An Oxfordshire village pub has failed to reopen after a deal to take over fell through.

The Six Bells on The Green in Warborough had operated for the last time on Wednesday, March 27, as the family in charge of the pub chose to depart.

Landlords Gary and Sam Huntley moved into the pub in October 2022 but ended their tenure last month after one last night with regulars.

Residents were pleased to hear earlier this month that the pub had a strong chance of reopening when it was announced that a new landlord had been found.

Oxford Mail: Gary became the landlord at The Six Bells in October 2022.Gary became the landlord at The Six Bells in October 2022. (Image: The Six Bells)

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“Thanks to all those that have supported us over the years,” said the previous landlords in a public statement on Wednesday, April 3.

“You'll also like to know that Emma and her team are taking over the pub and hope to have it open by Tuesday, April 9, if not before.

“Please give them all your support as we are sure Emma will do a tremendous job there.”

Yet the former landlords have revealed to the Oxford Mail that the deal has now fallen through after the interested party pulled out.

“They dropped out and we are still looking for tenants,” said Gary.

“We gave six months’ notice but they still haven’t found anyone so at the moment we still haven’t found anyone to run the pub.”

Oxford Mail: The Six Bells has failed to reopen following its recent closure.The Six Bells has failed to reopen following its recent closure. (Image: Brakspear)

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The former landlord has decided to opt for a different line of work after feeling priced out of the hospitality industry.

“I am changing my career completely as we have been in hospitality for 11 years and to be honest, the way things are, it's just not profitable,” added Gary.

“The margins are squeezing but breweries are still making all their money and it is the landlords that are taking the hit

“Energy has risen sustainably and food has doubled and trebled in price.

“You are tied into the brewery and you end up paying inflated prices so, at the end of the day, it is just not worth it.”

Despite their departure, Gary and his family insist they have had a wonderful tenure at the Brakspear-owned watering hole.

Oxford Mail: The pub was very popular with the locals under Gary and Sam's tenure.The pub was very popular with the locals under Gary and Sam's tenure. (Image: The Six Bells)

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“We've had a fantastic time and it is the customers that have made it,” he said.

“We had a bus trip to another pub and we won a CAMRA award as well as five-out-of-five for hygiene.

“Everything was done right and we put on a lot of events so we will miss it dearly.”

The pub is a Grade II-listed village inn built as two cottages in around 1550 with a thatched roof that extends past the first-floor windows.

It overlooks the cricket green in the village of Warborough which has been featured in ITV series Midsomer Murders as well as other films.