St Clement’s pub reverts to its 1970s identity after change of ownership
Morgan Pub Collective re-opened the Angel & Greyhound on February 12 after a revamp that saw it revert to a previous name, the Oranges & Lemons. It was closed for over a month for what company boss Dick Morgan called “de-Youngification”, Young’s having run the pub for over 30 years. The pub now has a retro look with dark shades, plenty of old pictures, and vinyl music from a record player on the bar top.
Originally called the Burton Ale Stores when opened in 1920, it became Parker’s Wine Bar in the 1980s and the Angel & Greyhound, after the nearby meadow, in 1991. The historic “punk era” photograph adorning a back wall has been retained and framed, as it was a famous music pub when previously known as the Oranges & Lemons.
Morgan has transformed the St Clement’s pub into an essential stop for beer lovers with eight hand pumps and 30 keg lines. Young’s beers are no longer available here, but can be found at the King’s Arms and also St Aldates Tavern, part of City Pub Group which is owned by Young’s.
Real ales available on opening day were Harvey’s Sussex Best (available at many Morgan pubs including the Grapes in Oxford), Titanic Plum Porter, Tap Social Crowded House, Thornbridge Jaipur, and Little Ox Yabba Dabba Doo and Dark & Seedy. Two from Lilley’s range were also available – Elderflower Cider and Bee Sting Still Perry.
Morgan’s landlords have a lot of freedom in choosing their ales, and Johnny Roberts – general manager of both the Grapes and the Oranges & Lemons – has promised plenty of choice, as at the Grapes. Food offers have also been introduced at the Oranges & Lemons including 2-4-1 Fish Frydays and Steak Saturdays (ribeye £17.95, fillet £18.95, including a drink).
Dick Morgan said he had high hopes for his new operation, which was acquired from Young’s by a property company and leased to the collective. But he added that the Gardeners Arms, closed in January, proved too small for his type of operation, having struggled to find its place in North Oxford and often nearly deserted even at weekends. It has now gone back to Greene King and remained closed at the time of writing.
