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.”

Net-Defence has urged parents to make online privacy a routine part of safety talks with children, warning that young people spend more time on gaming, social media and artificial intelligence tools during the school holidays.

The cyber security company tied its message to new public awareness efforts by the Information Commissioner’s Office, which has launched a campaign to help parents and carers discuss personal information with children. Research commissioned by the regulator found that almost a quarter of primary school-aged children have shared details such as their real name, address or school online, while one in five parents have never discussed online privacy with their children.

Those figures, Net-Defence said, point to a broader problem in how children understand data collection and the digital services they use every day. It argued that online privacy is becoming a basic part of modern life rather than a narrow technical issue.

“Online privacy is no longer just a technology issue; it’s a life skill,” said Debra Cairns, Managing Director, Net-Defence. “For years we’ve taught children about stranger danger, road safety and how to stay safe in the physical world. The reality is that today’s children are growing up in highly data-driven digital environments where information is constantly being collected, analysed and shared. Understanding privacy now needs to be as much a part of growing up as learning how to stay safe in the real world.”

AI concern

The rise of AI tools has added another layer of risk for families and schools, according to Net-Defence. The company cited research suggesting that about 22% of children have already shared information with AI-powered tools and chatbots, often treating them as trusted sources of advice, entertainment or companionship.

Unlike conventional websites, many AI systems use user interactions to refine their services. As a result, children may reveal personal details, preferences, locations or family information in casual exchanges without recognising the long-term implications.

“Children often see AI tools as helpful assistants rather than technology platforms collecting data. The challenge is that many young users don’t distinguish between information required to access a service and information they simply choose to share during use. Whether it’s social media, gaming platforms or AI tools, the result is often the same: more personal information being captured and retained,” Cairns said.

Data gathering often starts with simple account creation for games, apps and online platforms, Net-Defence said. Children may provide a username or email address first, then face prompts for date of birth, location, interests and permissions covering contacts, photos or device data.

According to the company, younger users are less likely to question why that information is being sought or how it may be used. The issue can become more acute when children bypass age restrictions to access services designed for older users.

In those cases, children may be treated as adults within digital systems, reducing access to age-appropriate privacy protections and increasing exposure to profiling, advertising and wider data-sharing practices, it said.

“Many parents still think about online safety primarily in terms of who their children are talking to. That remains important, but the conversation has shifted. Increasingly, the bigger issue is what information children are giving away and what information is being collected automatically in the background,” Cairns said.

Digital footprint

Net-Defence said the risks extend beyond immediate privacy breaches. In the short term, oversharing personal information can increase the likelihood of scams, manipulation, unwanted contact and identity-related fraud.

Over time, years of accumulated data can build detailed digital profiles, the company warned. Those profiles can shape the content children are shown, the products marketed to them and the way algorithms categorise them.

Many children now build a large digital footprint before they understand what personal data is or why it has value, Net-Defence said. It argued that this leaves them vulnerable to habits shaped by convenience rather than informed consent.

“Children will almost always choose convenience over privacy because they’re focused on accessing the platform, game or service in front of them. That’s why awareness matters: if we don’t help them understand the value of their information, someone else will define those behaviours for them,” Cairns said.

Everyday talks

Net-Defence said parents do not need specialist cyber security knowledge to respond. Instead, it called for regular conversations about which apps children use, what information they are asked to share, how privacy settings work and why permissions matter.

Smaller, more frequent discussions are likely to be more useful than a single conversation after a problem has emerged, the company said. It also called for wider cooperation between parents, schools, technology providers and policymakers on children’s digital awareness.

“Most parents are already trying to do the right thing. This isn’t about creating fear; it’s about building confidence. The same way we teach children how to cross a road safely, we need to teach them how to navigate digital environments safely. Privacy should become a normal, ongoing conversation rather than something we only think about when something goes wrong,” Cairns said.

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.