The Lord Kitchener in Bampton Road, Curbridge closed down in August 2022, but was relaunched last month to the public.

Paul and Lianne Newton purchased the property from Greene King in 2024, free of lease, and set about organising an extensive refurbishment.

Mr Newton said: “We’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received so far.

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“We’ve already taken bookings for a wedding reception, and we’re receiving enquiries for events and private parties right through into 2027.

“It’s been an incredible start.”

Kitchen staff at the Lord Kitchener in Curbridge during its launch party on Wednesday, July 15 (Image: Contributed)

The roadside oak-beamed pub dates from the early 18th century when it was known as the Herd of Swine.

The village social club was based there, and it supported local charities.

Military veteran Mr Newton now wants to turn it into a welcoming hub at the heart of the community.

It reopened on Wednesday July 15, but the couple say there are still some final touches to be done.

The Lord Kitchener in Curbridge reopened on Wednesday, July 15 (Image: John Winney)

Mr Newton explained: “We knew there would always be more to do, but we wanted to get open, welcome people in and build a fantastic team.”

Included in that team is head chef James Brooks, who brings more than 30 years experience as a professional cook to the Lord Kitchener.

The menu is inspired by the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean, showcasing fresh ingredients and complemented by carefully selected drink pairings.

Food includes Pamboli sandwiches, tapas, burgers, fish and chips and Argentinian grill steak.

The Lord Kitchener in Curbridge reopened on Wednesday, July 15 (Image: John Winney)

“We’re learning every day,” said Mr Newton, “adapting and continually improving as we bring our vision to life”.

He added: “Our goal is to create a place where everyone feels welcome and enjoys spending time.

“We’re incredibly grateful for everyone’s support, patience and encouragement as we continue to grow.

Paul and Lianne Newton of the Lord Kitchener in Curbridge during its launch party on Wednesday, July 15 (Image: Contributed)

“We’re excited about the future of The Lord Kitchener and look forward to creating something truly special that the whole Curbridge community can be proud of.”

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Local councillor Liam Mackenzie said after it opened: “Great to see the Lord Kitchener reopen in Curbridge a couple of weeks ago, bringing the number of pubs in the Ducklington Ward from 1 to 2!

“The only question now – where else needs a new pub?!”

Curbridge and Lew Parish Council owns a one-acre field alongside the pub called the Lord Kitchener Field.

In the early 2000s the pub was owned by Oxford-based brewery Morrells, which Greene King bought.

SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Wipro and Rubrik have launched Enterprise Resilience as a Service, aimed at enterprises facing cyber and operational disruptions.

The service combines Rubrik’s cyber and data resilience platform with Wipro’s WINGS delivery platform, part of the Wipro Intelligence portfolio. It is designed to move resilience beyond conventional backup and disaster recovery into a continuous operating model spanning technology, operations, and business processes.

The launch reflects growing demand from large companies for recovery planning that covers not only data restoration but also business continuity, identity protection, and responses to attacks that affect multiple systems at once. It also comes as organisations adopt more artificial intelligence tools, adding new operational and governance risks to existing cyber security concerns.

Under the service, companies identify critical systems, define the level of disruption the business can tolerate, and set recovery priorities. Those assessments then shape system architecture, governance models, and recovery playbooks.

Rubrik’s role centres on the underlying resilience platform. The service includes immutable protection, rollback of AI-driven changes, rapid identification of clean recovery points, threat-aware recovery, and protection for critical identity systems.

Wipro’s WINGS platform is intended to automate recovery workflows and support continuous assessment of a company’s resilience posture. The approach is designed to shift resilience from an activity triggered by incidents or periodic reviews into an ongoing management process.

Business focus

Satish Yadavalli, Global Business Head – Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Services at Wipro, outlined the company’s position on the service.

“Where most resilience engagements start with technology, Wipro’s starts with the business use cases, and that distinction is what makes ERaaS stand out,” said Satish Yadavalli, Global Business Head – Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Services at Wipro. “Together with Rubrik’s Zero Trust recovery capabilities, ERaaS will identify critical systems, map impact tolerances, and quickly establish recovery priorities. Leveraging our consulting capabilities, we will work closely with clients to translate these insights into resilience-by-design architectures, governance frameworks, and recovery playbooks.”

