A 16th century village pub used by Winston Churchill is searching for new landlords this month.
The White House Community Pub in Grove Road in Bladon near Woodstock has been a well-known drinking spot in the area since the 16th century.
Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill allegedly began drinking alcohol at the pub and is buried nearby in the West Oxfordshire village.
The historic watering hole is now on the lookout for new landlords ahead of the pub being up for renewal in November.
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A spokesperson for the pub said: “The White House Community Pub, Bladon, is looking for new tenants.
“Please look to our website for information and the application form for this great opportunity.”
Greene King opted to sell the pub in 2019 leaving residents fearing it could close if it fell into the hands of developers.
An application to denote The White House as an Asset of Community Value proved successful and the community had six months to put in a bid to buy and manage the future of the pub.
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In March 2020, the application for the Plunkett Foundation’s More Than A Pub grant was approved.
Months of campaigning resulted in 450 shareholders and enough money raised to make a strong bid to purchase The White House.
Oxfordshire County Council leader at the time Ian Hudspeth said: “The community does not want to lose this asset and is working together to ensure that for future generations there is a pub in Bladon.
“It will not be an easy task as there needs to be a group of committed individuals who drive this project forward with the village all working together to raise funds.
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“There is amazing potential for the White House to be more than just a pub, as we lost the village shop many years ago.”
During August numerous professionals and volunteers attended the site, carrying out essential repairs, renovations and general improvements to the building and gardens.
Several overgrown and unsafe trees in the garden were removed and the tenants’ accommodation and the pub itself were fully cleaned, repainted and updated.
In September, Johnny Roberts was appointed as the tenant landlord and moved into the pub with his family ready for the grand reopening in October 2020.
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Fast forward to the present and new landlords are being searched for as the application closing date of Monday, July 15, is fast approaching.
“Bladon Community Benefit Society reserves the right to appoint a tenant at any time,” said a spokesperson for the pub.
“We are currently setting up interviews for prospective tenants so we look forward to hearing from you very soon.”
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