A downtrodden pub described as “absolutely awful” has been transformed into a community hub that raises money for charity.

The Hundred Acres pub, in Glory Farm, Bicester, was taken over 18 months ago by long-standing community members Liz Curtis, and her husband Colin Curtis.

Mrs Curtis has lived in Glory Farm for over 30 years and watched as the pub was first being built.

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She said: “The pub was not the friendliest of places, you wouldn’t see many families in there.

“I saw it come up for sale and thought I would go for it.”

Since taking over, Mrs Curtis and her husband, as well as some of the regulars, have redecorated the pub in its entirety.

Mrs Curtis added: “A lot of people wouldn’t have been interested in taking on the pub because it had a bad name, a lot of people wouldn’t even go in there in the past.

“But we’re definitely seeing a change in the people who come along, it’s more friendly now.

“I took it over because I wanted families to start coming here, it’s an estate pub so it should be a family pub.”

The 57-year-old grandmother of 16 said so many people had run the pub over the years and it just hadn’t worked.

But the atmosphere is so friendly now some of her regulars even helped build a fence around the premises for free.

The pub team recently raised over £500 for John Radcliffe Hospital’s supporting sick newborn and their parents (SSNAP) initiative.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1