There have been few new issues arising this year, but some reported last year are still ongoing. In addition, there are some new opportunities promised by the Government to be more effective in the future.

Stonor Valley

Little movement on The Crown, Pishill over the past year. The ball appears to be in Russell Brand’s court to put forward new proposals or to sell the property. Of the other pubs in the Valley, only the Golden Ball at Lower Assendon is trading at present, with the Rainbow in Middle Assendon closed since the retirement of Curly and Jean Chandler following its sale by Brakspear and the closure of the Five Horseshoes in Maidensgrove. The Quince Tree reappeared on the market during the year, but there do not appear to have been any takers.

The Crown, Stadhampton

The pub remains empty and closed. The planning application to convert the pub into private housing was withdrawn and a new application submitted to split the property into three, with about half of it becoming a three-bedroom house and the other half upstairs private accommodation with a bar downstairs. The latter would be much too small for a viable pub and we have objected to the plans on those grounds. At about the same time, the property has been put on the market with Connells, reportedly for about twice its purchase price. There is, however, no trace of it on Connells website. At the time of writing, the planning application has not been determined.

The John Barleycorn, Goring

Closed around August 2023, the pub was eventually put on the market by Brakspear for £750,000, which seems to be well over any reasonable valuation for a pub. A planning application has now been submitted to turn this Grade II listed pub into a private dwelling. We have objected on the grounds that there is no adequate demonstration that the pub could not be viable under the right management and that a popular tourist spot like Goring ought to be able to support three pubs, especially one of them close to the river.

Brakspear

By far the most numerous pubs in our area are owned and leased or tenanted to licensees by Brakspear. Many of them are in rural locations and small in size. This may go some way to explain the number of their pubs which change licensees quite frequently or which close at relatively short notice. There does, however, appear to be a trend for the company to dispose of many of their smaller or more isolated pubs and to reinvest the proceeds in larger premises with letting accommodation, often in the Cotswolds, and under a managed model. Sales or closures by the company in the past few years include the Rainbow in Middle Assendon, the Five Horseshoes in Maidensgrove, the Red Lion in Blewbury, the Reformation in Gallowstree Common, the Half Moon in Cuxham and the Crown in Nuffield, while there has been a succession of licensees lasting often no more than two years at the New Inn, Kidmore End, the Chequers and Fat Fox in Watlington, the Chequers in Berrick Salome, the Six Bells in Warborough, the John Barleycorn in Goring, the Red Lion in Cholsey and the Perch & Pike in South Stoke.

Even accounting for the difficulties attending small rural pubs in old buildings, this is not an inspiring record and one that does not appear to attach to other pub companies in our area, with some notable exceptions, such as the Bird in Hand (EI Group), Sonning Common, the Horse & Harrow (Admiral), West Hagbourne and the Ferryboat (Star Taverns) in Whitchurch on Thames.

Political Developments

At SODC/Vale of White Horse, the Joint Local Plan is currently stalled in its progress, with the Government-designated Inspector asking for its withdrawal because of inadequate consultation with Oxford City Council. This will delay any improvement to pub protection in our Branch area through local planning policy. There does, however, seem to be a change in attitude to the listing of pubs as ACVs, with the Five Horseshoes at Maidensgrove the latest to be listed (without any involvement by our Branch).

On a national level, large increases in the National Living Wage (particularly for 18 - 21 year olds), employer contributions to National Insurance and Business Rates are having a disproportionately large effect on the hospitality industry, which includes pubs. These increases have more than swallowed up the increase in duty relief for alcohol sold in the on-trade. Some relief on Business Rates is promised in the recent Budget, but it remains to be seen how large this will be.

There are, however, promises of changes to licensing and planning laws, which should reduce the bureaucracy and restrictions associated with opening and operating pubs as well as introducing a “Right to Buy” for community groups when ACV-listed premises come onto the market, as well as changes to the legislation surrounding ACV listing, including a right to appeal against refusal of a listing.

Reproduced with permission (and appreciation) from David Cooper, Branch Pub Protection Officer