Pub goers have been shocked by the announcement that the Lamb & Flag in St Giles is to close due to the pandemic.
St John's College, which owns the pub, has said that it will officially close on January 31.
The Oxford University college has not ruled out the pub being taken over and reopened at a later date.
Read again: Offers will be made for Lamb & Flag says CAMRA
The closure of The Lamb & Flag leaves St Giles without a pub as The Eagle and Child on the other side of the street is undergoing refurbishment.
It is also owned by the college and is famous for its links with Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien.
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Renovation work is continuing so the building can be used as a hotel as well as a pub.
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In November 2019, the city council gave the college permission to carry out the building work to put in hotel rooms.
Last year an application for a new alcohol licence was submitted by Young and Co, the brewery which will manage the pub when it reopens.
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The company was also looking for permission to sell alcohol from mini bars in the planned hotel rooms at all hours of the day.
Youngs was seeking a new licence because it planned to take over management of the pub from a different company, Nicholsons Pubs.
The renovation plans include the downstairs of the pub knocked through to next door, a former cafe called Green's, to make way for more seating.
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There are also plans to smarten up the existing downstairs seating area, as well as the kitchen and rebuild an extension to the back of the pub.
The first and second floors of the Eagle and Child will be used as hotel accommodation.
Read again: New hotel is due to open
The pub is renowned for its association with fantasy authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, who met there as part of a writers’ group called The Inklings.
The Lamb & Flag in St Giles is to close
A public house since 1650, The Eagle and Child takes its name from the crest of the Earls of Derby.
It is not yet known when The Eagle and Child will reopen after lockdown restrictions are lifted.
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