OAK Community Update - November 2025
For this month’s community update, we wanted to share some of the results of the survey we’re running to measure interest in the Open Arms Kington project, and to gather information on what you want to see happening at The Oxford Arms in future. You may have seen the beermats in the image below—the QR code on these mats links to the online survey. The survey results are an important guide for our application next spring for a Delivery Phase grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and particularly important for the programme of heritage-themed events and activities we plan to host through our delivery phase.
First of all, some statistics on what you’ve asked for, and what we are doing about it:
Over 94% of respondents said that “having somewhere nice to eat and drink onsite” would be quite or very likely to make them visit The Oxford again. We’re working with the architects to bring the commercial kitchen from the first floor to downstairs, and after reopening The Oxford will feature a café along with the bar, as well as evening food options.
In terms of events, 65% of you said you’d be quite or very likely to visit to learn more about the history of Kington and the Marches, and 57% the same to learn more about the history of The Oxford. This has guided our plans for onsite historical displays and digital outputs that will reveal the history of the building and of Kington’s past. You may not know that The Oxford is much older than the Georgian façade would suggest; our architects are sure that the core of the building is Tudor or older, and we intend to have a dendrochronological survey undertaken on the entombed timber frame of the building to put a date on its original construction.
We also appreciate your comments in the survey, as these help to demonstrate exactly where attention to detail is most necessary. Here’s a selection of your comments and our plans in response:
“Toilet facilities could be improved.”
We agree completely about the need for improved WC facilities and this is a top priority for investment, along with ensuring the building has a fully accessible WC and baby change facility.
“The event was so well attended there was not enough room for everyone. A bigger venue would be great.”
We’re delighted that recent events have been so popular, and it’s frustrating that we can’t use the main building to host more events. The main building must remain closed to the public until renovation works are undertaken because it does not meet fire safety regulations or electrical safety standards. But our restoration plans will ensure that the building provides a well-equipped and comfortable set of multi-functional rooms for events, talks, and other activities hosted by and for the community when we fully reopen in 2027.
“Opening hours are irregular. The Oxford is always closed when I’m in Kington.”
Although we host events every week (and often several per week), our opening hours do vary and we understand this means planning a visit can require checking our website or social media. As we’re presently a volunteer-run organisation, we can only open according to the availability of our wonderful volunteer team. When The Oxford fully reopens it will have an onsite team 7 days a week.
“I find the activities and events advertised aren’t things I’m particularly interested in.”
If there’s something you’re interested in that you think we could/should host, don’t hesitate to tell us! We’re a community venue and all our events—from art and craft workshops to heritage weekends, Diwali celebrations to carol singing, and yard sales to quiz nights—are planned with input and suggestions from the community, so drop us an email at info@openarmskington.co.uk if you have suggestions.
“A functioning pub when purchased but essentially closed since that day. Consultation after consultation; survey after survey; no action. Community resources like the Lion Cafe have come and gone, but no action.”
The main building of The Oxford has indeed been closed since OAK purchased it in April 2023, and this is because the building meets neither fire and electrical safety compliance nor accessibility standards. We fully understand that there is concern that we’ve received funds from the Heritage Fund and yet no progress has been made on the building. However, we want to reassure everyone who cares about The Oxford that the lack of visible action on the building does not mean that nothing is happening. A condition of our Heritage Fund Development Grant is that none of the money we received at the start of 2025 can be spent on the building. It’s specifically to develop the plans for the project, undertake consultation with heritage specialists, and conduct all necessary surveys to ensure that the work planned is sympathetic to the building’s history, value for money, and will guarantee a secure footing for The Oxford as a community resource for decades to come. OAK’s directors, staff, and steering group are working hard behind the scenes putting these plans together with specialist help and close guidance from the Heritage Fund, and the whole team is excited to share the plans when they’re finished next spring. When they’re finished, the plans will be sent to the Heritage Fund along with our Delivery Phase application for a grant of over £1 million, and if we’re successful we hope that renovation work will commence toward the end of 2026. We’ll keep you up to date via these community updates throughout the process.
Our next Community Q & A session
If you have any questions about the OAK project and would like to put them directly to the directors, join us for our next Community Q & A session on Sunday 14th December at 2pm at The Oxford. We’ll post a transcript to the website so that you can find out what was discussed even if you can’t attend.
And last but not least…
If you’ve not yet completed our survey, but would like to add your thoughts and comments after reading this, you can still do so, but be quick! It will be closing soon. Click on the button below to fill out the survey and join the draw for a £100 shopping voucher.