers last month. It’s the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.
Seating up to 50 inside and 30 outside, the brewery, taproom and café occupies a unit in the shopping centre that has not been used since the complex opened in 2009.
Although its output will be mainly craft beer served directly from tanks, the pub will have one hand pump which Mr Bolger describes as “cask style”.
His interest in “cask style” brews continues with Old Curmudgeon Bitter, a tasty 3.8% beer.
The first brews available are otherwise craft keg with IPAs, lagers, a stout, a wheat beer and a Belgian pale.
Purbeck Cider is available from Dorset, and a Scarlet River-branded gin and spiced rum are supplied by Abingdon Distillery. Wines and soft drinks are also available.
All brewing takes place on the premises in the 500-litre kit behind the bar.
This is the first time commercial brewing has taken place in Witney since Wychwood brewery closed in 2023.
“We have had some very positive feedback, and have been full at times with 60-65 people seated inside and outside,” Mr Bolger told CAMRA’s Oxford Drinker magazine.
“We are seeing all kinds of customers from youngsters to seasoned ale drinkers.
“This is a dream come true, and we’re just keeping our heads above water at present. But we will serve food in due course, and are looking to recruit ex-services people in senior positions.”
Scarlet River hopes to work with former Army and Air Force personnel who sometimes find it challenging to move into civilian life, whereas Tap Social brewery in Oxford works with ex-offenders.
At the moment, the opening hours are: closed on Mondays, open from 10.30am-5pm on Tuesdays, 10.30am-10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10.30am-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11am-6pm on Sundays.
The long-term aim is to move to an all-day café-bar operation.
Large-sale commercial brewing in Witney started in the 1830s when Clinch’s brewery was formed, with the former Glenny brewery becoming Wychwood in 1989.
Mr Bolger said earlier: “Niki and I are extremely excited to be bringing brewing back to Witney, as it does have a long history of breweries serving local communities.
“We hope to continue this and welcome everyone very soon.”
The couple’s children are called Scarlet and River – the inspiration for the brewpub’s name.
Posh Spice and David Beckham have submitted plans to build a new oak balcony at Maplewood Barn, in the 44th application they’ve made since renaming the home they bought a decade ago.
In that time David and Victoria Beckham have been embroiled in numerous rows with neighbours and accused of ‘drip-feeding’ development there.
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And the latest scheme has raised accusations of ‘hypocrisy’ after they had previously accused a neighbour wanting a balcony at their London home of spoiling their privacy.
Documents submitted on behalf of the Beckhams said the latest scheme involved replacing the “Crittall-style screen and doors” and installing an “oak balcony to the western elevation.”
They wrote: “The proposed replacement Crittall-style screen and doors, together with the new oak-framed balcony to the west elevation, have been carefully designed to consider the character and significance of Maplewood Barn and its listed setting.
“The works are to the modern west range constructed as part of the approved barn conversion and will not result in the loss of, or harm to, any historic fabric associated with the original Grade II listed buildings.
“The replacement glazing will match the existing design, proportions, and colour, ensuring visual continuity with the existing barns, while the oak balcony introduces a simple and sympathetic addition that reflects existing timber detailing within the development.
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“Given the small scale of the proposals, and their location within a later addition to the dwelling, it is considered that the works preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the listed buildings and their setting.”
No public comments have so far been submitted but it comes six years after the Beckhams fought a furious planning battle with neighbours at their Holland Park home in London over renovation plans – including their desire for a balcony.
In 2020 they eventually lost the battle to stop the neighbour drastically updating a posh property close to their £31million townhouse.
The celebrity couple had expressed concerns that the neighbour’s architect was creating a whole new patio area including a balcony on the first floor, which may have overlooked their back garden.
Amended plans were approved when a council officer’s report dismissed any privacy fears.
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At the time they stated: “There are no concerns with the impact of the proposal on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers in terms of light, sense of enclosure, noise or privacy.”
The couple have also been involved in multiple rows over work at their Grade-II listed country house at Maplewood Barn, near Great Tew in Oxfordshire
Since buying the three listed barns for £6,150,000 in 2016, they have added a new driveway and gates, an additional garage outbuilding, tennis court, treehouse, security hut, extension to the garage outbuilding and a landscaped pond.
This Oxford Mail archive gallery of pictures show shots mostly taken by staff photographer Jon Lewis in the summer of 2006.
From the city to the towns and villages of the county, this collection shows a range of summer fun from two decades ago.
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End-of-term school events feature in this collection, with school plays and sports days both featured.
Pictures of friendly World Cup rivalry between opposing team’s fans show not much has changed in some respects over the past 20 years.
Take a look back through this Oxford Mail archive gallery to be transported back to June 2006.
Thames Valley Police’s roads policing department focused operations on two-wheeled vehicles in Oxford today, Sunday, June 28, catching multiple riders committing driving offences.
One of them was a rider who was allegedly ‘drug driving’, who was arrested for the offence.
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Police said six other vehicles were seized for having no insurance and two for having no road tax, with more than one of them delivery riders who had to ‘complete their deliveries on foot’.
Officers said: “We’re sorry if this meant your zesty beverages were slightly warm on arrival.”
Two other seizures were for e-bikes being ridden illegally, one of which was clocked travelling at 56km/h without any pedalling from the rider.
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A spokesperson for the force said: “Our advice – tax and Insure your vehicle, don’t drive if you’re not licenced and don’t use an e-bike capable of travelling at the national speed limit.
“Failing that, we’ll catch up with you later in the week and take your vehicle off your hands – for a small fee of course.”
Laws on riding e-bikes in the UK state that they must have pedal assist only power, a power limited of no more than 250 watts and should travel at a maximum of 15.5mph, or 25km/h.
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