A THRIVING Oxfordshire pub is today marking five years since it was saved by the local community.

After four landlords in 10 years, The Seven Stars in Marsh Baldon faced closure in late 2012, potentially leaving the area without a pub.

Rather than let this happen, families from Marsh Baldon and surrounding villages formed the Baldons and Nuneham Community Society (BNCS), enabling them to buy shares in the 350-year-old pub and own it themselves.

With help from the existing owner – investment company founder David Harding –they managed to buy the pub.

A search for a top-flight landlord to run it was then on – and resulted in the appointment of experienced local publican Matt Ford.

Villagers helped the new landlord redesign and renovate the pub, working night and day to transform it.

Finally on March 30, 2013, The Seven Stars opened its brand new doors.

Since then, with the help of the BNCS committee, the popular pub has continued to grow and remains a firm local favourite.

Since reopening, the pub’s barn has also been converted into a spacious restaurant.

All this hard work was rewarded in 2016 when the Seven Stars won Camra pub of the year.

Mr Ford and the committee have done their best to ensure it is also a genuine community pub – offering coffee, cake and a place to meet in the mornings and a focal point for village events.

It is home to book clubs, the cricket team and wine club, as well as being used for local wedding receptions.

Investors in the pub are paid a small dividend on their investment, kept up to date with developments and invited to an annual meeting.

To celebrate the continuing success of the pub, a birthday party will take place tonight from 6pm until midnight.

It will feature music, dancing, along with a special celebration menu in honour of the event and a speciality beer.

Tickets for the meal are available from the pub.

Call 01865 343337 or see sevenstarsonthegreen.co.uk