In May, social enterprise and craft brewery Tap Social Movement pulled out of running The White House in Abingdon Road after three years, handing over to another independent Oxford-based operator, Dodo Pub Co, which has leased it from Brasenose College.
While the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) welcomed the takeover, its members criticised Dodo’s proposal to call the pub The Slow and Steady, named after its architect Henry Hare.
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The company initially proposed to paint the pub black – a plan that was opposed by residents and conservationists, and that idea was ditched.
Last night general manager Mike Carne welcomed invited guests and the pub will open to the public tonight at 5pm.
(Image: Andy Ffrench) Mr Carne, 32, has moved from Cheltenham where he was running another Dodo Pub Company pub.
He said: “Dodo has completely revitalised all the pubs it has taken on.
“We want to be here for the local community. We don’t have a target demographic – our target demographic is ‘are you thirsty, and are you feeling hungry’.
“With the cost of living crisis I think the British public have moved away from gastro food, so we will be serving simple food done really well. There are £10 pizzas on the menu.”
Mr Carne, who has previously worked for celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in London, said he was pleased space outside the pub has been landscaped and decorated.
The pub now has its own pizza oven and has been giving away pizzas to local residents in the run-up to the opening.
And one of its biggest assets is a large book-lined room in the roof space which will be open to drinkers when it is not being hired out for private events.
The Slow and Steady will continue to serve Tap Social beers, together with other real ales brewed by local breweries.
There will be meal deals throughout the week, with burger and chips costing £10 at lunchtime Wednesday to Friday, and also cost £10 Wednesday to Friday lunchtime.
Dave Richardson and John Winney of the Oxford branch of CAMRA were at the launch last night.
Mr Winney said the pub’s unusual name had got it noticed.
“They have kept the character of the building and enhanced it, including the garden space.”
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Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
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