Oxford. Dating back to the 16th century, the earliest known license comes from 1591 when it was known as The Mermaid. Over the years it has been called White Mermaid, The Jolly Volunteer, The White Horse, The Elephant, and in the late 1830s became the White Horse. A very tiny narrow pub located on Broad Street, it is one of the smallest in town and has appeared several times in the Inspector Morse television series. My beer of choice: Why Does It Always Grain On Me (love the name!) Scottish Heavy from Loose Cannon Brewing in Abingdon (South of Oxford).