UPDATE: Community meeting for under-threat pub postponed

LANDLORDS at a pub under threat of closure have reassured customers the building is 'safe and warm' and open for business.

Jeff Keegan and his wife Michaela, 49, moved all the way from Blackpool to take on the lease for The Black Horse, at Gozzards Ford near Abingdon, in April.

But, as the Oxford Mail previously reported, the couple fear problems, including a faulty boiler, put their dream in jeopardy without community support.

A post on the pub's Facebook page yesterday said: "We would like to reassure our customers that the pub is safe and warm. We have achieved so much through hard work by the whole team.

"We produce quality food with premium ingredients, backed up by TripAdvisor reviews moving us up the rankings from number 68 to number 34."

They added: "We accept we will never please everyone, however, we are clearly heading in the right direction in bringing this lovely pub back to life."

The couple will hold a public meeting at the Faringdon Road pub on Tuesday from 7pm to talk to anyone in the community that may be able to help to save the pub.

Dave Mountford from the Pubs Advisory Service will also attend.

Mr Keegan, 55, claims brewery Greene King, who own the building, did not do the proper checks before handing over the leasehold to the couple which has left them struggling to pay the bills.

Greene King have denied any wrongdoing and a spokesperson said the company was satisfied all due diligence checks were carried out in line with Pubs Code regulations when the couple took over the pub.