The Plough at 38, a pub in Cornmarket Street, is to reopen in a few weeks’ time under a different operator after the business was acquired from  entrepreneur Chris Mulhall.

Records show that it was first recorded as an inn in 1656 but it closed as a pub in the 1920s, later becoming a branch of tailor Austin Reed.

When the shop closed in 2016, the building became derelict until it reopened in December 2018 under its original name, the Plough, with “at 38” added as the number on the street. Full trading started the following month.

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Mr Mulhall, a real ale fan who at that time also ran the 1855 Bar at Oxford Castle, was keen to engage with CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and honour the heritage of the pub.

Original features were restored and a list of landlords through the centuries was produced, and XT Brewing became its regular supplier. 

The Plough at 38 made a successful start, with a pub/café atmosphere on the ground floor and a restaurant upstairs.

Oxford Mail: The Plough at 38The first Covid lockdown came in little more than a year after its opening, and the Plough was able to add some pavement seating.

It caused some controversy by introducing an optional service charge on drinks as well as meals, but the quality of its ale resulted in inclusion in the 2022 Good Beer Guide.

By 2023 its opening hours were restricted, as Mr Mulhall negotiated with companies wanting to take on the lease.

“One can never envisage how the narrative turns out, but we were delighted when City Pub Company came in and offered to take on the Plough in April this year with completion of the purchase taking place in early October,” Mr Mulhall told CAMRA's magazine the Oxford Drinker.

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“City Pub Company has the corporate power and resources to elevate the Plough’s operations several fold.

“We wish them every success with their new venture. City Pub Group is a great fit and very good brand, and will maintain the Plough as a pub serving great food and importantly real ale, including many local breweries along the way.”

The group, already operating 43 pubs in southern England, has run St Aldates Tavern in Oxford for many years, serving up to six real ales.

Oxford Mail: A sign at The Plough at 38It also operates café-bar the George Street Social off George Street, and briefly operated a shop conversion pub in Summertown, the Bicycle Shed, which didn’t reopen after Covid.

“I am happy because City Pub Group will respect the heritage of the building, and it’s a beer drinkers’ set of pubs,” Mr Mulhall added.

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“Since Covid we haven’t been able to spend money on the building, but they will put their mark on it. They have the financial horsepower to be a strong player on the High Street in these very testing times.

“I’m very proud of what we achieved restoring a derelict building into the pub it had been for centuries. Maybe I will return to this business when times are more certain, but inflationary pressures are making it very difficult when you’re on tight margins.

“Drinking culture has changed even since we reopened the Plough in 2018, and many of Generation Z don’t drink at all. It’s great to see the Lamb & Flag, Grapes and Gardeners Arms reopen, and they are all doing something different."

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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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