Name change will send city centre bar back to the future

9:30am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News

OXFORD drinkers could be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu when they walk down George Street soon.

One of the city’s busiest bars is going back to the future as Copa of Oxford looks to change its name back to the Wig and Pen.

The bar, which is owned by Greene King, was known as the Wig and Pen until about 2003.

Before that it was a store operated by Belfast Linen, becoming a pub in 1996.

Matt Bullock, chairman of Oxford Campaign for Real Ale, said: “They changed the name when they turned it into a continental beer bar. It would be nice if it became a more traditional pub. The only other one on George Street is The Grapes.

“Copa was just a made-up name to make it sound continental I suppose. Quite a few people around Oxford know it as the Wig and Pen though.” Greene King has submitted a planning application to Oxford City Council for permission to install new signs at the pub.

If successful a new green and gold sign will be placed over the bar’s entrance and a double-sided sign would also be put up along with new menu holders.

A Greene King spokesman said: “We are awaiting the decision of the planning committee before deciding any next steps, at this stage we’re just applying to change the name.”

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A date for a planning decision has not yet been set.

Comments (7)

9:57am Thu 1 Nov 12

CowleyBoy says...

You have to get planning permission to put a new sign above your own pub? I wonder how much that costs...
You have to get planning permission to put a new sign above your own pub? I wonder how much that costs... CowleyBoy

3:52pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Carfax Cabby says...

CowleyBoy says...
9:57am Thu 1 Nov 12

You have to get planning permission to put a new sign above your own pub? I wonder how much that costs...

I have to get planning permission to put an advert on the side of my cab, well permission at least. The council governs every aspect of our lives. I applied recently to the council because I wanted to buy a brand new Mercedes Vito Taxi (the best on the market for passenger comfort, safety, and also drivers comfort) this taxi is now the fastest growing Taxi in London, the London Taxi Driver and his cab is the ideal model for the worlds taxi trade, and looked from around the world as the best Taxi service. But our council said NO, we know better than London and all you can buy is an uncomfortable, cramped, unreliable, and polluting TX4. So when you see old cabs on the road in Oxford, that is the reason. Your council do not want a prestige fleet of cabs, just what it dictates you to have. Please complain to the council and say you want the Mercedes.
CowleyBoy says... 9:57am Thu 1 Nov 12 You have to get planning permission to put a new sign above your own pub? I wonder how much that costs... I have to get planning permission to put an advert on the side of my cab, well permission at least. The council governs every aspect of our lives. I applied recently to the council because I wanted to buy a brand new Mercedes Vito Taxi (the best on the market for passenger comfort, safety, and also drivers comfort) this taxi is now the fastest growing Taxi in London, the London Taxi Driver and his cab is the ideal model for the worlds taxi trade, and looked from around the world as the best Taxi service. But our council said NO, we know better than London and all you can buy is an uncomfortable, cramped, unreliable, and polluting TX4. So when you see old cabs on the road in Oxford, that is the reason. Your council do not want a prestige fleet of cabs, just what it dictates you to have. Please complain to the council and say you want the Mercedes. Carfax Cabby

4:03pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Oxford_Al says...

Carfax Cabby wrote:
CowleyBoy says...
9:57am Thu 1 Nov 12

You have to get planning permission to put a new sign above your own pub? I wonder how much that costs...

I have to get planning permission to put an advert on the side of my cab, well permission at least. The council governs every aspect of our lives. I applied recently to the council because I wanted to buy a brand new Mercedes Vito Taxi (the best on the market for passenger comfort, safety, and also drivers comfort) this taxi is now the fastest growing Taxi in London, the London Taxi Driver and his cab is the ideal model for the worlds taxi trade, and looked from around the world as the best Taxi service. But our council said NO, we know better than London and all you can buy is an uncomfortable, cramped, unreliable, and polluting TX4. So when you see old cabs on the road in Oxford, that is the reason. Your council do not want a prestige fleet of cabs, just what it dictates you to have. Please complain to the council and say you want the Mercedes.
It's funny how taxi drivers complain about everything, London cabs is a symbol of British cabs if you disagree then become a booking only car(taxi)
[quote][p][bold]Carfax Cabby[/bold] wrote: CowleyBoy says... 9:57am Thu 1 Nov 12 You have to get planning permission to put a new sign above your own pub? I wonder how much that costs... I have to get planning permission to put an advert on the side of my cab, well permission at least. The council governs every aspect of our lives. I applied recently to the council because I wanted to buy a brand new Mercedes Vito Taxi (the best on the market for passenger comfort, safety, and also drivers comfort) this taxi is now the fastest growing Taxi in London, the London Taxi Driver and his cab is the ideal model for the worlds taxi trade, and looked from around the world as the best Taxi service. But our council said NO, we know better than London and all you can buy is an uncomfortable, cramped, unreliable, and polluting TX4. So when you see old cabs on the road in Oxford, that is the reason. Your council do not want a prestige fleet of cabs, just what it dictates you to have. Please complain to the council and say you want the Mercedes.[/p][/quote]It's funny how taxi drivers complain about everything, London cabs is a symbol of British cabs if you disagree then become a booking only car(taxi) Oxford_Al

4:32pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Carfax Cabby says...

Al, 1 in 5 TX4 has been recalled (remember the exploding fuel line recall a few years back) or has over 3 weeks off the road, for a brand new cab costing £36,000 this is disgraceful and had it been a car then its manufacturer would now be bankrupt, the Mercedes now counts for 1 in 3 sold in London, not bad when it did not excist 5 years ago. In 5 years time the mercedes will out number the TX4 in London and will be the London Black Cab, Tx4 are currently in administration since being part bought out by Geely, the chinese counterfitting car company. I am not complaining, I just want the BEST cab for myself and my customers, but your council do not want this. Ask them WHY they do not want the best Taxi money can buy, to be plying the streets of Oxford, do they have a financial interest?
Al, 1 in 5 TX4 has been recalled (remember the exploding fuel line recall a few years back) or has over 3 weeks off the road, for a brand new cab costing £36,000 this is disgraceful and had it been a car then its manufacturer would now be bankrupt, the Mercedes now counts for 1 in 3 sold in London, not bad when it did not excist 5 years ago. In 5 years time the mercedes will out number the TX4 in London and will be the London Black Cab, Tx4 are currently in administration since being part bought out by Geely, the chinese counterfitting car company. I am not complaining, I just want the BEST cab for myself and my customers, but your council do not want this. Ask them WHY they do not want the best Taxi money can buy, to be plying the streets of Oxford, do they have a financial interest? Carfax Cabby

6:21pm Thu 1 Nov 12

carli says...

who really cares?
who really cares? carli

9:15pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Darkforbid says...

Carfax,,, WHAT!! You want the English business, that supplied the cabs, that funds your life,,, to go bankrupt?

Thanks,,, go on then, spend your money on some German crap...
Carfax,,, WHAT!! You want the English business, that supplied the cabs, that funds your life,,, to go bankrupt? Thanks,,, go on then, spend your money on some German crap... Darkforbid

7:10pm Mon 5 Nov 12

Vernon Spools says...

Not sure who all these people are who still know it as the Wig and Pen. I have no idea as I drink in Bar Oz.
Not sure who all these people are who still know it as the Wig and Pen. I have no idea as I drink in Bar Oz. Vernon Spools

Comments are closed on this article.

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