A COCKTAIL bar in Oxford is to be turned into a large chain pub.
Stonegate Pubs, which owns the Living Room at Oxford Castle Quarter, closed the venue today.
The premises will undergo a £226,000 renovation and become a Slug and Lettuce pub.
A spokeswoman said it would reopen on May 23 with a VIP reception.
Staff members were reported to have been notified of the change about two weeks ago.
Only one person, barman Claudino Silva, is staying on.
The 33-year-old, from Wantage, said: “At first they said we would just close, but then they said we were going to change instead.
“I will be sad to see the Living Room go, it was like a big family here and we had lots of regular customers who have said they may not come back again now.
“But I have never worked for the new company, and I like the building.”
He added: “I’ve been here for four years now, so I decided to stay when they offered me a promotion.
“I think we will attract a new type of customer now.”
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