Every couple of years there appears to be a new drinks trend. When England last had a summer, pints of
cider and ice seemed to be the order of the day. Now it's (alcoholic) ginger beer.
If TV ad revenue is anything to go by, ginger beer =
Crabbies (4%). However,
The Victoria - a large red brick pub 15 minutes walk from
Oxford train station - serves
Ginger Joe (4%), a drink rarely seen elsewhere. Neither are craft beers, produced by the makers of
Labrini and
Babycham respectively; but, it can't be argued that Ginger Joe with ice and lime isn't both tasty and refreshing.
Owning a portfolio of drinks guarantees revenue regardless of the weather. The Victoria, with it's front garden, rear garden, and seats around the coal fire is in a similar position. On a sunny Friday evening or weekend afternoon this pub overflows with punters, although not a soul sits along it's wooden bar. On a cold Tuesday lunch-time, the gardens are empty, but the tables inside surrounded by people sampling delicious pies. And now that the temperature has dropped again, most will be back on the ale.
