A real ale campaigner said it was no surprise to see a series of pubs closing due to the cost of living crisis.

Those hostelries which have closed their doors in recent months due to increased bills include the Blacks Head Inn at Bletchingdon, the Red Lion in Yarnton and the Talbot Inn in Eynsham.

Soaring utility bills, and customers having less money to spend on beer has contributed to the closures.

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Dave Richardson, of the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said it was no suprise to see some pubs closing, and boarded up pubs, given the economic climate.

And he urged drinkers to use their local pubs to help them survive the winter months.

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He said: "It’s no surprise to see the growing number of closed and boarded up pubs around the county, although Oxfordshire seems to be doing better than less well off areas.

"Breweries and pub companies seeking tenants are finding it more difficult than usual, as how can anyone put together a business plan when they face fixed costs but highly variable consumer demand and energy costs, with no guarantee that limited support with energy bills will continue beyond 2024?

READ AGAIN: Eynsham pub closes due to soaring utility costs 

“Incoming tenants face all kinds of costs including sometimes having to pay more for their beer than the going rate when a brewery owns the pub, and as many have found to their cost the reward for success is often increased rent.

Oxford Mail:

“CAMRA feels that the pubs code introduced by the Government a few years ago needs further reform so it is easier for landlords to escape these ‘tied’ arrangements, but the priority for now is simply survival.

"We can best support pubs now by using them even in the bleak winter months, and hopefully demand will pick up in the spring.”

Barney Tharby, who took over as landlord of the Blacks Head Inn in Bletchingdon in February last year, said the cost of living crisis had forced him and his wife to leave.

He added: "Our utility bills doubled, and in October we noticed a 35 per cent drop in revenue, because some customers could no longer afford to keep coming in - they had no money left for beer, and we had to make the decision that the business for us was no longer viable."

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Admiral Taverns is now looking for a new landlord for the Red Lion in Yarnton.

Kerry Osborne left as landlady on October after custom fell by half.

And the Talbot Inn near Swinford Toll Bridge shut in October due to soaring energy bills.

The Saye and Sele Arms, in Broughton, near Banbury, announced earlier this month that the venue would be shut temporarily due to the ‘ever increasing energy costs’.

Announcing the closure on Facebook, owners of the pub said: “A big thank you to those of you who joined us for the New Year's Eve celebrations, it was great fun and a marvellous evening."

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF