Oxford pub where CS Lewis drank could be run by community
- Published
The Amp Revival Association hopes to buy the pub and run it as a viable business
An pub that counted author CS Lewis among its patrons could be bought and run by the community.
The Ampleforth Arms in Risinghurst, Oxford, is classed as an asset of community value after it closed in May.
Residents have six months to place a bid after owners Punch Taverns put it on the market for £625,000.
The pub opened in 1939 and was frequented by the author of the Narnia series of books, according to CS Lewis expert Ron Brind.
Lorraine Milburn, part of campaign group The Amp Revival Association, said: "We hope to run the pub as a community pub, a community group where members of the community can buy shares to purchase the pub.
"Then any profits made from that would go back into the community to support other projects and the pub itself."
She said the group did not agree with the pub's owner that it was not a viable business.
The decision to make it an asset of community value was taken by Oxford City Council.