Restaurateur Tom Rainey, who runs the Porterhouse Grill off Botley Road, west Oxford, and The Punter, on nearby Osney Island, has bought the freehold of The Black Horse in Gozzards Ford near Abingdon.

Renovations have been taking place, and the pub reopened on Sunday following a private party for guests on Saturday.

READ MORE: ‘Forgotten’ village pub announces opening date

The Black Horse – or the Blackhorse as it is now known – is the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.

The former Greene King pub was closed for about five years until new tenants surprised drinkers by reopening it in 2024.

Not long afterwards the pub closed again, and Mr Rainey and his team have taken over to serve drinks and “high end pub food” to customers.

Tom Rainey inside The Black Horse at Gozzards Ford (Image: Tom Rainey)

“It was a good knees up on Saturday – a really good test of the building with about 250 through the door,” said Mr Rainey.

“We closed early doors – about 10.45pm – and then opened again for a roast beef Sunday lunch and some other main courses.

“I think the weekend went well. People love the way the pub now looks following some renovation. I think it looks stunning.

“We got a lot of support from people living locally. It’s been really positive.”

While Mr Rainey is pleased with the opening, he is not being complacent, adding: “There is still a lot of work to be done.

“The pub looks beautiful but there is a lot of work to be done landscaping the pub garden and that is going to take some time.”

Hiring front of house staff has not been a problem, with the pub boss inundated with applications from people wanting work.

Extensive renovation work has taken place throughout the pub including painting the outside black to tie in with the name.

Mr Rainey said earlier: “Renovations include new wood panelling on the walls, and one of the rooms has been turned into a conservatory – the old skylight was leaking and we have created a much larger new one.

“There are new stone floors, new parquet floors and new loos. The builders from Abingdon have done a fantastic job. They’ve been great to work with.”

Some dishes from the menus at The Porterhouse Grill and The Punter will feature at the Blackhorse.

Veggie scotch eggs from The Punter will be on the menu, together with cheeseburgers, steak, venison haunch, seabass, oysters, and pies.

Hofmeister and Estrella lagers are being served, together with Westons cider, and Butcombe Original beer.

Oxford artist Mani, whose real name is Andrew Manson, was asked to design the new pub sign.

When the pub was shut, Dave Richardson, a spokesman for the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), claimed it was Oxfordshire’s “most forgotten pub” and called for it to be reopened.

Thames Valley Police has said they are “concerned” for 16-year-old Finley from Charlbury in the Cotswolds.

He was last seen at 1pm on Monday, June 8, and was wearing all black clothing.

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Finley from Charlbury (Image: TVP)

A spokesperson for the force said: “Have you seen Finley? He is 16-years-old and was last seen yesterday afternoon (8/6) at 1pm at home in Charlbury.

“He was last seen by family wearing all black clothing including a puffer style jacket. Finlay has links to the Witney and North Oxford area.

“We’re concerned for his welfare. If you see him, please call 999 quoting reference 43260287290.”

The home ‘Bella Vista’ appears in the hit Disney+ show in the fictional Cotswolds town of Rutshire – but in reality is in Cardiff.

It features as Danny Dyer’s character Freddie’s home in the series based on one of Dame Jilly Cooper’s so-called “bonkbusters”.

Rivals is now a glossy programme based on the late writer’s 1988 novel of the same name, part of her bestselling Rutshire Chronicles.

READ MORE: Idris Elba enjoys Oxfordshire farm getaway with Cotswolds trip

Danny Dyer’s mansion in the TV series ‘Rivals’, Bella Vista in Cardiff, is now for sale at £8m. (Image: Fine and Country / SWNS)

The series is set amid the power-grabbing social elite and cut-throat world of independent television in 1980s England.

It follows ex-Olympian Rupert Campbell-Black and ruthless media mogul Lord Tony Baddingham as their long-running feud explodes over control of a regional TV franchise.

Named Foxfield in real life, the stunning home is located in Lisvane in Cardiff and set within 24 acres of private grounds.

It has been described as South Wales’ “most expensive home” by Jemma Friday, an estate agent at Fine and Country.

READ MORE: Historic £26.5m Oxfordshire riverside estate seen in ITV’s Endeavour for sale

Danny Dyer’s mansion in the TV series ‘Rivals’, Bella Vista in Cardiff, is now for sale at £8m. (Image: Fine and Country / SWNS)

People are already enquiring to see if Danny has bought the property, adding that “if he wants to buy it, I’m really happy to sell it to him”.

Built in 1999, the residence offers four floors, seven bedrooms, a valet car garage and tennis courts.

The home, previously occupied by businessman Peter Thomas, who owned Peters Pies, even boasts a white oak staircase shaped like a rugby ball.

It has its own pond and a lift from the very bottom floor that takes you up to the first floor.

READ MORE: Countryfile legend John Craven praised by TV star in honest admission

Danny Dyer’s mansion in the TV series ‘Rivals’, Bella Vista in Cardiff, is now for sale at £8m. (Image: Fine and Country / SWNS)

The property has seen interest from across the globe – but no interest from Danny as of yet, said Jemma.

Rivals has been broadly well received, with strong critical and audience scores across its first two seasons on review aggregators such as Rotten Tomatoes.

Disney+ renewed the drama for an extended 12‑episode second series, which began streaming in May 2026, with the first six episodes released weekly and the final six due to arrive in November.

Disney has not formally announced a third series, although interviews with cast and creatives have suggested there is enthusiasm to continue adapting further books from Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles if the show’s success continues.