PIPPA Hamwee has given herself a challenge in her attempt to give pub-goers something to cheer about.

She’s hoping the community will get behind her attempt to turn her local into a green pub.

The kitchen of the Chester Arms, in Chester Street, East Oxford, will be relaunched on Saturday – operating on strictly ethical and sustainable grounds.

Miss Hamwee, 35, from nearby Hill Top Road, said: “It’s something that is close to my heart. I want to involve the local community as much as possible, such as using the local allotments.

“Everyone I have spoken to about it is really keen.”

Miss Hamwee used to work for East Oxford family centre Donnington Doorstep and homelessness charity Crisis before deciding to take over the pub’s kitchen from landlord Ben Needham.

Miss Hamwee said everything in the kitchen would be ethically and sustainably sourced – and preferably local – from ingredients to cleaning materials.

She said: “It will be a new and interesting challenge. I have made it hard for myself but I tend to do that. I don’t look for an easy life. Obviously we can’t get local rice but anything like that will have to be fairtrade.”

The project was born out of a conversation she had with Mr Needham, who was looking for someone to run the food side of the business.

Mr Needham, who runs the pub with his friend Phil Johnson, said: “We’re giving control of the kitchen over to Pippa. She has a catering background and that will give us more time to concentrate on the pub.

“I’m really excited about this and I think it can breathe new life into the pub.”

The relaunch will be marked by a free buffet at the pub on Saturday, from 6pm.