The search is now on for new management to take over the historic Grapes pub in Oxford after the company running it went into administration.
Drinkers were shocked when staff at The West Berkshire Brewery pub in George Street placed a note on the door at the end of last year to say it would not be reopening.
The note at Christmas told drinkers: “It is with great sadness that I inform you The Grapes is closed. We will not be reopening.”
The West Berkshire Brewery, near Newbury, which took over the pub lease in 2019, went into administration, according to Companies House.
Oxford City Council, which owns the building and controls the lease, said it would like to see a new tenant take up the opportunity to run the pub.
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A city council spokesman told the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA: "The council is in contact with the administrator and with the previous tenant.
"Their intention is to market the lease to find a new tenant."
Ed Turner, the council's cabinet member for finance and asset management, said earlier: "We believe that a pub in this location is an asset to the street and it would be good to see a new tenant come in on the same model if possible.
"We are all too aware that it has been a very tough time for the licensed trade in the last couple of years, and have tried to be as supportive as possible.”
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He added: "The property is on a lease from the council. The tenant is in administration. We do not know the intentions of the administrator but as they have ceased trading from the property it is likely they will not want to retain the lease."
Dave Richardson, a spokesman for the Oxford branch of real ale group Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said he hoped the city council would offer reasonable terms and conditions to the next tenant.
He added: "The Grapes does not have a large kitchen so it's not the sort of pub that make a lot of money from food.
"It doesn't have enough seats or kitchen capacity to be really profitable.
"The council needs revenue and I hope it would be sympathetic to a company running it as a traditional pub and if necessary reduce the rent."
The Grapes, which dates back to the 1800s, is popular with theatre goers and real ale drinkers.
Bath Ales were in charge in 2012 and the pub then became Beerd Oxford in 2015 before it was named The Grapes again in 2017.
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When WBB took over in 2019 the interior was given a £70,000 revamp with new wooden booths created and mosaic tiling around the bar.
Today the windows of the pub are dark and it appears that some of the furniture inside has been removed.
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