CAMPAIGNERS once again issued an SOS plea to reopen their local pub in Marston, four years after its doors were closed.

Hundreds of punters turned out yesterday to show support at a pop-up bar in Marston Road on Saturday, organised by the Save Our Somerset group.

The group are hoping to apply continued pressure on the Somerset's owner to prevent the pub being transformed into residential units or any other use.

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Oxford Mail:

Wendy Twist, of the SOS committee, said: “It’s the fourth time we’ve done this and it’s great to see everyone coming out to support it.

“The pub has planning permission to be a pub, that’s what residents want it to be restored as.

“We want to keep the community mobilised, keep them aware of what’s going on and also events like this demonstrates that there is still demand for a pub here.”

Over the course of the day around 500 people were expected at the scout hut for the pop-up pub where punters enjoyed pints and a bite to eat in the shadow of the Somerset, which stands on the opposite side of the road.

The previous pop-up pub event in April was also a resounding success.

Marston resident Judy Gannon said: “It’s so sad.

“It did get used and now we’re just stuck with an empty building.

“There’s still a real demand for it and it’s great to see the community coming together for the things like this.”

It is the last pub standing in Marston since the Jack Russell burned down in 2016.

Oxford Mail:

Last orders were called at the Somerset in 2014 with the beleaguered boozer standing vacant ever since, but still standing as a pub nonetheless.

Residents are now forced to walk to Old Marston, or Cowley Road, for a tipple.

Plans were unveiled by the Wilaya Trust earlier this year outlining how the building would be turned into an Islamic cultural centre.

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This is still the intended aim, according to the trust’s website, but there has been no apparent progress on the plan since March.

Oxford Mail: Artist's impression of new education centre and cafe.

Residents fear the building, which was registered as an asset of community value last year, could be intentionally run down to pave the way for a change of use.

SOS committee member, Charles Parrack said: “It’s a move to take a community asset and just hold on to it.

“Over time it just gets more and more dilapidated - the windows get smashed, it looks unsightly, and eventually, after a year or two, the community just gets fed up with it and thinks ‘anything would be better than this’.”

Mr Parrack said it was vital to the community that the pub is saved.

He said: “Pubs are much than than just a place to drink beer now.

“I think people are realising they need a community hub.

“They need a place to meet. You have pubs that now offer homework clubs, Amazon collection, coffee shops and Thai restaurants.”

A petition to save pub currently has 723 signatures.