After the demise of the Saxton Arms, there remains one pub that carries on doing well in South Abingdon.
Lord Stokes, the chairman of British Leyland, opened this pub. in December 1974 at a time when MGs were still made in Abingdon,
After a competition run by the Morland brewery and pub chain, the pub was originally named after a world famous Racing Car, designed and built in Abingdon in the 1930s – the MG EX 127, otherwise known as the Magic Midget.
Greene King took over over the Abingdon based Morland brewery and pubs in 2000, and have since become the largest pub chain in the UK.
The pub was redesigned in 2002. Different bar areas were integrated to make one large bar and dining area, and it was renamed as The Midget.
The Midget has been run by the same family for over seventeen years, and is a popular local pub.
There seem to be a lot of pubs nowadays that have those god awful oversized TV screens for sport. College Oak at Peachcroft is dreadful – must have more than 4 screens in their small place, and the Boundary House is another that’s been ruined.
Keep up bs. Paul and Bev moved to the Wig and Pen in George Street at the end of October.
Blanky – the College Oak is rarely anything other than busy so lots of people obviously don’t think of it as “dreadful”. It’s not that small either. Each to their own!
perhaps the people that go to pubs like watching sport on a large television?
How awful. Just heard about the fatal stabbing in the pound shop in Abingdon today. A 35 year old man copied the London murderer of Lee Rigby and had two knives in his hands. One man was fatally stabbed and another wounded. I was in town today and could have been at the scene. My condolences to the murdered man and the person who was injured.
Quite an irresponsible comment when the police are saying it’s not terrorism related
How could you possibly know he was trying to copy the Lee Rigby murder? And then to try and claim fame by saying you could have been at the scene. Well, actually, a great many people were at the scene. As Rudi says, a very irresponsible comment…and frankly rather silly.
quel surprise. tut tut Janet
It was a mentally unstable, known to the police, suspect and it was personal and not a random attack on the nearest member of the public.
Also he took the knives from the poundland shelf and wasn’t walking around abingdon weilding 4 knives as reported in the Daily Fail
Got news early from mobile phone so I expect we will know more about circumstances at a later date.
But nothing to stop you inventing them in the meantime eh?
So much for care in the community eh? Mentally unstable? known to the police? What price public security then? Where are these unfortunate souls carers? Everyday a resident from the same “house” can bee seen getting drunk as hell sat on the wall by the BP garage while another does the same while sat on the bench by Old Station House which sometimes can be very intimidating to visitors of the home there.
Back to the pub post.
Confused – yes the College Oak is dreadful. No doubt you’re a man so can’t see the problem. Every time I’ve been there I’ve found it full of loud footie men who hog the whole place over their beer, making people have to squeeze past everyone to the bar. The noise is awful, and combined with the occasional deafening roar when something exciting happens on the TV’s.
We usually have to sit outside, but not in the winter. Pubs are for everyone, so why not keep the TV at home and go watch it there.
Yes of course they’re doing a roaring trade – for men. Wonder how it would be if pubs were packed with screeching women watching Coronation St on 6 TV’s around the pub (and nope, I still wouldn’t go in for that either).
A TV ok …… but pubs should have space for all folk.
Screeching women watching Coronation Street!!! Seriously? That made me chuckle.
Rachel, how do you know this wasn’t a random attack etc?
Blanky – the point I was making is that your condemnation of the College Oak as ‘dreadful’ is merely your opinion, and given that it is a busy and popular pub (including many women) you’re opinion is obviously not shared by everyone. As I said, each to their own. If you dislike it so much you could try something radical such as going somewhere else.
*your, not you’re. Predictive text…
Talking to people there yesterday (I happened to be picking a prescription up from the pharmacy just after it happened).
…but then how did they know?
I’m just curious.
Daniel, you’re such a gossip!
I am! Which is why I don’t go to pubs! Too much boisterous football…can’t hear the chitter chatter!
Now that the police have issued a statement it appears that nearly every detail of the rumours being spread in earrlier posts was untrue – we do need to be careful about passing on unverified “word on the street” – there is enough real hurt around without creating more.
do you have a link to the statement Hester; I couldn’t find it?
Confused …. and the point I was merely making is that it’s a shame all pubs can’t be made comfy be for everyone, not exclusive to TV oglers. Thank you for raising the idea of going elsewhere ….. whoever would of thought of such an ingenious option.
Having read the statement id say my gossip is pretty much spot on!
What statement!?
Daniel – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-35049802
Rachel – yes, when I said “nealry every detail”, yours was the honourable exception! I was particularly concerned by what now seem to be inaccurate statements about a) the motivation and b) where the accused lived and slurs on others who live there.
Thank you Hester.
Sorry to be a pedant, but it’s the one thing I’m good at…but that’s the article I read too. I don’t see how it either confirms or refutes anything that’s been said above….so I’m confused.
No matter, I must be missing something.
Sometimes silence is the best thing Daniel
Yes, sometimes it is.