AN East Oxford pub has thrown out the televisions and turned its back on live sport in favour of good food and local music, as a way of bringing in the punters.

The James Street Tavern closed down for an eight day revamp in March and is now aiming to defy the pub trade’s national downturn.

Last month the Oxford Mail reported how one pub was closing in the county every 25 days.

However the tavern’s new landlord, Lance Cowan, thinks introducing international food to multicultural East Oxford will prove to be the perfect recipe for success.

Mr Cowan, 27, pictured, right, with Sara Fleming and Ryan Cowan, said: “There’s not much now that’s recognisable from the old place. We’re changing the style of the pub completely.

“Before it was very much a live sports and football pub but we’re trying to make things more relaxed and make it a more sociable place that is welcoming to everybody.

“The previous owners weren’t doing food but we are serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. We think it will be popular to offer a lot of different international dishes and embrace all the different cultures we have here in East Oxford.”

So while football is off the menu customers can instead enjoy international food – including specialities from Mr Cowan’s native South Africa.