When Louise Edwards was brought in to run The Oxfordshire Yeoman in Freeland last year, she knew just what was needed.
Because although a much loved village pub, Covid, staff shortages and managers coming-and-going meant it needed some real TLC. And luckily she was the right woman for the job, recruiting head chef Harry Higginson and instigating Phase One of its refurbishment scheme, which was completed this week.
Enter the historic interior and you are now met with a fresh decor scheme, new furniture, clean lines, warm lighting, a gentle paint palette and updated loos, as well as some great pub classics, cooked by Henry Higginson, formerly of The Hand and Shears.
‘i’ve got more grey hairs than I had last year, but it’s all been worth it and it’s great to see the village enjoying their pub again’
“We wanted the refurb to complement the character of the pub without it becoming too modern and think we’ve got the balance right,” Louise says.
With Phase 1 of the refurb now complete, 80 booked in for Mother’s Day and plans for the exterior and garden to be tackled next, The Oxfordshire Yeoman has turned back into a thriving local pub and Louise, a villager in Freeland for 20 years, couldn’t be more delighted.
‘It had all been a bit hit-and-miss over the years, but after Harry joined us in November we really noticed a difference’
And, despite having no hospitality experience, Louise has turned the pub around in the past 18 months. “I’ve got more grey hairs than I had last year,” she grins, “but it’s all been worth it and it’s great to see the village enjoying their pub again.
“Not that the regulars haven’t been amazing – we couldn’t have done without them – but people are coming in for lunches and dinners that haven’t been here for years,” she says.
“We just needed some consistency. It had all been a bit hit-and-miss over the years, but after Harry joined us in November we really noticed a difference, especially over Christmas, and now have to run double sittings for Sunday lunch just to cater for everyone. There is great vibe here now, especially at weekends,” she says.
‘we now have to run double sittings for Sunday lunch just to cater for everyone’
“The locals needed to see investments being made back into the pub, but we had to have the turnover to do that. So we feel like we have really turned a corner by being able to refurb it, and the new look has really piqued people’s interest.”
Harry’s pub classics menu, which runs from Wednesday-Sunday has been going down a treat. “He cooks most of the dishes from scratch, from the soup and chilli to the Thai green curry and fish and chips, even making his own pies,” Louise says proudly.
“We just want to deliver proper pub grub, nothing gastro, but good home-cooked food, whether that’s soup and a sandwich or sausage and mash,” Louise says.
‘we just want The Oxfordshire Yeoman to be as welcoming and warm as possible’
And with live music once a month, Uggy’s Pizza fortnightly on Saturday nights, and village coffee mornings, Louise is ensuring The Oxfordshire Yeoman is now as accessible and appealing as possible for the villagers or those travelling from further afield.
“Freeland is such a lovely village and deserves a really good local pub. So we just want The Oxfordshire Yeoman to be as welcoming and warm as possible. And we have a really strong team here now, so it’s all been worth it.
The Oxfordshire Yeoman, 172 Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxfordshire. OX29 8AQ https://oxfordshireyeoman.com
