Calling time at the Lamb & Flag - a look back at recent years

The college, which owns the pub, said it had been making a loss as a result of the lockdowns and would officially shut on January 31.

The Oxford branch of the real ale group CAMRA has said it will contest any application to change the Grade II listed building's use.

Matt Bullock (far right) with other researchers and editors with copies of the new guide New Oxford pub guide launched by CAMRA - editor Matt Bullock and other contributors raising a toast with the book in the Lamb & Flag. Photo: Andrew Walmsley 21/10/

And Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has called for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to give more financial support to pubs.

Read again: Historic Lamb & Flag pub in St Giles is to close

Here we look back at better times at the St Giles hostelry in recent years.

In 2012, students at the college raised a glass to pub customers who helped fund their studies.

Profits from the Lamb & Flag were used to pay for scholarships for students.

The Lamb and Flag Scholarships were awarded to graduate students who are of outstanding academic excellence but have no other source of funding to pursue their doctorate degrees.

Job name: Students benefit from ale sales - Lamb & Flag, 12 Saint Giles, Oxford, OX1 3JS. PictureSales Ref: OX55458 Notes: In 1999, St John's college took over the running of the pub and put Palmers’ cask ales on the bar. Since that time, all of th

Students who were successful applicants could study any course, all on full-time scholarships, and were offered about £20,000 per year to help with course fees as well as books, study and living expenses.

Jack Seddon was in the first year of his DPhil studies in global financial regulation and received the sponsorship this year.

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The 28-year-old said at the time: “It is fantastic the system they have got set up. It is getting more and more difficult to get funding and I wouldn’t be doing this without that funding. I’d like to thank the customers of the Lamb and Flag.

"The more people who sample the ales, the better.”

Jessica Fay was in her third and final year studying a DPhil in English literature, having received the funding in 2010.

The 25-year-old said: “I very much enjoy my course and I’m hoping to stay in academia. This sponsorship has enabled me to come to Oxford. I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. St John’s students tend to gather at the Lamb and Flag – it is a very friendly and cosy pub.”

The college has said that student scholarships will not be affected at the moment.

Lamb and Flag, St Giles Job name: Pub of the Year PictureSales Ref: OX54967 The Lamb and Flag has been shortlisted for Oxford pub of the year. Landlord Martin Siggery. Catchline: pub Length: overnight Requested by: Damian Fantato 15/10/12 Antony Moore

The pub is named after the two symbols associated with St John the Baptist, and served generations of students and professors, as well as writers and politicians, including former US President Bill Clinton.

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Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was a regular during his days at St John’s in the 1970s.

In 1999, the college took over the running of the pub from Phipps Northampton Brewery Company.