Historic hotel's new owner plans a £1.4m renovation (From The Oxford Times)
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Historic hotel's new owner plans a £1.4m renovation
3:00pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News
ABINGDON’S historic Crown & Thistle Hotel has been bought by a pub and restaurant chain for £1.6m.
And Oakman Inns, the new owner of the 17th century hotel in Bridge Street, is planning to spend another £1.4m on a complete overhaul. Oakman also owns gastropubs the Blue Boar in Witney and The Old Post Office in Wallingford, and sponsors rugby clubs in both towns.
Oakman spokesman Amy Kilpin said the firm, based in Hertfordshire, hoped to reopen the 19-bed hotel by early next summer.
Chief executive Peter Borg-Neal, said: “Abingdon is the kind of town we want to operate in, and The Crown & Thistle is a great building. We hope it will become the sociable heart of Abingdon. A strong part of our concept is our focus on the community, and we will look to sponsorships and charitable support to integrate ourselves into the community and help the town thrive.”
Paul Townsend, president of the Abingdon chamber of commerce said: “I think it is fantastic that somebody else is investing in the town, especially with a pub.
“It shows that Abingdon is on the way up.”
The hotel and bar will remain open until January.
