Crime & Safety
Village community pubs must welcome children says landlady
Oak Taverns bought The Red Lion in Yarnton from Admiral Taverns in 2023, after a community buyout scheme failed to raise sufficient funds.
Thame-based pub company Oak Taverns owns a number of other pubs across Oxfordshire including The Crown in Marcham and The Cross Keys in Wallingford.
READ MORE: Village pub closed following fire
The Red Lion in Cassington Road is the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.
Landlady Jess Dixon said it is now vital for pubs functioning as community hubs to welcome families with young children, as well as older regulars.
She told the Oxford Drinker, the magazine run by the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale): “Considering children under 14 were prohibited from entering public houses prior to 1995, and pubs only being allowed to make their own policies from 2003 due to changes in the licensing act, it’s not really surprising that children in pub environments can be a bit of a divisive topic.
“Being a village pub means: families, and lots of them! It can be quite entertaining at times when you’ve got small children demanding a straw with their apple juice, paired with older gents just trying to get a relaxing pint in across the bar.
“Acting as a community hub with such a wide range of ages is good fun whilst simultaneously feeling like solving a public relations-themed Rubik’s cube. How can we create a welcoming environment for all, that also fits the vibe we want to create?
“Some opt for high chairs on demand and play sets in the garden, others opt for Fruit Shoots and a game of Jenga (all very low noise activities of course).”
Ms Dixon said live music being staged at the pub was a good way of uniting the community – including a band playing at its annual beer festival next month.
She added: “One thing I’ve found always works to maintain the family melting pot status quo is a good old event in the garden, with some live music and a few garden games.
“We’re really lucky to have a Yarnton village band full of people of all ages that kick off our annual May beer festival, and really sets the tone for the day.
“I know not every pub may be fit for a family-friendly lifestyle, but if it is, there’s nothing quite like watching people of all ages enjoy a sunny pub garden with a fresh pint or J2O in hand.”
Oak Taverns also runs The Rose & Crown in Charlbury, The Swan in Faringdon, The Red Lion in Chinnor, and The Angel in Bicester.
Dating back to the mid-17th century, Holcombe House in Deddington on the way to Banbury has served various roles within the community over the last century.
Originally a private residence, it became Holcombe House Prep School in 1920, which ran for 15 years until its closure in 1935.
In 1945, the building was bought by Charles and Gertrude West, who operated it as a guest house.
READ MORE: ‘A red kite stole sausage rolls from my mother-in-law’
After the war, it became a hotel and continued as such until its closure in 2011.
The current owners first came across Holcombe House – then known as the Holcombe Hotel – while renting in the village and walking their children to school.
When the hotel shut and planning permission was secured for its conversion into three dwellings, they recognised the potential for a family home.
They bought the property in 2012 and set about a comprehensive restoration project that would see it transformed.
READ MORE: Father Brown renewed for two series as filming begins in Cotswolds
The renovation was completed over nine months and saw the house taken ‘back to its bones’, removing post-war additions, and reinstating original architecture.
Lifting tiles in the entrance hall revealed the original Hornton stone floor, while lost Georgian details were reintroduced following meticulous research by the owners.
Among the most dramatic transformations is the kitchen and dining space, which once comprised two industrial kitchens with a timber lean-to washing-up area.
The area has been opened up, French windows installed, and light brought in to create what is now the heart of the home.
READ MORE: Kourtney Kardashian’s cosy Cotswolds cottage gets £50k makeover
Holcombe House offers seven bedrooms across its first and second floors, including a principal suite with a roll-top bath, double sinks and a separate shower.
Rooms on the ground floor feature sash windows, open fireplaces, exposed timbers and high ceilings, while there is a utility room, larder, store and workshop.
The first floor accommodation consists of three of the seven bedrooms, including the principal bedroom with a bathroom.
There are two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom, along with a gym and home office.
On the second floor are four bedrooms, two of which are en suite, including an open-plan playroom area that could also be used as a study for older teenagers.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson satisfies controversial rule with Cotswolds pub change
Outside, the rear garden provides a peaceful space of mature planting, stone walls and a raised lawn, with pedestrian access to parking for up to six cars.
The property also includes a completely separate commercial unit with its own entrance, currently used as a hairdressing and beauty salon.
Sophie Gannon from estate agent Savills Banbury said: “Holcombe House is one of the most elegant and charming homes to come to market in Deddington for many years.
“The owners have not only revived its historic character but transformed it into a bright, warm and exceptionally versatile family home.
“Properties of this scale and provenance are extremely rare in the heart of the village, making its sale a truly special opportunity.”
‘Sir John Vanbrugh’, the English Baroque architect behind Blenheim Palace, was recently spotted navigating the streets of Woodstock – crossing at traffic lights, carrying shopping, and pausing for a coffee.
The surprise appearance marked the extension of Blenheim Palace’s Blueprints of Power exhibition, which explores the life and legacy of Sir John Vanbrugh, the ‘rockstar of the English Baroque.’
The exhibition has now been extended until May 31, 2026.
A spokesman said: “Visitors will now have until May 31, 2026, to explore the interactive exhibition, which brings Vanbrugh’s architectural brilliance to life.”
The display traces Mr Vanbrugh’s journey from playwright to architect and delves into his partnership with Sarah Churchill, the first Duchess of Marlborough.
Each room in Britain’s Greatest Palace pays homage to Sir John Vanbrugh and his legacy as an architect, playwright, soldier, spy, courtier and diplomat.
Sir John Vanbrugh’s walkabout marks the extension of the current Blueprints of Power exhibition, celebrating the extraordinary life of the architect behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entry to the Blueprints of Power exhibition is included with a valid day ticket or Pass to Britain’s Greatest Palace.
More information on the exhibition and palace, and to book tickets, is available on the Blenheim Palace website.
The improvements aim to modernise the unit, which provides rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as an alternative to acute hospital admission.
This helps to reduce pressure on busy A&E departments.
The unit is temporarily operating from a different ward within the Abingdon site but continues to function as normal.
A hospital spokesperson said: “The refurbishment work will modernise the unit, creating a welcoming and accessible environment for patients and staff.”
Abingdon Community Hospital offers various services, including rehabilitation and palliative care.
It also supports patients with a Minor Injuries Unit, an Oxfordshire Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, and a range of outpatient services such as rheumatology, cardiology, and paediatric orthopaedics.
The hospital is staffed by a dedicated team of nurses, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists and is supported by gerontologists, who specialise in elderly care.
The refurbishment work was announced on April 12.
-
Crime & Safety6 days agoLorry overturns on Oxfordshire A43 roundabout with driver trapped
-
Crime & Safety3 days agoOxford teacher who fiddled grades wants banning order ended
-
Business & Technology1 week agoAqilla launches AI invoice tool to speed accounts payable
-
Oxford News1 week agoOxfordshire children care provider employed illegal staff
-
Crime & Safety6 days agoRoadworks in Oxford cause Botley Road traffic chaos
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoAmerican Akita and a French Bulldog seized after dog killed
-
Oxford News1 week agoHow drivers react to new monk statue on town roundabout
-
Oxford News7 days agoEmirates issues new travel and flight update for Brits