A pub hit by arsonists in South Oxford will remain closed for at least four months, its owners said today.

Fire crews were called to the blaze at the Berkshire House pub, in Abingdon Road, at about 2am on Wednesday.

The kitchen was destroyed and three ground-floor rooms badly damaged. A new landlord was due to shortly take on the Greene King pub, which closed in February.

Greene King spokesman Elaine Beckett said the pub would reopen as soon as renovation work was complete.

She said: “Property managers have been examining the extent of the damage and say we are looking at a closure of about four months, and that’s if everything goes to plan.

“There was a lot of smoke damage, so we won’t know the full extent of the damage until tomorrow and we are still assessing the cost and talking to insurers.

“Everyone at Greene King is very upset and disappointed by this fire and we will do everything we can to get the pub up and running again as soon as possible.”

Neighbours of the pub, on the corner of Vicarage Road, told firefighters squatters had been living in the empty pub, but no-one was in the building at the time of the fire.

The new licensee had been due to sign papers to take over the pub on the day of the fire.

A police spokesman said: “We are continuing to investigate the arson at the Berkshire House pub. So far, no arrests have been made.”

Firefighters said there was a clear indication the fire was started deliberately.