A PUB company attempting to take over the reigns at a closed Oxford local has revealed more about its plans for the building.

The Dodo Pub Company is still in the final stages of agreeing a deal to reopen the Somerset in Marston Road and will meet with residents on Sunday to outline how it sees the pub working.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail for the first time since it was revealed the company was bidding to rescue the beleaguered boozer, director Leo Johnson said he was confident a deal could be agreed imminently.

He said: "It's in the final stages. We are pushing forward but it is a not a done deal yet.

"We would like to be in in early January to start the building works and then aim to have the pub open eight weeks from there.

"There's no cause for concern. It's very much down to the bureaucracy now - lots of upgrades are needed - but we are really excited about trying to make this all work."

Dodo also run Jericho’s Rickety Press and East Oxford’s Rusty Bicycle and have employed a design team to transform the Somerset into something similar to their existing pubs.

Mr Johnson said a complete internal renovation is planned, should the deal go through, and punters would find the inside 'unrecognisable' from what it was before.

The pub is the only one remaining in the local area and will act as an 'all day space', targetting students, young families and off-duty doctors and nurses at different times of the day.

A partnership with the Missing Bean cafe will help attract the breakfast crowd while a food offering including pizzas and burgers will follow as the day progresses.

Various events such as quizzes and live music will be trialled in the first few months in operation and the final offer will be tailored to what the community wants.

Mr Johnson is keen to introduce a monthly Saturday market with around 20 stall holders in the car park.

He said: "Every community has a different atmosphere.

"This area needs a great pub and we want to be the people running it.

"But we are just the catalyst for creating a nice space that everybody can enjoy.

"The character of the place will be somewhat decided by the people who eat and drink there.

"We think we have a model that works but we will open with an open book and our approach to working with the community is very relaxed."

Mr Johnson will answer questions from residents at the latest pop up pub event in the Marston Scout Hut on Sunday which runs from 3pm until 7pm.