A pub in east Oxford is getting its old name back after it was bought by new owners.

Morgan Pub Company, which runs The Grapes in George Street, and Gardeners Arms in North Parade, has taken over the Angel & Greyhound in St Clement's.

The move will shock drinkers as it has been owned by Young's since 1991 but now it is run by Morgan, its old name Oranges & Lemons will be restored.

READ MORE: City pub The Grapes celebrates one year since reopening

According to the Oxford Drinker, the city magazine for group CAMRA, Young’s has sold the Angel & Greyhound to a third party which has leased it to Morgan Pub Co.

Morgan has enjoyed success with The Grapes after it reopened in August 2023, and with the Gardeners Arms in North Parade, which reopened in October last year.

The return of the name Oranges & Lemons, which comes from a nursery rhyme, will please many who knew the St Clement’s pub by this name from 1970 to the mid-1980s.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) It became a cocktail bar called Parker’s in the 1980s, and then the Angel & Greyhound after the nearby meadow when Young’s acquired it in 1991.

Young’s, once a brewery but now a pub chain, operates more than 270 pubs around London and the south of England, and last year acquired City Pub Co, which operates St Aldate's Tavern and The Plough in Oxford.

Young’s cask beers are now brewed in the Midlands by Carlsberg, despite carrying names such as London Original and London Special.

READ MORE: Oxford pub reopens following 190k refurbishment 

People missing them in St Clement’s can still find them at Young’s Kings Arms pub in Oxford, but a wider choice is on its way.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Dick Morgan, the founder and head of Morgan Pub Co, said he was in favour of pubs retaining their traditional names.

The former Angel & Greyhound will close from January 2 for what he called “de-Youngification”, and is to have a much improved beer offer.

The Grapes and Gardeners have won praise for their real ale, and the new Oranges & Lemons could have even more craft keg taps than the Grapes.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Mr Morgan said the large photograph of regulars outside the Oranges & Lemons, taken in 1979, would remain.

This showed the pub when it was a lively music venue frequented by punks, attracting acts such as Billy Idol of Generation X.

According to the Oxford Handbook in 1980: “The atmosphere is wonderful. Have a chat with the tramp warming himself by the coal fire. Gaze at the punks with hair all colours of the spectrum.”

The pub’s name comes from a nursery rhyme including the lines “Oranges and Lemons, say the bells of St Clement’s/You owe me five farthings, say the bells of St Martin’s”.

The name Angel and Greyhound comes from coaching inns called the Angel and the Greyhound on Oxford’s High Street, which used to stable horses in a field behind the pub that now has this name.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) This is the second pub in St Clement’s to change management in as many months, with Greene King’s Port Mahon reopening with new tenants. 

There is a 50 per cent off meals offer for all pre-booked reservations at the Port Mahon. For more visit theportmahon.com

Morgan has about 20 pubs in London and the home counties.

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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. 

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