A LIVE music venue which closed suddenly after a licensing dispute has reopened under new management.

The Exeter Hall pub, in Oxford Road, Cowley, shut without warning on Thursday, January 17 after former manager, Al De Boss, was declared bankrupt and in breach of her contract following a dispute with the Performing Rights Society over covers performances.

Now Punch Taverns, which owns the venue, has appointed a new manager, Pippa Dods, and the pub opened its doors again on Thursday, March 6.

Miss Dods, who is living above the pub, known locally as The X, said she intended to continue hosting live music probably three nights a week, with the first band to appear being Molly Makes Mistakes on Good Friday, March 21.

She said: "We want to get as many bands as we can because it is something I am interested in and I have worked at a number of sites where they are big on the music and as soon as we got here we realised that it was something that was very successful.

"We want to make sure we make everyone happy, continue what was working before and introduce new things and new ideas."

Tuesday is set to be open mic night, with a poker night every Wednesday and Sundays being quiz night.

Miss Dods, who is 22 and has previously managed pubs in her home town of High Wycombe, said she was keen to hear from bands who had been involved in The X previously and from new acts.

Currently the site is being run by Miss Dods and her trainee manager, James Birchall, but it is planned to hire more staff in the next few weeks.