Tour guide Peter Berry says it is now time to reopen the Eagle and Child pub in St Giles to help attract visitors to Oxford.

I wholeheartedly agree with Marion Moxon’s comment in The Oxford Times, headed ‘Embarrassing Oxford’, concerning the long closure of the Eagle and Child pub in St Giles.

In my experience as a leading walking tour guide in the city for many years, taking over that period thousands of visitors to the major place where the Inklings group met (among the famous writers who met there such as CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien etc) - it was a major ‘draw ‘ to our city to help keep the economy turning.

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I even had a customer burst out crying, overcome with emotions when inside, who said “Peter, all my life I have read about this world-famous place – and here I am”.

Oxford Mail:

If only they could see it dormant and boarded up as it is today, indeed a great embarrassment towards visitors to our beautiful city!

I think those who have the responsibility to encourage visitors to come here and consequently keep local people in work and help turn the local economy should pursue what is being done to this world-famous pub and help to get it up and running again as one of the major draws in bringing visitors to our city.

Peter Berry

Oxford

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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

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