Oak Taverns seeks public support in dispute over food vans

Oxford CAMRA offers its backing saying councils must support private enterprise

Growing Oxfordshire-based independent pub operator Oak Taverns hopes to resolve its food vans issue after public hearings in early December called by the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils. This follows contact from the licensing department of the councils earlier this year, saying street food traders needed a permit to continue operating at its pubs.

Since then temporary arrangements have been in place to allow these sales to continue, as Oak’s pubs do not provide any kind of food except for basic snacks. Oak works with more than 20 independent suppliers, with food ranging from pizza and burgers to Indian, Mexican, Jamaican and Greek. Food vans typically appear at its pubs on two or three evenings a week, usually at weekends.

Managing director Simon Collinson said it was proving difficult to get the necessary permits, putting the future of food vans at its pubs at risk and undermining its success in rescuing and reinvigorating pubs in small towns and villages.

Simon Collinson (left) with Dave Howse, landlord of the Cross Keys in Wallingford

“This is proving to be a difficult process, not least because there isn’t a standard permit for the type of ‘pop-up’ food traders we use,” he said. “Despite this, and working with the licensing departments and food vendors, we now have several applications underway. As part of each application a public consultation period was required, which has resulted in some objections from local residents and Oxfordshire County Council Highways. Therefore, public hearings have now been set for early December.

“We need any written support, either by letter or email, to assist us at the hearing. We firmly believe pubs like ours are integral in the communities they reside in. We also believe that allowing pop-up food traders to operate at these pubs has many more positives than negatives. Many of these food traders are young, local entrepreneurs starting up businesses. Many high street restaurants began as pop-ups and lots of the traders we use aspire to do the same. Some of the traders we use have already scaled up their street food businesses on the back of their relationship with Oak Taverns.”

People are being urged to email the company (info@oaktaverns.co.uk) or write to its offices at 8 Butter Market, Thame, OX9 3EW. Responses must be sent in good time for the council hearings on December 4 and 6.

Oak Taverns – which has just bought the long-closed Red Lion in Yarnton and hopes to re-open it by mid-December – has won many friends in CAMRA circles due to its support for real ale and track record in rescuing and reviving pubs. Oxford CAMRA has toured most of its pubs this year on two minibus trips, and many are in the Good Beer Guide. The company also acquired the Crown in Marcham, re-opening it in September after being closed for a year, and the Sun in Wheatley, which re-opened a year ago.

The Crown in Marcham, revived in September, is one of the pubs welcoming food vans

“In the past four years, we have purchased and invested in six pubs in villages and towns in Oxfordshire, costing over £3million,” added Simon. “These pubs were often failing or completely closed and obvious targets for property developers. We have now transformed them into busy, thriving pubs which lie at the hearts of their communities. We are a champion of local breweries as cask ale is a large part of what we offer, and have been awarded many CAMRA awards for this work.

“A large factor in the continued success of these pubs is our ability to offer food, mainly at weekends, to our customers. These small pubs often do not have a large enough kitchen, or enough covers to make a full food offer financially viable, which is why pop-up food vendors suit all parties. Oak Taverns does not charge the street food vendors a fee, instead benefitting from increased drink sales. The food venders benefit from food sales and the customers benefit as they now have a food option available, which in some villages is very limited.”