The American owners of one of Oxford's most famous pubs have informed drinkers scaffolding will be put up, a year on from buying the building.

The Eagle and Child in St Giles has now been closed for about four years.

In October last year it was announced that the hostelry, famous for its links with fantasy authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, had been bought by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT).

READ MORE: First look inside new town centre pub 

The institute, established in Los Angeles by billionaire Larry Ellison, announced plans for a new laboratory campus at Oxford Science Park. At the same time it bought one of the city's best-loved pubs.

It appears there has been little activity at the Eagle and Child since the institute bought the building from St John's College.

But according to one of its directors Matt Abney that could change in the coming months.

(Image: Dave Richardson) Mr Abney, senior director of real estate and special projects for EIT, said: "We plan to be erecting scaffolding at the building before the end of the year to better protect it from further decline.

"We will also be submitting our main works planning application in December or January. This will will be preceded by a series of public comment sessions.

"We’ll be issuing further information about the public comment opportunities in the next month or so."

In February, executives from the institute visited Oxford to talk about the future of the pub.

(Image: Oxford Mail) EIT chief operating officer Lisa Flashner visited with Mr Abney and Tom Myers, and enjoyed pints of XT3 West Coast IPA in the Lamb and Flag opposite.

Ms Flashner told the Oxford Drinker, the magazine of real ale group CAMRA: "If people celebrate us half as much when we open the campus as when we reopen the pub, we’ll be doing well.”

Modernist architects Norman Foster and Partners have been appointed to develop the campus, due to open in 2026, and Mr Foster is also managing the restoration of the pub.

But due to its poor structural condition and nearly four years of standing empty no date can be given yet for its reopening.

The challenge is to recreate the pub’s original features, including the alcoves at the front and the Rabbit Room where writer's group the Inklings used to meet, while making the narrow building more welcoming.

Dr David Agus is the chief executive and founder of the Ellison Institute.

He said earlier: "The Eagle and Child pub is a truly historic venue that has hosted some of the greatest minds Oxford has had to offer for over 300 years.  

(Image: Oxford Mail) “We are humbled and proud to be able to safeguard this treasured pub’s future and continue its legacy as a place for brilliant people to come together, including for our Ellison Scholars."

Dr Agus is one of the world's leading doctors and pioneering biomedical researchers. His field of expertise is treating patients with advanced cancer.

The completion date for the laboratory campus is set for May, 2027

President of EIT in Oxford is Prof Sir John Bell.

The Lamb & Flag in St Giles reopened in October 2022, after being closed for nearly two years.

It is now being run by a community interest group called The Inklings.

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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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