A ‘DRAUGHTY’ marquee propped up in a beer garden of a popular East Oxford pub could be pulled down and replaced with a full glass conservatory – but only if the plans are approved by Oxford City Council first.

The new ‘outdoor room’ at the James Street Tavern, off Cowley Road, will be built to draw in more punters to keep cash flow coming in and the pub open.

It will also be cheaper to heat than the current white tent which has been put up in the back garden – which has proved ‘popular’ with the locals.

The new room will have a timber frame and full-length glass windows with a retractable fabric canopy making it suitable for ‘all-weathers’.

In the plans, pub owners Greene King explained: “This is a family pub with an excellent reputation for being trouble free.

“Greene King feels the proposed development of the underused outside area will help to sustain the existing business in the current difficult trading environment and will protect jobs of the staff.

“The aim of the proposed development is to provide a comfortable seating environment in an ‘outdoor room’.”

They also said the new room would hopefully make it a destination for people planning special occasions, adding: “It is hoped that people living within the immediate area are likely to want to experience the improvements to the facilities, along with customers from further afield using this as a destination pub.

“This will encourage people to spend their money locally and help the business succeed.”

Managers at Greene King went on to explain that the pub had struggled to use the outside area because of the unpredictability of the weather, but that the new sheltered seating area would make it more achievable to have al-fresco dining.

It said: “The business has struggled to make the best use of the space in the past, and inclement weather conditions often make it undesirable to sit outside.

“A temporary marquee has proved to be popular but is draughty and inefficient to heat, so there is a need to improve the facilities for the benefit of customers and to consolidate the business.”

The pub, which dates back to the 19th century, is leased by landlord Michael Sadones, and run by his sons Josh and Joe. The Sadones family are also behind the popular Old Bookbinders in Jericho – which they have been running since 2011.

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READ MORE: look inside the James Street Tavern

In May last year, the James Street Tavern was given a full face-lift. Renovation works included a new wooden shelter, more lighting and artificial grass in the garden.

Manager Josh Mullett-Sadones told us that since the reopening the pub almost a year ago, it has been really successful and when the coronavirus lockdown has been lifted he hopes to be back serving pints to regulars.