Oakman Inns & Restaurants’ sixth site: The Blue Boar, Witney

Opening Friday 9 December, The Blue Boar is located on the old Marlborough Hotel site in Witney’s Market Square. It will comprise a 92-cover restaurant, public bar with seating, and 20 boutique-style bedrooms.

“Everything we do is about creating new spaces in beautiful, historic buildings and from that new space to deliver the best quality of food and service at an affordable price,” said Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive of Oakman Inns & Restaurants.

“At the Blue Boar, we want to reaffirm the three staples that are Witney’s legacy to the 21st century – beer, blankets and bread. Our beer will come from the Wychwood Brewery which produces some of Oxfordshire’s best cask beers; we have commissioned Cotswold Woollen ​Weavers to supply the hotel rooms with specially commissioned blankets, and of course our bread will be locally-baked.”

Modern interpretation​

Offering a modern interpretation of the traditional coaching inn, the Blue Boar’s refurbished public bar will offer seating and an open fire, plus a brand new café/restaurant area overlooking the renovated courtyard which will provide additional outdoor seating.

As with all Oakman Inns, the Blue Boar’s restaurant will feature a Josper Oven in their open-style kitchen, allowing guests to enjoy the theatre of watching their food being freshly prepared. Around 50 new jobs will be created from the opening and Stephanie Fisher, the newly-appointed general manager, is in the process of recruiting for a wide range of roles.

Oakman Inns' portfolio now comprises three units in Hertfordshire and three in Oxfordshire. Earlier this month, the company was nominated for Best Pub Operator of 2011​ at Restaurant magazine’s R200 Awards​.