The Brewery Bar in Botley strives 'to be different'

The Brewery Bar in Botley is nestled into the heart of the village on Winchester Street.

Owned by Kay Blackman and run by her daughter Harriet Westbrook and her partner Tash Hampton, The Brewery Bar has seen a dramatic change since last year.

Kay was asked by Greene King to take over the pub following the success of her first pub The Railway Inn, also in Botley.

Kay took over The Brewery Bar in November last year.

She said: “We had a big refurbishment in March and the whole place just looks so much better.

“When we took it over it was very dark and cold and really run-down.

“It’s much smaller than the other pubs but we’ve worked really hard.

“It’s quite different, and we are very community based.”

The pub recently hosted a festival called Brew Fest which saw crowds of people flock to the pub to enjoy the weather last weekend.

The festival included live music and a raffle, and it was all in aid of charity raising hundreds of pounds for a local cause.

As well as Brew Fest, the pub also offers a range of weekly events.

Every Saturday there is live music and an open mic-night, as well as darts on a Monday, burger nights on a Tuesday, a quiz night on Wednesday and a fish and chips special on a Friday.

Kay said that the most popular items on the menu are the classics, with the burgers taking to top-spot.

San Miguel proves to be a favourite with customers as well as the pub’s rhubarb and ginger gin.

The venue is dog friends and Harriet and Tash have their own dogs who are free to wonder the pub as they please.

The Brewery Bar has recently sponsored the Botley Football Club.