Award-winning beer writer and former pub landlady Helen Peacocke picks out some of her favourite locals

The Royal Oak, High Street, Witney.

01993 702576

Situated in the centre of Witney, The Royal Oak used to be a beer-swilling pub with such a dense smoky atmosphere it was sometimes difficult to see across the bar. Now it's been transformed into a trendy little market town pub with conservatory extension and al fresco courtyard dining area. It's becoming known for its cheerful buzzing atmosphere and quick, efficient service. Because of its low food prices and friendly approach, The Royal Oak is attracting a brisk lunchtime trade, which includes shoppers and pensioners. A couple of customers selecting cod and chips from the menu pay just £7.45 for two attractively presented meals cooked to order. Many other specials at reduced prices are available. Beers on tap include: Hobgoblin, Wychwood Bitter and Brakspear's Best Bitter, all of which are brewed in Witney.

The Swan, Minster Lovell

01993 774441

The Swan, Minster Lovell, situated in the picturesque village of Minster Lovell and just a short distance from the River Windrush, is a perfect venue for walkers and tourists. Although this 600-year-old inn boasts a superb dining room which opens during the evenings, lunch is usually served in the bar area, with its small intimate spaces and comfortable furniture. It's here you can sit back and relax, enjoy the timeless atmosphere of this delightful old inn and be served by staff who are not afraid to smile. The lunch menu offers a wide assortment of dishes including: home made soup (£3.50), home made terrine served with Oxfordshire sauce and toast (£5.25), cod, chips and mushy peas (£9.95) or Scottish salmon served with a tropical fruit salsa at £10.95. A classic afternoon tea is served on the lawn during the hot weather.

Hand and Shears, Church Handborough

01865 883337

Situated just three miles from Woodstock, yet far enough away to be off the tourist circuit, this delightful country pub proves a good stopping off point for those visiting Blenheim Palace, who want to get away from the crowds for a moment. Dog lovers will appreciate the fact their canine companions are welcome in the cosy bar area with its cheerful open fireplace, where the restaurant menu is also served. Beers include a range of real ales brewed at Oxfordshire's award-winning Hook Norton Brewery, also a guest beer. Dishes priced from £7.95 include items such as Linguini arrabiatta with home made meat balls (£7.95), bangers and mash served with red onion marmalade (£7.95), and seared fillet of salmon with watercress sauce (£11.95). Live jazz is played here on the first Sunday of every month during the lunchtime when traditional Sunday roasts at £9.95 feature on the menu.

Abingdon Arms, High Street, Beckley

01865 351311

Set in the centre of the beautiful Otmoor village of Beckley, the Abingdon Arms boasts one of the best pub gardens in Oxfordshire, offering spectacular views of Charlton-on-Otmoor. Inside you enter a cosy bar and eating area with a restaurant extension that's been added so tastefully it feels absolutely right. During the winter, roaring log fires and the smell of woodsmoke add an extra spark to the buzzing atmosphere. The menu calls on local ingredients from time to time as the pub is but a couple of miles from Rectory Farm Pick Your Own, which is considered one of the best in the county. So expect the strawberries to be fresh, the broad beans tender and the asparagus juicy and flavoursome. Most main meals are priced at under £10.

The Fox Inn, Great Barrington

01451 844385

You will discover this pub in the heart of the Windrush Valley on the boundary of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Built from the famous Taynton stone, it stands besides the meandering River Windrush, considered one of the most beautiful rivers in Oxfordshire. You can choose to eat in the bar, a non-smoking family restaurant at the rear of the building or at one of the many tables in the beer garden overlooking the river. As dogs are allowed in the bar, The Fox Inn makes an excellent stopping off point when taking the dog for a walk through the Cotswolds. Food is reasonably priced and cooked to order from local ingredients whenever possible. Menu choices include home-made salmon fish cakes, breast of pheasant Normandy with apple cider, half roast Aylesbury duck or stir-fried chicken and crispy vegetables flavoured with the pub's own black bean and sesame sauce. Choice of excellent local ales brewed at Donnington Brewery, Stow-on-the-Wold, which was established in 1865.

Red Lion, Yarnton

01865 373556

It's the friendly laid-back approach of the staff at The Red Lion, Yarnton, which makes it special. The food is good too. During the past year this pub has been transformed from a smoky drinking pub that served hamburgers to a stylish gastro-pub that welcomes drinkers. Local produce features frequently on the menu and is cooked to order by a talented chef who knows how to create mouthwatering meals that celebrate the fresh local products he uses. Ironically, a typical dish to appear on the menu could be chargrilled 8oz beef burger,(£7.45), but these are no ordinary beefburgers. They are made from Oxfordshire beef and served with mature cheddar, relish and chips and taste absolutely delicious. The pan roasted cod served with local vegetables (£9.75) tastes great too. An ever changing list of guest ales is available, which can be enjoyed in the large lounge area retained for those who wish to pop in for a relaxing drink without having a meal. The spacious beer garden at the back makes this a popular family pub in the summer.

