The Prince of Wales in Iffley has reopened after remaining closed for several months.

The pub in Church Way was one of the latest Oxfordshire hostelries to close during tough trading conditions.

The pub's owners, brewery company Wadworth, advertised for new management to invest £17,000 and take over and Mathew and Sage Dodds are now the new tenants.

READ MORE: Cases from Oxford Magistrates' Court 

The couple reopened the pub on June 10 and are planning to serve cooked food from the end of the month.

A pub renovation is being planned with the support of the brewery.

Mr and Mrs Dodds were running a restaurant in Faringdon and before that Mr Dodds was head chef at a pub in Warwickshire.

Oxford Mail: Sage and Mathew Dodds

Mrs Dodds said: "It would be naive if we weren't concerned about the cost of living but we are very glad to be here and want to make the pub a place where everyone from the local community can feel welcome.

"The Prince of Wales should be a place where people can come and socialise - even it's it just for a short time."

Mrs Dodds said the pub building needed a 'lot of love and attention' and renovation would be carried out in conjunction with Wadworth.

An Iffley Village tribute wall will be created to keep drinkers informed about local events and a pub clock which was removed when the pub shut is to be returned.

READ MORE: New battery plant will create jobs

Initially the pub will open from 3pm to 11pm on weekdays, from noon until 10pm on Saturday and noon until 9pm on Sunday. The pub will remain closed on Tuesday.

Drinkers have already asked the new landlords for new facilities including Sky Sports so they can watch football.

Oxford Mail: Inside The Prince of Wales

This hasn't been ruled out, but Mrs Dodds said Sky is unlikely to be installed immediately.

Wadworth in its advertisement for new landlords said: "The Prince of Wales sits in the quaint and pretty suburban area of Iffley, an area filled with leafy streets, cottages, and Victorian terrace houses.

"The River Thames flows along the eastern edge of Iffley. This part of the Thames is home to Iffley Lock, a part regularly visited by walkers, cyclists, and boaters."

Dave Richardson, of Oxford CAMRA, said: "It's always good to see a pub re-open after a period of closure, and it's also good to see a regional brewer such as Wadworth investing in it as it has disposed of a few pubs recently.

Oxford Mail: Tables outside The Prince of Wales

"The Prince of Wales had a loyal following for many years not only from the village and nearby area, but also from the many visitors who walk along the Thames path or come to Iffley for its ancient church and historic village atmosphere.

"We look forward to helping the pub reclaim its place on the local scene and maybe become a contender for inclusion in a future edition of the Good Beer Guide."

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get: 

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website 
  • Advert-light access 
  • Reader rewards 
  • Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.