I refer to your article about the excellent news that the old Coach and Horses public house in St Clement's, Oxford, will now not be demolished to make way for another restaurant and seven flats (Oxford Mail, May 3).

I must take issue (purely out of interest) with Fran Bardsley's reported assumption that the establishment was closed because it was beginning to be frequented by "ladies of the night".

I am not 'privy' to the actual reasons for the closure of such a thriving business.

But as a frequenter of the Coach and a long-time serving member of staff, if my memory serves me correctly, it had something to do with Morrells Brewery, the owners, selling out.

I can assure Ms Bardsley and other readers that the only thing that customers paid for in the pub were their drinks, coffees, teas etc and on occasions, beef burgers at the landlord's barbecue events and slices of pork, cooked on the annual Pig Roast Day!

The Coach and Horses, I remember as many others will, was a well-run establishment that could not have been friendlier, diverse and welcoming to all (well nearly).

The old place is still remembered with affection by many, many people even today. not only locally but from a much wider area, including visitors from many parts of the world.

The landlord at the time was Mr Jim Watts.

PETER LADBROOK Wilkins Road Cowley Oxford