'Pressing need' to save Tolkien and Lewis pub

The Eagle and Child in St Giles' has a plaque inside commemorating the writers' get-togethers

A plan to protect a pub frequented by authors CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien ahead of extensive repairs has been submitted.

The Eagle and Child in Oxford, which shut in 2020, is owned by US tech billionaire Larry Ellison's firm, the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT).

Dating back to 1650, the pub in St Giles' has a plaque inside commemorating the writers' get-togethers.

The EIT said it was “committed to reopening” the pub but that there was a “pressing need” to protect it and surrounding buildings, which were in an “extremely poor” state.

CS Lewis (left) and JRR Tolkien would discuss their work in progress at the pub

Members of The Inklings group, Tolkien and Lewis would regularly meet with other academics at the Grade II listed venue, which was previously owned by St John's College.

Work that EIT wants permission for includes repairing and restoring existing windows and cleaning original stonework to prevent it from deteriorating.

"EIT is committed to carrying out sensitive repairs that allows the heritage values of these important Oxford buildings to be celebrated, and once again reopened for residents, tourists and the wider community to enjoy," it said in a document filed with Oxford City Council.

The authority is expected to decide if it will grant the application for listed building consent over coming weeks.