An Oxford pub which shut suddenly has now reopened.

Last month the popular hostelry Jacobs Inn in Wolvercote closed after 10 years.

Managers  Johnny Pugsley and Damion Farah left as they were unable to find an agreement with Marston's Brewery that was "viable" for their business model.

READ MORE: Bakery is to close at the Westgate Centre 

Now Jonathan Bailey and his partner Lynn Norwood have been appointed to run the pub and could change the pub's name to The Wolvercote.

He said: "As soon as we walked in and saw the pub and the garden we knew we wanted it.

"It's a lovely village and the locals have already given us a warm welcome.

"We will be serving food - breakfast and lunch from 9am to 5pm and working towards an al a carte menu in a few weeks' time."

The landlord added that paperwork was now being completed with the brewery to change the pub's name to The Wolvercote.

Oxford Mail: Jacobs Inn in Wolvercote

"We want to be forward looking and have a clean break with the past," he said.

Jonathan and Lynn ran a bar in the Canaries for 12 years before managing a pub in Leeds during the pandemic.

Dave Richardson, from the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), welcomed the pub's revival.

He said: "It's always good to see a pub reopen, and as the new tenants are keen to create a traditional pub atmosphere at the front while retaining the dining focus at the rear and in the garden, that's good news too as there are already enough expensive gastro-pubs around.

"The plan is to offer up to four real ales from Marston's brewery and its guest list, which will add variety to what you can find in Wolvercote.

Oxford Mail: Jacobs Inn in Wolvercote

"It is right next to the White Hart which went into the Good Beer Guide for 2023 and has flourished under community ownership, while over on the Oxford side of Wolvercote is the Plough where long serving landlord Tim Bowring has a successful formula for drinks and food.

READ MORE: Popular city pub will reopen next month

"Changing the name to the Wolvercote makes sense as it needs to look to the future.

"It was called the Red Lion before becoming Jacobs Inn, but there are enough Red Lions around."

Despite a number of pub closures, some pubs in the city have been reopening.

The Lamb & Flag in St Giles was reopened in October by a community interest group called The Inklings.

And The Grapes in George Street is expected to reopen next month following a lengthy closure.

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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. 

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