A village pub which closed more than a year ago is expected to reopen before Christmas.
The Bat and Ball is the only pub in the small village of Cuddesdon, five miles southeast of Oxford.
It reopened briefly this year but was then put up for sale by owners Admiral Taverns.
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Now Ben Moss, who runs the award-winning pub The Lamb Inn in nearby Little Milton, has struck a deal with owners Admiral Taverns and will run the village watering hole.
The Bat and Ball is now being refurbished, and Mr Moss said his aim was for the pub to open in November or December, in time for Christmas.
He said: "The Lamb is very successful but we wanted another pub where there is more room and at the Bat and Ball there is room for 40 to 50 diners.
"The Lamb is a gastro pub, and the food at the Bat and Ball will be traditional but gastro. Haddock and chips will cost £18 and most dishes will cost from £16-£22."
Beers could be supplied by Oxford Brewery and Rebellion Beer Company, as well as Estrella.
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Mr Moss said the layout of the pub was being remodelled, and would include four kingsize hotel rooms featuring lounge areas.
He added: "The villagers are amazing and have been incredibly supportive of us, and we want this pub to be a community hub."
Villagers initially registered the pub an Asset of Community Value, but then backed Mr Moss's proposal to take over the running of the pub.
Mr Moss added: "I can't wait for the pub to reopen.
"Initially we will open the pub for five-days-a-week, as a soft launch, and then hope to open six or seven days a week after that.
Nicko King, one of the campaigners who has been working to get the pub reopened, said earlier: "The whole village was shocked when the pub closed suddenly and without explanation. We'd lost a central part of our village life.
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"We were then very worried that it would be yet another pub turned into a housing development.
"So we’re relieved and excited that Ben Moss, who runs a very successful award-winning pub, The Lamb Inn, in nearby Little Milton, has come forward with an offer to buy it.”
He added: "We're all looking forward to the reopening of the Bat and Ball in a few months."
Earlier this year, The Lamb Inn won praise last month from the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). It was named the spring pub of the season.
Staff celebrated with South Oxfordshire CAMRA representatives when they visited the pub near Thame.
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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.
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