The White Rabbit in Oxford seeking to keep beer garden

The White Rabbit, in Friars Entry, is seeking to keep its pub garden furniture, however Oxford City Council says the ‘existing furniture and fencing is unauthorised’.

The pub emailed its loyal customers, urging them to show support for the application.

READ AGAIN: Independent pub applies to keep its beer garden after planning mishap

Outlining the importance of the garden, which opened in June 2019, the pub wrote to punters, saying: “A few years ago, after a very long, hot summer we realised we needed a proper garden to survive.  

“The semi-derelict car park adjacent to the pub attracted drug takers and was an eyesore.

“We consulted with the planning department of Oxford City Council about our ideas for the bespoke oak tables and heated benches, parasols and fencing, and the planning officer informally pre-approved, via email, everything before we purchased and installed it.”

Pubgoers enjoy a drink at The White Rabbit. Picture: Ed Nix

Following the planning mix-up, the pub has now had to reapply – and told customers the council wants to replace ‘very expensive bespoke pub furniture’ with ‘cheap, more typical pub furniture’.

The pub’s email noted that parasols would be replaced with ‘generic pub umbrellas’, while weather protections would also be removed.

The email added: “Out of the 30 pubs in Oxford city centre, there are only two (us and The Wheatsheaf) which are truly independent.

“We are proud to be independent and do not want to be like every other pub – we want to be better.

“The parasols and fence absorb the noise from the pub, the sides and the benches keep our customers warm, and the plants bring a refreshing bit of greenery to this part of the city.”

Ed Whinney, general manager at The White Rabbit. Picture: Ed Nix

A city council spokesperson said: “The council granted planning permission for the change of the car park into a pub garden at The White Rabbit in 2018.

“It was a condition of planning permission that the pub needed to apply for approval of the furniture and fencing around the pub garden. The pub has not complied with that condition and the existing furniture and fencing is unauthorised.

“We have been proactive in advising the pub how to resolve the outstanding planning condition and have not to date taken enforcement action over the installation of unauthorised furniture and fencing.

“The White Rabbit is in a conservation area in the historic centre of Oxford. We must make sure that all property owners carry out building work that respects the heritage and character of the city we all enjoy.

“For this reason, planning officers have expressed concerns about the appearance of The White Rabbit’s pub garden and have been liaising with the owners over the need for a more traditional set of railings and furniture.”

To view the application, visit the council planning portal, using the reference number 22/00672/VAR.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice

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