New landlords have reopened a village pub near Abingdon following a refurbishment.

Rob Filbrandt and Will Hutchinson have taken over the running of The Plough in Appleton.

The pub, owned by Admiral Taverns, has been renovated inside after being closed for about a year.

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Mr Filbrandt said: "We are delighted the pub has reopened.

"Our launch at the weekend was fantastic - we had lots of people in and there wasn't a spare seat in the pub.

Oxford Mail: Inside The Plough"We are serving Timothy Taylor and Doom Bar and are keen to serve some local ales."

Mr Filbrandt and Mr Hutchinson have previously worked in a village pub near Stratford and in Shropshire.

They have moved in at the pub and have two dogs - a Cocker Spaniel and a Rottweiler.

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A spokesman said: "Pubs are more than just a place to drink, they are social hubs of their communities, raising money for local charities.

"The pub has undergone a full internal redecoration to give it a warm inviting feel for residents to enjoy. 

Oxford Mail: "The licensees bring a wealth of experience to the pub, having worked in the hospitality industry for the past five years and will be supporting the community through a range of community events, including coffee mornings and the introduction of a food offering, including three mini pies and pints."

Built in 1683, the pub is a former coaching inn.

The Plough reopened on Saturday.

Afterwards, the landlords said in a public post: "We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone, for such a warm welcome to Appleton last night and for coming out and showing your support.

"It was an absolute pleasure to meet everyone and we thoroughly look forward to seeing you all again soon."

The pub will be closed on Monday but only for the winter months.

Oxford Mail: "Come Easter we will be open seven days a week," added Mr Filbrandt.

The landlords said in a public post: "Food service will follow in the next coming weeks, offering traditional pub grub, freshly sourced locally and with a focus on quality and value for money."

While some pubs in Oxfordshire have closed due to the cost of living crisis, others have reopened.

These include The Crown in Marcham, which closed in the summer but reopened at the end of September after being bought by Thame-based Oak Taverns.

A community bid to take over the pub did not go ahead and Oak Taverns bought it with managers Ricky Dawe and his fiancee Laura Goodwin looking after customers.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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