The companies are positioning the service as a consulting-led offering rather than a standalone software product. That suggests Wipro is seeking to tie cyber recovery more closely to broader transformation and risk programmes, while Rubrik extends its reach into larger enterprise accounts through service partners.

The partnership also highlights how cyber recovery has become a more prominent part of enterprise technology spending. Businesses have traditionally separated backup, disaster recovery, cyber security, and operational continuity into different teams and budgets. Vendors and services firms are now trying to bring those strands together as attacks become more disruptive and boards seek clearer accountability for recovery.

Recovery strategy

Rubrik described the joint service as part of a wider resilience agenda that treats recovery as a core operating requirement rather than an emergency measure.

“Together with Wipro, we are helping customers operationalize cyber recovery as a core part of a broader enterprise resilience strategy,” said Alok Agrawal, Chief Solutions Officer at Rubrik. “Moments of disruption are inevitable, which is why this joint offering is critical for safe, confident, agile recovery.”

Wipro employs more than 240,000 people across 65 countries and has been expanding its AI-related services through the Wipro Intelligence portfolio. Rubrik, which focuses on data protection and cyber resilience, has been building its position around securing and recovering data, identities, and workloads across cloud environments.

The launch adds to a crowded market for managed cyber resilience and recovery services, but the companies are drawing a distinction through continuous assessment and business-led design. In practice, customer uptake is likely to depend on whether enterprises are prepared to embed recovery planning more deeply into day-to-day operations rather than treat it as a compliance exercise or an insurance policy.

Rubrik’s platform in the new service also supports recovery of data, infrastructure, and identities while aiming to reduce downtime and business risk.

The Shaven Crown, believed to be among the oldest licensed inns in the country with a history of serving pints to patrons dating back to 1384, is up for sale to new owners.

The village pub in Shipton-under-Wychwood, between Burford and Chipping Norton, is currently closed and not trading, and has now been brought to the market by agent Colliers.

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Available freehold with vacant possession, the grade II listed property comprises eight guest bedrooms, a range of distinctive public trading areas, a commercial kitchen, a courtyard and gardens, customer parking, and spacious three-bedroom owners’ accommodation.

The pub is one of England’s oldest licenced inns, pouring pints since 1384 (Image: Colliers)

It’s most unique feature is the medieval Great Hall, a stunning space at the heart of the building that showcase it’s heritage with high ceilings, Cotswolds stone walls and open fireplace.

Peter Brunt, Director in the Hotels Agency team at Colliers, said: “The Shaven Crown is a truly special property and one that I know exceptionally well.

“I was fortunate to be involved in its sale in both 2013 and 2019 and then acted on the letting of the business in 2023.

“Over that time, I have come to appreciate not only the quality of the building itself, but also the affection in which it is held by guests, local residents and operators alike.

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“Having welcomed travellers for more than six centuries, The Shaven Crown has an extraordinary story behind it.

“We are pleased to have been entrusted once again with its sale and are confident that it will attract buyers who recognise both its commercial potential and its importance as one of the region’s most significant historic inns.”

The landmark hotel and pub was refurbished by previous owners Evelyn and Phil Roberts, who invested £600,000 after they bought the property in 2013 and before they sold it on in 2019.

Previous owners Evelyn and Phil Roberts (Image: Simon Williams)

Originally constructed as a hospice for the monks at nearby Bruern Abbey, the aptly named inn still has many of its original medieval features, including its Tudor door, cobbled floors and period features like mullioned windows.

As a hotel it reportedly once hosted Queen Elizabeth I and wartime fascist leader Oswald Mosley.

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The sales agent added that ‘substantial investment’ has been made to revamp the fabric of the property, like its roof and building infrastructure, to preserve its historic character while enabling its future use as a hospitality destination.

The Shaven Crown’s bar seats about 30, with beamed ceiling and fireplace, a snug for around five or six guests and a breakfast room seating 12 to 18 diners.

It’s accommodation offers guests easy access to the Cotswolds, to favoured destinations such as Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water and The Slaughters, while Oxford, Cheltenham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Cirencester are all within comfortable travelling distance.