Press Release

Sporting Dragon Leisure and Punch Taverns

Following negotiations between Punch Taverns Business Relations Manager, Alan Hurt and Sporting Dragon Leisure's Alan Knipe Smith an agreement was reached at 7-30pm on Wednesday night for Sporting Dragon Leisure to take over the running of the Oxford Arms, a well known local music venue and pub. The takeover of the premises will occur on Monday 10th March as the outgoing tenant Mark Fallows leaves.

A management team has been put together over the last few weeks whilst negotiations have been taking place and a director of entertainments appointed to ensure that the live music which the pub has been famous for for many years will continue. Following a brief closure during the day on Monday whilst the legal formallities are carried out the pub will re-open its doors to the public in the early evening.

A full lineup of entertainment has been planned starting on Wednesday evening 12th as detailed below

Further entertainment has been arranged for the following week and annoucements will be made in the live entertainments section of the Sentinel each week. Sporting Dragon Liesure now operate 3 local venues and spokesperson Alan Knipe-Smith commented that taking over such a well known venue as The Oxford Arms presents new challenges but the staff are already in place to move the venue forward. The theme of the venue will not change but local bands will feature heavily in what is already a well established operation. Existing staff were informed on Thursday about the annoucements and it is hoped that more details can be given to them tonight folllowing a meeting with the outgoing tenant. A staff meeting will be held on Monday evening in the restuarant/snug at 7-00pm and all existing staff members are urged to attend.

We look forward to welcoming back the many members of the public and customers old and new next week. Show your support and keep this venue open for the next 10 years

Issued by Sporting Dragon Leisure 10-00am Friday 7th March 2008.