Oxford's pubs admit they were 'busier than anticipated' on April 12

People swarmed the city centre to go out for a bite to eat and reunite with friends over a pint, despite inches of snowfall across the county.

The Turf Tavern’s popular pub garden was brimming with customers, and at midday there was more than a two-hour wait for a table.

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Many publicans confessed that demand had far exceeded what they had expected.

Alan Backshall, manager at the Three Goats Head, on St Michael’s Street, said: “It has been busier than we anticipated but it has been great to get back to some sort of normality.

“Hopefully we can soon get back to the pub we have been waiting to get back to for six months.”

Pubs reopening April 12 2021 - Kaz Bar

And manager of The Plough on Cornmarket Street, Steve Jones, was delighted the snow did not put off punters.

He said: “The reopening has gone very well, it’s been super busy in town, everyone has got an extra skip in their step.

“We didn’t quite know what was happening when we woke up to two inches of snow this morning, but we are now fully booked for today and the weekend - everyone is just happy to be out again and we are really happy to see our regulars.”

The Plough, Cornmarket

Romain Alaphilippe, manager at Cafe CoCo and its sister restaurant Kazbar, on the Cowley Road, said: “Everyone has been looking forward to it and it should be an amazing time for everyone.

“The snow has not affected anything other than my commute on my bike to get here.”

Further out of town, pubs and restaurants in East Oxford also had a steady flow of customers throughout the day.

Other pubs and eateries, however, remain closed for the time being.

The King's Arms, on Parks Road, said it will not be opening until May.

And The Cape of Good Hope, on the Plain, also appeared to remain closed.