Hook Norton
Hook Norton Brewery opens first pub in Oxford
The Castle Tavern — a Tudor-style site with tall red chimney stacks — will have a soft launch on Friday 2 December before undergoing major refurbishment in the new year.
Head brewer and managing director James Clarke will be answering questions about the brewery and its decision to purchase the site.
The pub will offer mixture of its own cask and keg beers and some products from the Oxford Brewing Alliance.
A ‘lively place’
Hook Norton marketing manager Mark Graham told The Morning Advertiser:“We wanted to get Hooky into Oxford and use the pub as a beer hub.”
He added: “It’s been a very hectic time with Christmas coming up, it took a while for the sale to go through.
“Now it's all hands to the pumps to get it open, we didn't want to leave the site empty any longer.”
Graham said: “The location is also very important — being close to the Westgate Shopping Centre will hopefully make the venue into a busy bar.
“The licensees who are taking over have a background of live music events, so we will be looking to make it a lively place rather than just a traditional pub.”
Christmas cheer
Meanwhile the brewery has released its latest festive beer this week.
Twelve Days a 5.5% ABV strong stout porter was launched today (Wednesday 30 November) at a special event at two of the brewery’s sites: Ye Reindeer Inn and the Coach and Horses, both in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
The brewery will also launch a new 5% ABV craft ale, the Dorchester Dawn, in the next few weeks.
