A COUPLE has declared an interest in buying a beloved Osney pub that has been shut since July last year.

Simone Jones and her husband Nick say it would be their “dream” to run and live in the Hollybush Inn in Bridge Street.

Mrs Jones, 28, who is a yoga instructor, said: “We both love food and love being a part of the community.

“We are also trying to find a place in West Oxford, so a pub would be ideal for us.

“I think the Hollybush is just not what it could be.

“It has a lot of potential and could be a lovely place for the community.

“We have been talking about running a pub for a while, so whenever an opportunity comes up I just enquire about it.”

The couple, who currently live in Marston, have an allotment in North Hinksey, and hoped they could serve their homegrown produce at the pub.

Mrs Jones added: “We have contacted the current owner and I said my husband and I are interested if it is for sale. He said it was not for sale, however if the right offer came in they would consider selling it.

“He said as a reference a bidder put in a bid of £750,000 and that was unacceptable.”

The future of the inn was first thrown into doubt in 2013 when its owner, Suffolk brewery Greene King, sold the pub and its contents.

It was then bought by Krystian Volak, of Holly Bush Property LTD, who turned it into a shisha lounge until July last year when Oxford City Council turned down a retrospective planning application.

In November 2015, Mr Volak confirmed he was letting out some of the rooms as a B&B and had created office space to “minimise costs”.

He has had to apply for a temporary change of use until March.

Last week residents noticed the pub’s signs had been removed and the building had been given a fresh coat of paint.

Jericho and Osney councillor, Susanna Pressel, said she was delighted to hear there were several parties interested in buying and running the pub.

She said: “The city council has a policy of resisting the loss of pubs where possible, so I hope the owners realise they are unlikely to get permission for change of use; it has already been refused once.

“In view of this, we must hope the owners will not ask an inflated price for the premises.”

Leo Johnson, co owner of Dodo Pub Co – which owns the Rickety Press and Rusty Bicycle – said if the opportunity arose to “rescue” the Hollybush, the company would consider it.

He said: “We would love to be able to save another neighbourhood pub.

“That is what we have done in the past with the Rickety Press and Rusty Bicycle.

“Both pubs were on the edge of going, and that is what we are all about, creating a multifaceted community space.”

There are only three other pubs left in West Oxford: the Kite in Mill Street, the Perch in Binsey and the Punter in East Street.

Mr Volak did not respond for requests for a comment.