Oxford Eagle and Child visit from the new American owners

The pub in St Giles has now been closed for almost four years.

But last year the hostelry, famous for its links with fantasy authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, was bought by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT).

READ MORE: Happy memories of demolished community centre 

The institute, established in Los Angeles by billionaire Larry Ellison, announced plans for a new laboratory campus at Oxford Science Park.

At the same time it bought one of the city's best-loved pubs.

Last month executives from the institute were in Oxford to talk about the future of the Eagle and Child.

EIT chief operating officer Lisa Flashner visited with senior directors Matt Abney and Tom Myers, and enjoyed pints of XT3 West Coast IPA in the Lamb and Flag opposite.

Ms Flashner told the Oxford Drinker, the magazine of real ale group CAMRA: "If people celebrate us half as much when we open the campus as when we reopen the pub, we’ll be doing well.”

Modernist architects Norman Foster and Partners have been appointed to develop the campus, due to open in 2026, and Foster is also managing the restoration of the pub.

But due to its poor structural condition and nearly four years of standing empty no date can be given yet for its reopening.

The challenge is to recreate the pub’s original features, including the alcoves at the front and the Rabbit Room where writer's group the Inklings used to meet, while making the narrow building more welcoming.

READ MORE: Pub still shut a month after floods 

The conservatory dining area at the rear, which Ms Flashner described as “horrible”, will be demolished and replaced by a modern addition.

Key to the plans is to open up the rear garden, with access via the passageway up the side as well as through the pub.

Ms Flashner said: “We haven’t started work on the Eagle and Child yet as we are still at the planning stage, and it is in a serious state of disrepair.

"But we will restore the original pub to what it was, including the Rabbit Room, and Foster’s team are looking closely at what a traditional pub is really like.

"Our vision is to continue to have small spaces where people come together to talk. That’s what makes English pubs great, to help bring a sense of community and cross-generational conversations.

"On the upper floors, we will create spaces for our scholars to meet and get to know each other, including private dining."

Mr Myers, an architect, added: "It will be slow going reopening the pub. Our plan is to reopen it as soon as possible, but we need patience.”

Former Eagle and Child landlady Win Reading remembers Tolkien and CS Lewis visiting the pub.

She told the Oxford Drinker earlier: "Tolkien and Lewis used to come into the back room of the pub and they would shut the door, as they didn’t want anyone else in there.

"But they didn’t drink very much, so one day we said to them politely that we needed that room for a darts board. Basically, we threw them out.”

EIT's website states: “The EIT Oxford Campus will incorporate more than 30,000 square metres of research laboratory space, an oncology and wellness patient clinic, and educational and gathering spaces to support ongoing work in EIT’s humane endeavours.”

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get: 

• Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website 
• Advert-light access 
• Reader rewards 
• Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.