Oxfordshire pubs welcome punters back for drink and food outside

In the Government’s road map out of the coronavirus lockdown, pubs and restaurants can now serve customers outside.

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Landlords have been busy getting pub gardens ready for customers these past few weeks including The Bear & Ragged Staff in Cumnor.

The pub has a terrace which has been covered with a stretch tent and there are parasols in the garden in the hope that people will be comfortable enjoying food and drink outside.

Manager Adam Vines and the team will be welcoming groups of up to six people from any number of households or groups of two households for lunch and dinner daily.

He said: “We have been working hard to get the pub looking at its best, planting up the garden to look lovely and creating covered stylish and comfortable spaces that work well whether you come for a drink, a relaxed supper or a celebration dinner.

“The food we serve is delicious and seasonal, made with the best quality ingredients. The pub’s in a serene, tranquil setting in glorious rolling countryside, making it a great place to meet up with family and friends or relax in after a lovely walk.

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“Do join us and we’ll do our best to make sure you have a wonderful time on your first visits back to the pub.”

Tap Social Movement is welcoming customers to its new pub the White House on Abingdon Road.

The Oxford-based brewery has taken on the lease from building owner Brasenose College and completely refurbished the site creating a bright space with two floors.

Visitors can enjoy coffee, sweet treats, bar snacks, beer and drinks Monday to Wednesday, and a full menu offering an alternative to classic pub meals served Thursday to Sunday.

The pub has a huge garden with more than 20 tables made from recycled plastic.

Director Tess Taylor said: “All of us at Tap Social are so excited to be opening the White House. It has been so nice to get to know our neighbours through our horse box offering while we finished renovations in the pub, and now we can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been up to with the refurb and the kitchen preparations.

“We really look forward to welcoming the community down for a visit soon.”

People cannot be served inside pubs or restaurants until May 17 at the earliest, so Oxford City Council has been working to make roads in the city car-free so businesses can spill onto the roads with tables and chairs.

St Michael’s Street and Broad Street are some of the roads closed to traffic.

Dave Richardson, a spokesman for the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA, welcomed the reopening of pub gardens and patios, but warned that this spring and summer are critical times in pubs’ fight for survival.

He said: “The pubs industry estimates that only 40 per cent of venues will re-open from next week as the majority either don’t have outside space or not enough to make this work, but I am optimistic that the situation locally will be rather better.

“A lot of local pubs do have outside space, and the city council has taken a positive stance by closing some streets to traffic to permit pavement seating.

“But even those that do reopen from Monday will be unable to trade profitably, and for this they will have to wait for the May 17 reopening of indoor space or more likely for June 21, when hopefully all restrictions will end.

“It’s up to every one of us who value what pubs bring to society to support them as much as possible, despite restrictions including table service only, NHS test and trace for every customer rather than just one contact per party, and the advisability of advance booking.”

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