Looking back at good times at The Mitre - Oxford's oldest pub

The pub is owned by Lincoln College but is leased to Marston's and the brewery has not made it clear what its immediate plans for the pub are.

Here we look back at some pictures from recent - and not so recent years.

Staff at The Mitre stunned shoppers in 1987 by putting on fancy dress to raise funds for charity

Pubs can reopen outdoors on April 12 and indoors from May 17 under the government's latest plans to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

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But Marston's has not said what it intends to do with the pub - or whether The Mitre has been revamped, despite the completion of a £16m refurbishment by the college of 64 student rooms above the bar.

Oxford Lindy Hoppers at The Mitre in 2014

Dave Richardson, spokesman for the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA, said The Mitre can claim to be Oxford’s oldest pub, tracing its history back to the 13th century.

Oxford Lindy Hoppers take over The Mitre for dance classes in 2014

Lincoln College acquired the High Street property in 1475 and as Grade II* and Grade II listed buildings, much of The Mitre is of historical and architectural significance, but it is the pub that is the oldest part of the site.

The Mitre in 2014

Underneath the pub there lies a network of medieval vaulted cellars from the 13th or 14th century.

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Other important historical features include the buildings’ 16th and 17th century timber panelling, the stone fireplaces, and the decorative plasterwork.

The Mitre in 1928 Picture supplied by David Brown

Concern over the future of The Mitre follows the closure of the Lamb & Flag in St Giles in January.

Read again: Historic Lamb & Flag pub is to close

The Mitre Inn closed as a hotel in 1968

Lamb & Flag owners St John's College said the pub had lost money during repeated coronavirus lockdowns over the past 12 months.