The Angel & Greyhound reopens as Oranges & Lemons after being acquired by Morgan Pub Collective.
The change was surprising. Young’s owned it since 1991, but not anymore. Morgan restored its old name: Oranges & Lemons. Folks were lining up yesterday to check it out.
Johnny Roberts manages both this pub and The Grapes. He’s really happy about the new look inside. They invested a lot to get it right.
They plan to open at 8 AM for breakfast because St Clement’s gets busy. The health team visited and gave them a top score of five.
They will serve pub classics and salads. New booths are inside and outside for customers to sit. An old photo of the original pub still hangs in the bar. It shows punks drinking back in the day.
John Morris, a retired farmer, had the first pint. He hadn’t been there in a while. He likes the changes at the pub. He thinks the investment is good. Some pubs are closing these days, he said.
Some Oxford students played a drinking game there. The contractors stayed across the street while working. It was Oranges & Lemons from 1970 to the mid-80s. It then became Parker’s cocktail bar.
Young’s bought it in 1991 and named it Angel & Greyhound. The pub is named after the nearby meadow. Dick Morgan promised many real ales at Oranges & Lemons. He said that real ale’s popularity fluctuates a bit. He will add more if people want it.
Young’s spent money on the pub recently. Morgan felt he could offer something different. Young’s has the same setups everywhere. Morgan adapts to local areas.
Morgan thinks Young’s sold because it wasn’t profitable. They had a service charge in a student area. Morgan’s other pub closed recently.
Dave Richardson from CAMRA likes the pub’s independent feel. They have real ales and ciders. He enjoyed the local ale options. He also likes the pub’s retro style.