PLANS to bring an East Oxford pub back to life have been unveiled by a consortium of businessmen.

Former Oxfork boss Drew Brammer and former Rusty Bicycle manager Fraser Nicolson have teamed up and hope to take on the running of the former Chester Arms in Chester Street.

Their plan to rename the pub The Chester and reopen it as a food and real ale pub comes after Woodchester Estates, which owns the site, applied for permission to build two homes on land next to it.

The developer will lease the pub to the consortium for 15 years if it gets permission for the homes, which would occupy part of the pub garden.

The two parties have signed a preliminary agreement.

Mr Brammer said: “The Chester will be a combination pub, cornershop, and a café.

“We will welcome everyone, including well behaved children and cute dogs, and serve lunch, tea, coffee and cake during the day and then allow people to share their lives over dinner and a drink with friends or family in the evenings.

“Our food menu will bring something new and exciting to Oxford, but will also include some cosy pub classics.”

Mr Nicolson said the pub would not be tied to a brewery and this would give them the freedom to do their own thing with the pub.

He added: “With a little help from our friends Compass Brewery, before long we’ll also hopefully be brewing our own beer in the garden.”

Mr Brammer said a lot of work was needed to get the pub ready for opening in early November.

He said: “We have a lot to do to create a pub that the community can be proud of, including a total refurbishment of the toilets and interior, and the building of a kitchen.”

The news has been welcomed in the area, with residents anxious to see their local pub reopen.

East Oxford resident Ned Wells said: “We’re excited by the prospect of the Chester opening again and if anyone can make it into a huge success then Drew and Fraser can.”

The Chester Arms closed in July 2012, and Woodchester Estates initially claimed it was no longer viable as a business, launching a bid to turn the entire site over to housing.

But the city council’s east area planning committee refused planning permission in November.

Woodchester’s new plans for the site include the demolition of the current kitchen and the creation of a new one, as well as new toilets.

Nick Evamy, from the firm, said: “We recognise that food is the main driver for pubs today, and this move gives the kitchen immediate access to the main bar, cellar, restaurant and garden.”