The Midget pub off Preston Street within the city has been given a six-figure refurbishment from its house owners Greene King.
Its title – linked with the city’s former MG automobile manufacturing facility – has been modified to The Roaring Raindrop – an MG automobile designed to sort out the land pace report within the Nineteen Fifties.
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The title change was agreed by Greene King after Dr Erin Pritchard stated in a petition that the pub firm ought to “recognise the offence of the time period and its implications”.
Counter-petitions that includes extra signatures referred to as for the Midget title to stay however Greene King determined to go forward with the change.
Members of the city’s MG Automotive Membership had been on the pub at this time to welcome it reopening and there was no signal of any protesters.
Common supervisor Ian Harriss stated he was delighted to reopen the pub with its new title.
(Picture: Oxford Mail) He added: “The pub has modified a lot following the refurbishment – it appears a lot brighter – the suggestions we’ve had is how vibrant the place appears in comparison with earlier than.
“Greene King has paid homage to MG and to the area people.”
Mr Harriss stated sports activities followers would take pleasure in visiting as there are giant TV screens all through the pub, and in an out of doors house which has been freshly landscaped with additional seating and an Aunt Sally space.
The supervisor stated there was sufficient room contained in the pub for eating tables alongside the areas the place drinkers would collect to take pleasure in watching totally different sports activities.
He has beforehand managed different Greene King pubs, together with the Boat Home in Wallingford.
He stated: “The refurbishment appears superb and Greene King has maintained the reference to MG with the brand new title.
“It is good to see the MG photographs on the partitions – the Roaring Raindrop was from the glory days of MG when it received races and beat land-speed data.
“The MG manufacturing facility opened in Abingdon in 1930 and closed in 1980 – it is a crucial a part of the city’s historical past.”
“We perceive why individuals really feel an attachment to the pub’s earlier title and this isn’t about altering the previous or erasing the Midget automobile from historical past.
“We wish our pubs to be welcoming locations for all and by having a brand new title above the door we hope we strike the suitable steadiness of constant to honour the pub’s legacy and hyperlinks to Abingdon’s manufacturing historical past, whereas additionally doing our bit to make sure pubs are locations the place actually anybody can really feel at dwelling.”
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Andy is the Commerce and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and also you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the crew greater than 20 years in the past and he covers group information throughout Oxfordshire.
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