A pub in north Oxford will be welcoming customers back for drinks and nibbles following a major refurbishment.

The Gardeners Arms in North Parade Avenue is due to reopen on Wednesday.

It is not to be confused with a pub of the same name in nearby Plantation Road.

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The Gardeners Arms in North Parade has been closed since November last year when long-serving landlords David and Jenny Rhymes retired.

A major refurbishment is now being completed, and although the pub is owned by Greene King, it is promising a line-up of independent beers and will serve only bar snacks rather than full meals.

The Gardeners, which previously sold up to three cask ales from Greene King or its guest list, is now being run by the Morgan pub company, which reopened the Grapes in George Street in August.

Oxford Mail: The Gardeners Arms

Well-known in the London area for real ales, a traditional pub atmosphere and some quirky features, these are the group’s first pubs in Oxford.

A spokesman for the pub said: “The Gardeners Arms will have six cask hand pumps pouring an ever-changing range of independent beer.

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"We’ll also have 10 keg lines and a well-stocked fridge with some Belgian classics and more modern offerings.

"We will be offering all of our cask ales for only £3.50 all day, every Monday, and will be introducing a stamp card with every 10th pint on us.

Oxford Mail: David and Jenny Rhymes“The pub has newly installed wood panelling throughout, a brand new bar front and back bar, as well as new furniture and flooring. 

"The food offering at the pub will be in the form of bar snacks with pies, sausage rolls etc.”

The company's website states: "The Morgan Pub Collective is all about great beer, tasty food and good old fashioned hospitality. 

"With pubs across London and the South West and a varied portfolio from the traditional to the contemporary, there is something for everyone."

Dave Richardson, of Oxford CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), has welcomed the reopening of The Gardeners Arms.

He said: "This is very good news for beer drinkers as it seems the pub will be a free house with no restrictions on whose beer it sells, although it is owned by Greene King.

“We have been impressed with how Morgan pub company has been running the Grapes, which reopened in August, and wish it the same success at the Gardeners.

“This brings a welcome increase in choice to the North Oxford beer scene at a time when some pubs have been cutting back.”

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Earlier this year Mr Richardson called for a change of name at the pub in North Parade Avenue as there is another pub in Oxford with the same name.

Mr and Mrs Rhymes ran the pub for almost 30 years before they retired.

Mr Rhymes and his wife took over in March, 1993 and when they left they moved to a new home in Yarnton.

The pub is thought to date back to 1876.

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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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