She's the long-serving landlady of an 18th Century coaching inn at the heart of a Hampshire community. 

Emma Oakley has been at The Phoenix Inn in Twyford for the past 25 years, although the pub has been in the Mundy / Oakley families for more than four decades. 

First a pub in the 1800s, The Phoenix used to have stables attached for the customers to get the horses shoes repaired at the Old Forge opposite.

(Image: The Phoenix Inn) READ MORE: The buzzing bar with friendly staff, terrific tapas and a fresh new look

It has been run as a family pub since members of the Mundy family took over in 1981, Reg and Anne as landlord and landlady and their son Paul as Chef.

In 1984, Paul took the reins as landlord after his parents had retired and carried on from where they had left off. 

"I started working here at the age of 14, working my way through the ranks from pot washer to chef to landlady, after Paul and I became partners in life and in business," said Emma.

"We've had a lot of happy years working here together but, sadly Paul died suddenly in November 2019. Paul was a proper landlord and will never be forgotten.

"I wanted to carry on running this amazing pub as a family run pub in Paul's honour, so starting in January 2020 myself and my youngest son Tom started working together and we will work hard to keep The Phoenix Inn the warm welcoming pub it has been for all those years."

(Image: The Phoenix Inn) Tom works as the bar manager in the pub, which boasts a selection of six ales, three of them local and three national.  Flower Pots bitter from nearby Cheriton and Timothy Taylor Landlord are the most popular. 

As well as the great beer, which saw the pub mentioned in the Good Beer Guide 2025, it is well known for its large open fire, nine pin skittle alley, great beer garden with marquee and traditional menu. 

Pies, faggots and curries are on the menu at The Phoenix, which is dog friendly and often hosts birthday and anniversary celebrations as well as small wedding receptions.

(Image: The Phoenix Inn) The Locality Festival, a family community music festival, proved a big draw, and customers also love the monthly quiz night and watching live sports on the TVs.