ICONIC Abingdon pub The Old Anchor is to reopen later this month after an £80,000 investment.

The Thames-side pub is being given an inside and outside revamp by owner Greene King.

Old Anchor landlord Jamie Mclean, who has lived in the town for about 30 years, took over the pub in July.

Abingdon has suffered a number of pub closures in recent years and the town’s other riverside pub, The Nags Head, is now up for sale after closing last year.

Mr Mclean, 36, said: “It is great to see such an investment in such an important Abingdon pub in tough economic times.”

The former John Mason School pupil, who used to run The Grapes in Abingdon’s High Street, said: “We are going to be more of food orientated place. Everything will be homemade and locally source. And we are going to have six different types of ale in house.

“We are keeping it very country style with mish-mash interior and wooden floors.”

The watering hole will reopen its doors on Friday, October 21, at 6pm.

The Ox in Oxford Road is due to open as a Tesco Express store in December after closing in March.

The Fitzharris Arms in Thornhill Walk closed last year and reopened as a Tesco Express store four months ago.

Tony Goulding, pubs officer at the Oxford branch of Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “Abingdon has lost up to half a dozen pubs in the last five years or so. They have really suffered.

“Any investment to save the dwindling number of pubs in Abingdon is to be applauded provided it is done in a sympathetic way.

“The Old Anchor used to be a wonderful old Moorland’s local with a lot of ambience and a real good feel to it.

“It is an old, established drinkers’ pub in a nice and pleasant setting.”

Peter Knowles, business development manager for Greene King, said: “Investing in this beautiful pub will allow us to provide a proper pub to visitors and locals in and around St Helen’s Wharf.”