After three years of closure, the historic Eagle and Child pub in Oxford, famously frequented by writers like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, has found new ownership in the form of a tech
research institution.
The pub, dating back to 1684 and recognized as a Grade II-listed establishment, had previously been owned by St John's College, affiliated with the University of Oxford, since 2004. Unfortunately, it had remained shuttered since March 2020, as the college initially aimed to transform the pub and its neighboring properties into a boutique hotel, a plan that was later abandoned due to the pandemic.
Instead, St John's College decided to pursue a more modest scheme to expedite the pub's reopening.
The Eagle and Child has now been acquired by the Ellison Institute of Technology, based in Los Angeles, with the purchase price remaining undisclosed. The institute is known for its work on technology solutions to address global challenges such as climate change and has recently begun constructing a research facility in Oxford.
The institute has ambitious plans to refurbish the pub and make it accessible to the public again. Furthermore, the renovated venue will provide additional meeting spaces for scholars and staff affiliated with the institute. Architect Norman Foster and his team from Foster + Partners will be leading the redesign project, with intentions to incorporate a restaurant to enhance the pub's dining offerings.
David Agus, the founding director and chief executive of the Ellison Institute of Technology, expressed, "The Eagle and Child pub is a truly historic venue that has hosted some of the greatest minds Oxford has had to offer for over 300 years. We are humbled and proud to be able to safeguard this treasured pub's future and continue its legacy as a place for brilliant people to come together, including for our Ellison Scholars."
Zoe Hancock, the principal bursar of St John's College, added, "The Eagle and Child is an iconic Oxford pub with a history dating back to the 17th century, and St John's has been pleased to play a small part in its story. As an educational charity, the College will be looking to invest the proceeds from the sale to focus on its charitable purposes, most particularly in relation to ensuring that we continue to attract the best students, irrespective of their background or ability to pay, and to give them the opportunity to study and succeed at St John's and the University." Photo by Ozeye, Wikimedia commons.