AN EAST Oxford pub has cemented its place among the best in the country.

The Magdalen Arms in Iffley Road will again feature in the UK's top 50 gastropubs list for 2019.

The league table, drawn up by experts from industry magazine The Morning Advertiser and beer giant Estrella Damm, was revealed on Wednesday when the pub received a hand written note from organisers.

It will discover if it has improved on last year's position of 34th at an awards ceremony on January 28.

Oxford Mail: The Magdalen Arms, Oxford. Picture: Damian Halliwell

Florence Fowler, who has run the Magdalen Arms with partner Tony Abarno for 10 years, said: "It was a lovely way to find out, there were big smiles all around.

"Making the list last year came out of the blue. We've just kept doing what we do best but there are new places opening all the time so it was never guaranteed.

"We'd love to go higher than 34th but we'd still be thrilled with coming 49th - just to be included is special.

"It's a list of the best places in the UK, voted by the experts so it's not a bad accolade. We're secretly really happy."

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The pub, known for its monthly flea market and eclectic but traditional food menu, was picked by a poll of hundreds of industry experts, including top chefs, food writers, pubco chiefs and top suppliers.

It's the latest in a long-line of awards for Oxfordshire pubs with last year the Hare in Milton-under-Wychwood named as Oxfordshire's winner in the National Pub and Bar Awards.

The Rose & Crown, Charlbury, and the Abingdon Arms, Beckley, also scooped awards for Oxfordshire CAMRA's best pub and the country's best community pub respectively.

Ms Fowler said she didn't see the Magdalen Arms as being in competition with the host of other top boozers in the area, but instead felt that they complement each other.

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She said: "We all have different things to offer. People will come to us for one thing and go to them for something else.

"We've been doing this 10 years and you always assume that people have heard of you but there's still people who live on the other side of the city who have no idea you exist.

"Hopefully this will attract a few more through the door.

"There's always room to be busier and busier, we've got a lot of floor space to fill."

Oxford Mail:

The full list will be revealed at top50gastropubs.com later this month.

Last year the Nut Tree Inn at Murcott and the Kingham Plough in Chipping Norton were also included in the top 50.