A pub once called 'the most forgotten in Oxfordshire' has finally reopened and is serving food including Sunday roasts.

The Black Horse in Gozzards Ford near Abingdon was closed for about five years and it was thought there was little chance of it reopening.

But last year owners Greene King said they were working on finding new tenants and the pub has just reopened.

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The Black Horse has now been let to an independent operator and is being managed by Dennis Yuri and Manol Mitre.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Mr Yuri, 20, who is from Milan and grew up in Greece, said villagers who have visited so far are delighted to see the pub open again.

He added: "We have had customers from Didcot, Wantage and surrounding towns and villages and they are delighted the pub is now open.

"We are showing the Euros on ourTVs and it's a good time to reopen as the weather is hot now and we have a large beer garden."

Mr Yuri said the pub had needed some refurbishment work inside before it could welcome customers.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) The menu focuses on grilled meat and fish, and Sunday roasts costing £20.95 are also served.

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Other dishes include vegetarian moussaka, rib eye steak, cod and chips and beef burgers.

"Our meat comes from Oxford and our fish from a fishmonger in Bicester," Mr Yuri added.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) "It's good quality food - we will specialise in Greek dishes and grilled food and we want the dishes on our menu to be outstanding."

Mr Mitre helps run The Greek Takeaway in St Clement's in Oxford, which earlier this year won 'Best Greek' in the 2024 Deliveroo Restaurant Awards.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) The large garden at the back of the pub features a children's play area and Mr Yuri said more garden toys will soon be added.

Dogs are welcome in the pub and in the garden but not in the restaurant. 

Gozzards Ford is a small village about two miles from Abingdon, so the vast majority of customers will need to drive there.

Pubs nearby include the Prince of Wales in Barrow Road, Shippon, The Dog House in Frilford and The Merry Miller at Cothill.

Mr Yuri added: "Once people hear we are open through word of mouth and they enjoy our food they will recommend us to their friends."

(Image: Andy Ffrench) The pub with original wooden beams is thought to date back to the 1700s.

It has its own Facebook group, and one customer who visited following the reopening on June 16 wrote: "Me and my partner came and had two steaks on Saturday, really lovely steak and beans - the dog enjoyed his bowl of chips."

An official grand opening will take place on Thursday, with live music in the evening.

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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. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.