The Victoria Arms in Old Marston is well worth a visit and has been selected as the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.

If you don’t live in the Headington or Marston area, set aside some time to get there – you can arrive by boat on the River Cherwell or drive.

READ MORE: Opening date announced for village pub 

Once you have arrived, it is the sort of pub where you definitely want to stay for a few hours.

In the summertime, there is lots of space outside on the lawns and tables where you can eat and drink alongside the river, or watch a film in the evening at the pub’s own mini cinema.

And in the winter, the pub’s cosy interior is the perfect place to shelter from the storm.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) It is in one of the dining rooms where the close link with the English Civil War is revealed.

A plaque on the wall says: “In 1646, Cromwell sat here waiting to liberate the city.”

READ MORE: Key footbridge removal delayed by Storm Darragh

The use of the word ‘liberate’ is rather controversial as Oxford was the Royalist capital during the English Civil War.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Oliver Cromwell, who was Lord Protector after Charles I was defeated, is known to have stayed at Manor House nearby, where he negotiated the terms of the surrender of Oxford.

It is a fascinating link with the past but is probably overlooked by the majority of the guests now visiting for Christmas parties.

Earlier this year, The Victoria Arms won Oxfordshire’s Best Pub in the National Pub and Bar Awards.

Judges said the team “demonstrated excellence in design, service, food and drink and style of offer”.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Oxford Preservation Trust bought the pub and adjoining land in 1959 to save the nearly derelict building and protect the area from development.

Fully renovated, The Victoria Arms reopened in summer 1986 and has become a firm favourite on the Oxford pub scene.

It is now run by pub company Butcombe, which also runs The Trout in Faringdon.

The pub has a 3.5 out of five score on reviews site Tripadvisor.

One customer named Peter, who visited earlier this month, wrote: “I regularly frequent the Victoria Arms.

“Great atmosphere, and great food, whether you’re just passing through or on a night out as part of a group. The staff are simply the friendliest in all of Oxford.”

Another review from Amanda, who also visited earlier this month, added: “Trying to find a table around this busy pre-Christmas period was always going to be tough.

“However, the staff went out of their way to try and find us a spot.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) “It was full – and very busy – but we sat under the heat lamps and enjoyed watching the river until a few more seats became available inside.

“They were as friendly as always. The pub is incredibly popular so turning up without a booking probably wasn’t the best idea – but glad we found space eventually.”

She added: “The Sunday roast was delicious and we had a glass of mulled wine. It’s my favourite spot in that area and my friend enjoyed it too.”

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

•       
• Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
•       
• Advert-light access       
•       
• Reader rewards       
•       
• Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.