The Crazy Bear, Bar Lane, Stadhampton OX44 7UR

01865 890714

Probably the wackiest pub in Oxfordshire but the food's terrific, particularly if you enjoy authentic Thai dishes and draught champagne. The fresh oysters are pretty good too. A gigantic stuffed bear set high above the bar in a half-timbered space and amid chandeliers gives this pub its name and roaring log fires add warmth during the winter months. Both Thai and classic British fare is available, but advance booking is advised. Prices are set quite high, but you really do get what you pay for. Don't leave without checking out the newly refurbished Thai restaurant area with its crushed velvet trimmed walls, from which gilded faces peer.

The Six Bells, The Green, Warborough 0X10 7DN

01865 858265

Standing as it does on the edge of Warborough Village Green, this attractive thatched pub, which dates back to the 16th century, offers a friendly buzzing atmosphere and old fashioned hospitality. Television fans may recognise it as the pub that was used as a backdrop for Jeeves and Wooster, Midsomer Murders and Two Fat Ladies. Whilst dishes on the standard lunch menu are priced at under £10, the specials can cost as much as £13 if you order scallops or duck, but as they are really well cooked and beautifully presented they are worth every penny. Dogs are permitted in the bar area.

The Red Lion, Northmoor, OX29 5SX

01865 300301

This pub is known for its homely atmosphere and fantastic home cooked Sunday lunches, which are proving so popular booking is absolutely essential. Dating back to 1741, The Red Lion will please anyone looking for an unspoiled village pub which serves a jolly good pint. As it's situated but a mile from the Thames it's a great stopping off point for walkers and their dogs.

The Plough, 24 High Street, Long Wittenham, OX14 4QH

01865 407738

As this homely riverside pub is but a few minutes drive from Wittenham Clumps it's just the place for dog walkers and those cruising The Thames who are in search of a home cooked meal. During the third week of June, The Plough is the main stopping off point for the colourful flotilla of skiffs and launches carrying the Swan Uppers from Shepperton Lock to Abingdon, as they count and check the swans and their cygnets. A singsong is assured on Swan Upping days. Food is home cooked and modestly priced and a welcome is assured providing you leave muddy boots at the door. Dogs are welcome and there's a large garden leading down to the river for children to play in.

The Trout, Buckland Marsh, Faringdon SN7 8RF

01367 870382

This charming 17th-century pub, which stands alongside the Thames bank can be reached by taking the Buckland turn off the A420. It's here that you can really get away from it all and take a leisurely walk along the Thames before enjoying a superb meal cooked mainly from local produce. Main dishes, which are priced from £10 to £15, are cooked by the chef/proprietor Chris Green whose menu is featured in most good food guides. Bird watchers will appreciate the wild nature of the River Thames at this point and the abundance of reed-nesting birds and buzzards that frequent this area.

The Blowing Stone Inn, Kingston Lisle, Wantage OX12 9QL

01367 820288

Many visitors attending the annual sheep dog trials at the historic Blowing Stone Field, that take place on August bank Holiday Monday will know this red brick pub situated just a mile away at Kingston Lisle, as it provides a jolly good pub meal at a reasonable price. On summer evenings the attractive garden with its large ornamental pond offers the perfect setting for a cool drink and a grilled steak with all the trimmings, though you can also eat inside in the conservatory restaurant which serves really scrumptious meals. Beer lovers will appreciate the many guest beers on offer here.

The Fish, Appleford Road, Sutton Courtenay, OX14 4NQ

01235 848242

If you fancy a glorious fish meal in a stylish restaurant decorated with antiques, the chef at The Fish, Sutton Courtenay is usually able to oblige. Those fancying a bistro meal or a light lunch at a competitive price are catered for too. This is a small but very comfortable pub with a conservatory extension and pleasing garden. Efficient and very friendly service is assured and the beer is great which is why it's essential to book in advance at the weekends.

The Woodman Inn, Fernham SN7 7NX

01367 820643

This atmospheric 17th-century pub with its medieval-style banqueting hall and gnarled beams provides some very tasty meals at reasonable prices, all of which are cooked (where possible) from local produce. Local beers such as Hobgoblin, brewed by the Wychwood brewery, based in Witney are also available. Service is prompt and friendly without being intrusive and roaring log fires add their own colour to the warm atmosphere generated here during the winter months. As an elderly black cat named Boots dominates the bar area, dogs are advised to stay outside.

The Blue Boar, Tucks Lane, Longworth OX13 5ET

01865 820 494

You won't find white tablecloths at The Blue Boar, Longworth, this pub is known for its scrubbed pine tables, gnarled beams and the bunches of dried hops, photos and artifacts that hang from the ceiling. It's also known for its warm hospitality and honest-to-goodness food. This popular venue, which acts as a focal point for the village, has recently undergone a restaurant extension at the rear which has been added seamlessly to the bar and small dining area originally renovated in the late 1970's. Nearby river walks leading to the Rose Revived and the Maybush at Newbridge, make this a popular venue during the summer.

The Cherry Tree, High Street, Steventon OX13 6R2

01235 831222

This lovely old pub, which stands alongside the main road running through Steventon, simply oozes with character. It's here that you can enjoy a very reasonably priced meal served with a smile. Renovations and extensions have been tastefully constructed during the past year, which have extended the dining areas without spoiling their cosy atmosphere. The Cherry Tree was awarded a Cask Marque last year for the high quality of its cask ales which usually include at least one guest ale. Baguettes and sandwiches, are also available at lunch time. Chip butties too!