Pub landlord blames loss of income on Botley Road closure

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Tom Rainey runs The Punter on Osney Island and The Porterhouse in Mill Street, off Botley Road.

Takings have been done since the road was closed at the rail bridge in April, 2023, said Mr Rainey, one of a number of business leaders to feature in Network Hell!, a new booklet about the road closure published by local resident Julian Le Vay.

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While The Punter serves vegetarian food, The Porterhouse is more luxurious -it has a restaurant serving steak and offers hotel rooms.(Image: Tom Rainey)

Mr Rainey said: “Taking into account both sites, we have been losing about £200,000 a year in turnover.

“If the Botley Road does not reopen until April 2026, we could end up losing between £500,000 and £600,000 in total in turnover, while at the same time we can’t change over overheads.”

Both locations are leased from Greene King, Mr Rainey added.

He said The Porterhouse has lost about 10 to 20 customers a night – a reduction of five taxis a day.

“On a Friday night we used to get 70 customers – that’s down to 35 to 40,” Mr Rainey added.

(Image: Tom Rainey) “It’s a different clientele at The Punter where veggie and vegan food is served  but there are whole intakes of students that are no longer coming to West Oxford, so we are having to rebuild and remarket.”

Regarding possible compensation, Mr Rainey told Network Hell!: “No-one offered us any help. Network Rail said claim on our business insurance but that’s a total non-starter and a total waste of time, since the closure has been trailed for years.

“Neither Network Rail nor the council were willing to talk about compensation.

“We looked into business rates relief, but it’s a lot of paperwork for not very much money.

“Network Rail suggested making a video to advertise us – I thought this was just having a laugh.

“Our former customers know exactly where we are – the other side of the blockade!”

Mr Rainey added: “It’s ridiculous in this day and age and in this country that they can cut you off from your customers for years without any compensation or help in any way whatsoever.”

The boss of The Punter and The Porterhouse said people looking for a special night out did not want to trudge through a “grimy and graffitied pedestrian tunnel”.

(Image: The Punter) Network Hell! has called for the road to be reopened “soon”, for local businesses to receive compensation from the government, for improved bus services and walking routes, and an independent inquiry.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has confirmed that rail minister Lord Hendy and Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines will come to Oxford on January 25.

The minister is expected to provide on update on the work schedule, and a date for the reopening of Botley Road.

Businesses have already said they are planning a protest to coincide with the visit.

Network Rail has been asked to comment.

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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. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.



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