Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire pub back from the dead years after closure
The Black Prince in Manor Road in Woodstock dates back to the 16th century.
Sitting opposite the grounds of Blenheim Palace on the banks of the River Glyme, the spot has always boasted a stunning riverside garden.
The watering hole shut in June of 2023, after the business was sold with the new owners closing the pub for the “foreseeable future”.
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An announcement from The Black Prince at the time said it believed it would reopen again at some point in the future, but this was not a certainty.
“We are all very shocked and saddened that our journey together must come to an end, and would like to say thank you to everyone who has ever been in to visit us,” said a pub spokesperson three years ago.
“It’s the community that made us as popular as we are, and we share the sadness of the community in this news.
“If we have given you great food, great service and made you feel welcomed, then we have done our jobs. We were never just a pub. We were a home to many people.
“To all our customers, with two legs or four, we can only say you have all been wonderful and have given us many happy memories.
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“You will be missed beyond measure. We hope to see as many of you as possible before the doors close, the chairs are put up, and the candles blown out for one final time.”
Now, the pub is being renovated with an opening date set for 2027, and a new website has been launched.
Frequently asked questions are listed there with answers provided to locals about what kind of guise the pub will return in.
A statement said: “Building works are scheduled to start in 2026, subject to planning approval and conditions, with careful planning to minimise disruption to the local community.
“We anticipate that the pub will be fully renovated and the extension completed in time for a spring 2027 opening.
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“This timeline allows for high-quality construction, landscaping, and commissioning, ensuring that the pub and its facilities are ready to welcome residents and visitors safely and comfortably.”
One question raised was whether the renovated pub and hotel rooms would be expensive and aimed only at high-end visitors.
A pub spokesperson said: “No – affordability is central to our approach.
“The pub will continue to offer reasonably priced food and drink so that it remains accessible to local residents as well as visitors.
“The focus is on good-quality, seasonal produce at fair prices, not exclusivity. In the same way, the hotel rooms will be priced competitively within the local market, offering comfortable accommodation that is welcoming to a wide range of guests.
“This approach not only ensures the pub remains a genuine community venue, but also supports local tourism by attracting visitors who contribute to Woodstock’s wider economy, benefiting nearby shops, cafés, and services.”
Visitors flocked to Witney over the bank holiday weekend for the farm’s Spring Back in Time History Day.
It was a day packed with immersive and hands-on fun, which celebrated the 1,000 years of history at Cogges.
Families enjoyed the mighty 18th-century steam engines and dancing from the 17th-century dance and music group, Vale Islanders.
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Family-based group Hwitmearum brought to life the medieval period on the Dairy Lawn, while there was ancient Candle Making and demos of 17th and 18th-century sail making.
Over in the Manor House, visitors were grinding grain and making bread, taking part in Victorian Wash Day, and seeing how butter was made hundreds of years ago.
Guests also learnt to lay a table for dinner in Victorian times, took part in guided history tours, and learnt about the Bayeux Tapestry and its connection to Cogges.
The day brought together the local community and visitors to Witney from other parts of the UK and from across the globe.
General manager Guy Reed said: “Spring Back in Time brought to life the fascinating 1,000 years of history here at Cogges Manor Farm.
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“We love bringing the community together, and it’s events like these that help us as an independent heritage charity to keep going.”
The historic farmstead and manor house on the edge of Witney runs as a family‑friendly heritage attraction with animals, gardens and seasonal events.
Listed in the Domesday Book and with a rich history, Cogges was turned into a farm museum by Oxfordshire County Council in the 1970s.
It has been operated by an independent charitable trust since its reopening in 2011.
The former Top Gear and Grand Tour host lives on his Diddly Squat Farm estate near Chipping Norton in West Oxfordshire
This is where the majority of the hit documentary series Clarkson’s Farm is filmed, which has a new season out on Prime Video next month.
Now, writing in his Sunday Times column, the presenter explained that his feed on TikTok is unexpectedly dominated by footage of former United States president Mr Ronald Reagan.
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“I’m not quite sure why, but the algorithm that sends me posts on TikTok has decided that what I’d like most of all is to hear the speeches of old Ron [Ronald Reagan],” wrote Mr Clarkson.
“Other people get girls jumping up and down or people falling off their bicycles, but for me, it’s a never-ending stream of Reagan.
“And God, he was good. His spur-of-the-moment speech to the nation on the evening of the Challenger space shuttle disaster is an absolute masterclass in Presidentialism.
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“Donald Trump would do well to watch it and learn.”
A former Hollywood actor who became a leading figure in the Republican Party, Mr Reagan served as the 40th president of the US from 1981 to 1989 after two terms as governor of California.
He is widely remembered for his communication skills, earning the nickname “the Great Communicator”, and for major moments in Cold War politics.
Mr Reagan, who had two terms as governor of California, is also praised for his response to national tragedies such as the Challenger disaster in 1986.
The actress, who was born and grew up in Oxford, is well known to audiences around the world after starring as Professor Sprout in several of the Harry Potter films.
Known for her character actor work across film, television, and stage, she received the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film, The Age of Innocence.
One of her other famed roles was as Mother Mildred in the long-running BBC drama programme, Call the Midwife.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson ‘finally owns up’ to his surprising secret hobby
It was announced back in 2023 that American television company HBO would be remaking the Harry Potter films in a series format.
Sirine Saba is taking on the role of Professor Sprout in the upcoming show set in the wizarding world.
Harry Potter television series by Ms Sirine Saba, who has been cast as the herbology professor in the upcoming HBO remake.
The 51-year-old is a British‑Lebanese actress who trained at RADA, with more than two decades of stage experience at Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre and the RSC.
On screen, she is best known for TV roles in Doctor Who, Holby City, Midsomer Murders, Beyond Paradise, EastEnders, Unforgotten and Silent Witness, as well as the award‑nominated feature film The Black Forest.
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Harry Potter has a strong affiliation with Oxford, with the city and Oxford University acting as filming locations for the original film series.
Christ Church College’s staircase and cloisters, along with its Great Hall, served as inspiration for the Hogwarts dining hall and were featured in the movies.
The Bodleian Library’s Duke Humfrey’s Library was also used as the Hogwarts library, including the restricted section.
Additionally, the Divinity School was also featured in several scenes, including the dance lesson with Professor McGonagall, played by Dame Maggie Smith, who grew up in Oxford.
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