Locals face a double change to estate pub (From Oxford Mail)

The pub has been in steady decline for many years, and not because of any particular bad reputation of the Leys. Instead, the 'Bullnose' has been adversely been affected by a combination of changes in social attitude toward pubs drink-driving, binge-drinking, and the loss of the tens of thousands of workers at what used to be the Pressed Steel and Morris/BL/Rover factories. Though many new businesses have indeed replaced the old 'factory' - including BMW Mini - workers in the area no longer go for a 'swift pint' at lunchtime, and many no longer live in the locale for after-work or weekend drinking. As for trying to get families to use a 're-branded' pub to emulate the likes of Witherspoons in the nearby Cowley Centre (where well-priced food is the attraction) the problem will be that the re-incarnated pub's location is not in the middle of a shopping centre, where mums and dads take their children, or where people meet-up when shopping. Instead, maybe the site needs an ASDA or Morrisons, or even a night shelter for the homeless?

Myron Blatz wrote:
The pub has been in steady decline for many years, and not because of any particular bad reputation of the Leys. Instead, the 'Bullnose' has been adversely been affected by a combination of changes in social attitude toward pubs drink-driving, binge-drinking, and the loss of the tens of thousands of workers at what used to be the Pressed Steel and Morris/BL/Rover factories. Though many new businesses have indeed replaced the old 'factory' - including BMW Mini - workers in the area no longer go for a 'swift pint' at lunchtime, and many no longer live in the locale for after-work or weekend drinking. As for trying to get families to use a 're-branded' pub to emulate the likes of Witherspoons in the nearby Cowley Centre (where well-priced food is the attraction) the problem will be that the re-incarnated pub's location is not in the middle of a shopping centre, where mums and dads take their children, or where people meet-up when shopping. Instead, maybe the site needs an ASDA or Morrisons, or even a night shelter for the homeless?

Well, there are around 5000 in the business park, most of whom head to M&S or Tesco to pick up lunch.

If you don't get there by 13.15 there is only a sparse selection left.

Hungry Horse might work there, particularly if they plan family-friendly promotions around the time the family sessions will finish at the beautiful new pool that will soon be built a moments walk away.

Myron Blatz wrote:
The pub has been in steady decline for many years, and not because of any particular bad reputation of the Leys. Instead, the 'Bullnose' has been adversely been affected by a combination of changes in social attitude toward pubs drink-driving, binge-drinking, and the loss of the tens of thousands of workers at what used to be the Pressed Steel and Morris/BL/Rover factories. Though many new businesses have indeed replaced the old 'factory' - including BMW Mini - workers in the area no longer go for a 'swift pint' at lunchtime, and many no longer live in the locale for after-work or weekend drinking. As for trying to get families to use a 're-branded' pub to emulate the likes of Witherspoons in the nearby Cowley Centre (where well-priced food is the attraction) the problem will be that the re-incarnated pub's location is not in the middle of a shopping centre, where mums and dads take their children, or where people meet-up when shopping. Instead, maybe the site needs an ASDA or Morrisons, or even a night shelter for the homeless?

The pub is on an estate of 15,000 people, the few left that now work at BMW makes no difference, there are more than enough locals.

Missing the point 'Grunden Skip' - if a large local population was the main criteria, then the 'Bullnose' wouldn't have seen another management change, or been 're-branded' yet again. Both the local population and office workers might be attracted by a fast-food burger outlet, but only time will tell if the 'Hungry Horse' will be a winner, or just another 'also ran' boozer which fell at the last-chance hurdle - and maybe 'horse' might not be the wisest of names to have chosen, soon after the scares about horse meat in burgers from the likes of nearby Tesco and Burger King?

They didn't choose the name Hungry Horse, that's the name of the chain buying it. I shouldn't think the pub will change its name at all, just the branding on the signs and menus. There are already a stack of Hungry Horse pubs in Oxfordshire, e.g. The Acorn in Bicester and The Bell in Wallingford. Pubs make such a small margin on beer these days that it's food and soft drinks that are profitable, so I guess they're hoping to persuade local workers and families on the estate that it's cheap and welcoming.

It's a shame Greene King plough thousands into the Bully but refuse to spend a single penny on The Blackbird. It's probably because The Blackbird is an old school drinkers pub and doesn't serve food ie not making the brewery much money. I can see The Blackbird closing for good within the next five years.

THe Bullnose is just too far from the Business Park to be much use I'm afraid. Even if you wanted to drive and have a soft drink at lunch, you would lose your parking space on the Business Park. If you're on the Business Park you're more or less confined to the utterly sihte Longwall monopoly.

It's a shame as the Bullnose has always been OK when I've been in there.

THe Bullnose is just too far from the Business Park to be much use I'm afraid. Even if you wanted to drive and have a soft drink at lunch, you would lose your parking space on the Business Park. If you're on the Business Park you're more or less confined to the utterly sihte Longwall monopoly.

It's a shame as the Bullnose has always been OK when I've been in there.

THe Bullnose is just too far from the Business Park to be much use I'm afraid. Even if you wanted to drive and have a soft drink at lunch, you would lose your parking space on the Business Park. If you're on the Business Park you're more or less confined to the utterly sihte Longwall monopoly.

It's a shame as the Bullnose has always been OK when I've been in there.

THe Bullnose is just too far from the Business Park to be much use I'm afraid. Even if you wanted to drive and have a soft drink at lunch, you would lose your parking space on the Business Park. If you're on the Business Park you're more or less confined to the utterly sihte Longwall monopoly.

It's a shame as the Bullnose has always been OK when I've been in there.

Myron Blatz wrote:
Missing the point 'Grunden Skip' - if a large local population was the main criteria, then the 'Bullnose' wouldn't have seen another management change, or been 're-branded' yet again. Both the local population and office workers might be attracted by a fast-food burger outlet, but only time will tell if the 'Hungry Horse' will be a winner, or just another 'also ran' boozer which fell at the last-chance hurdle - and maybe 'horse' might not be the wisest of names to have chosen, soon after the scares about horse meat in burgers from the likes of nearby Tesco and Burger King?

Not missing the point mate, The Bullnose makes money, this is just the final phase of turning it into a food oriented pub, rather than a pub that does food, it has been gradually changing for years, and that is why it is successful. It has kept the drinkers, whilst attracting eaters as well, which would not have happened if it had gone from one to the other overnight. And GRB don't worry. You wouldn't want GK to spend money on The BB cos it would change the atmosphere of as you call it, a proper pub, or drinking hole. Just carry on drinking and at over 50% profit on what you spend GK will be very happy for the pub to go on for years yet.

GRB wrote:
It's a shame Greene King plough thousands into the Bully but refuse to spend a single penny on The Blackbird. It's probably because The Blackbird is an old school drinkers pub and doesn't serve food ie not making the brewery much money. I can see The Blackbird closing for good within the next five years.

You are probably right. It's a prime redevelopment site along with the original BBL Pool and expensive to maintain community centre.

A good few social housing homes could be built, along with a new smaller (and less costly to heat and maintain) community centre.