As you enter Abingdon, the news board outside Goffs tells you … “Riverside Pub set to reopen doors.”
Yesterday Spike sent me this picture from the river saying “Renovation going well and it’s fantastic to see all the metal shutters gone and life back into this historic Abingdon pub. Forecast to open mid September.”
During the work, the landing stage for Salters Steamers has had to be moved to the Upper Reaches Hotel. This may be just until the landing area is made safe.
On a warm summer’s day like today there were quite a few people swimming in the river, some out in the middle, who did not see the Salter’s Steamer to Oxford until very late.
One of the strongest arguments put forward for keeping the open air pool, just a short distance from this shot, was that it would protect against drownings in the river.
no sympathy for anyone stupid enough to do that – darwinism in action.
Good news piece Alistair linking the Nags Head revamp to the river location, Salters Steamers and swimming in the Thames.
Lots of activity at the Nags Head when I drove by yesterday; clearing the beer garden with skips at the ready!
The team carrying out the renovation, headed up by Mike, have allowed me go inside next week to take some internal photos of the progress so will post those to Alistair when complete. Scaffolding going up Sunday.
Incidentally, the repairs to the Nags Head jetty are going to be too costly and Salter Steamers are not interested in any contribution as a result of the constant landings for many years. Therefore the area will be fenced off permanently for safety and more outside seating made available. Looks like Salters will be using Upper Reaches or The Old Gaol when complete.
Very interesting about the landing area, on the Island.
I did hear in the past that they took no responsibility for it at all, and didn’t contribute in any way to its upkeep, safety etc… We took a party from Abingdon Phab a few years ago, and very precarious using planks to take wheelchairs on and off……and up the concrete steps at that end……
Wonder if the new areas will start charging them??
I wonder if the Old Gaol will be used…..
Good news.
Please ask new owner Mr. D Salwahara to contact me.
Tel.01865 604549.Very interested in The future of The Nags Head, with some good ideas to revive/increase trade to better than the good old times,I am sure.What a superb location.
hi, i wish to make a comment on this Nags Head job. Mike Higgins is the man behind the refurbishment with his gang of trained painters who he trained at a hostel in Oxford called Simon House. I have worked along side these lads who have worked extremely hard on the understanding that they where to be paid £40 pound a day to spend on tools so they can set out on their own and hopefully gain a career within the painting and decorating industry. It turns out now the job has nearly been completed that Mike Higgins and Simon House are now telling these lads that there isn’t any money left from the £7800 pounds to those lads theirs tools. which means those poor lads will be let down for all their hard work and efforts and Mr Salwahara, Mike Higgins and Simon House are all sitting pretty with a nicely decorated pub and mike and simon house with a nice fat cheque for £7800 in the bank. Why should these lads get ripped off they’ve done a brilliant job!!