George, Sutton Courtenay

Purchased by Oak Taverns in Dec 2019, previously owned by Greene King. Imposing 17th-century, Grade-II listed, half-timbered pub, with genuine beams inside. The pub had a make-over in summer 2021, including a name change from the previous George & Dragon. The are two spacious bars to the left and right of the entrance, with the left hand bar having a traditional beamed ceiling and real fire. Beyond the right hand bar is a further small and comfortably furnished room that can serve as a meeting room for small groups of up to around a dozen people.

There is an attractive enclosed outdoor drinking area to the rear that has a large covered and paved seating area, and a garden with sensory features for children to enjoy.

Although a wet-led pub, a small deli counter has been added just inside the entrance, This sells local produce, both sweet and savoury, coffee and cakes to pub customers and passing trade. Pies, scotch eggs, sausage rolls and pre-packed sandwiches are available to take into the bars and enjoy with your pint. Small picnic hampers can also be made up for visitors.

Update (21 December 2023): street trading licences were granted by the Vale of White Horse Street District Council Trading Panel on 6 December 2023, but planning permission now needs to be applied for; until this is granted the occasional street trading will continue with a 10p donation to charity. As of Friday 3 November 2023 the street food offering has been temporarily reinstated (check the Facebook page for details of hours) with a 10p donation to charity pending formal reinstatement. As of 4 August 2023 the street food offering had been suspended until further notice on the advice of the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Licensing Partnership. The suspension would continue until the permit(s) required for street trading to take place legally at this site are granted. Formerly "Occasional pop-up street food vans on Friday or Saturday evenings."

Ideally situated on the main road through the village, the pub overlooks the village War Memorial on the green and is adjacent to the village church. In the churchyard lie Lord Asquith - Prime Minister of Great Britain at the outbreak of the First World War (described on his tomb as 'Prime Minister of England', England was commonly used for Great Britain in those days) and Eric Blair, better known as the novelist George Orwell.

The Abingdon Bridge and Rude Not To are pretty much the regular beers on offer, but one may occasionally be changed out to try something else, usually from the same two local breweries. One changing beer has been added to the two regular ales for the weekends from October 2023.

The Historic England website entry for this pub is viewable by left clicking on https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1052728.

South Oxfordshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2023.