Larry Ale-ison institute invests in Oxford pub linked to Tolkien, CS Lewis
- Reference: 1698322510
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/10/26/larry_ellison_oxford_pub/
- Source link:
[1]
The sign of the popular pub Eagle and Child on St Giles Street, where JRR Tolkien used to meet with the Oxford writers' group The Inklings Pic: Alicia Christoffel/Shutterstock
According to [2]reports , the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), which the software billionaire founded, has bought the Eagle and Child, a drinking venue that closed in 2020.
The pub is said to have been established in 1650, and was favored in England's historic center of learning by its famed literati. The EIT has committed to refurbishing and reopening "the iconic venue."
Lord of the Rings writer Tolkien and Lewis were said to regularly meet with other Oxford University colleagues in the alehouse, which was previously owned by St John's College.
The pub is [3]Grade II listed – a formal status that limits how the building can be changed and developed – and plans to redevelop the building have suffered as a result of the pandemic. Investment in the industry has also suffered longer-term decline, [4]which has seen around 7,000 pubs shut their doors over the last decade or so.
Tolkien 'almost became WWII code-breaker alongside Alan Turing' [5]READ MORE
EIT says it develops and deploys technology in "pursuit of solving four of humanity's most challenging and enduring problems." It counts former UK prime minister Tony Blair among its leadership team.
Designs for the pub's refurb are set to be led by Foster and Partners, founded by award-winning architect Norman Foster. The company has also [6]published a set of design ideas for the EIT campus, an interdisciplinary research and development facility planned for Oxford.
[7]LG's beer-making bot singlehandedly sucks all fun, boffinry from home brewing
[8]I'll have two pints of Blockchain Brew and a half of Cloudy Bollocks
[9]Shouting lager, lager... Carlsberg's beer AI can now tell pilsners apart
[10]Publisher hails CS Lewis 'space trilogy' e-book debut
In a statement, David Agus, EIT founding director and CEO, said: "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."
[11]
The Register might just pop down for a Big Red bottle of plonk and some dry roasted ERPnuts when Larry jumps behind the bar to start serving up booze to paying locals. ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/10/26/shutterstock_eagle_and_child.jpg
[2] https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23878041.oxford-eagle-child-pub-tolkien-links-sale/
[3] https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/your-home/owning-historic-property/listed-building/
[4] https://harpers.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/30418/7,000_pubs_forced_to_close_in_last_10_years.html#:~:text=According%20to%20real%20estate%20consultancy,7%2C000%20in%20the%20last%20decade
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2013/11/25/tolkien_biopic/
[6] https://www.fosterandpartners.com/news/designs-for-ellison-institute-of-technology-campus-revealed
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2018/12/11/lg_craft_beer_brew/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2018/08/02/beer_winners/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2018/07/17/carlsberg_beer_tasting_ai/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2012/04/04/cs_lewis_perelandra_trilogy_out_as_ebook/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZTqNJkiaeNDGAb9XacjCCwAAAFA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
About a thousand years before the last Ice Age, when I was 18 I spent a week in Oxford doing extra tuition for my maths A-Level. Sank many a pint in that pub with my fellow desperate students. Hope it's restored sympathetically and the beer is good.
Struggling DBAs...
At least they can say they're joining a union with plausible deniability if the pub landlord should threaten to ban them.
Re: Struggling DBAs...
> At least they can say they're joining a union with plausible deniability
Only if they remember to start an atomic transaction first. Then they can roll back that union
Licensing authorities should regularly inspect it
With Ellison in charge there may well be regular lock-ins.
Re: Licensing authorities should regularly inspect it
1. You enjoyed that pint 10% more than standard. That'll cost you extra.
2. Pints must be drunk in one go, sipping your beer slows down your next purchase. That'll cost you extra.
3. Your pint glass stuck to at least one beer mat. That'll cost you extra.
4. Half-pints actually cost us more than serving you a full pint. That'll cost you extra.
5. Discussion of other beers/pubs is forbidden. That'll cost you extra.
6. You have not eaten the minimum required number of peanuts/cheesy wotsits/pork scratchings per pint. That'll cost you extra.
7. You have eaten more than the maximum required number of peanuts/cheesy wotsits/pork scratchings per pint. That'll cost you extra.
8. You made an enquiry about how many peanuts/cheesy wotsits/pork scratchings should be consumed per pint. That'll cost you extra.
9. You have tasted your drink companion's beer. That'll cost you extra.
10. Your drinking companion tasted your beer. That'll cost you extra.
11. More than one beer mat was used to stop the table from rocking on the uneven floor. That'll cost you extra.
Drop beer. Drop table.
Error 0, beer not found.
Re: Licensing authorities should regularly inspect it
"You're only buying three beers in this round but there are five seats at your table, we'll be charging you for five beers"
I'm just praying they don't rip out the front rooms...
I mean, sure, they're both about big enough to put 3 people in each, but they've got real character.
I've been drinking in this place for over 20 years. Was a big part of my life while my ex worked there. I really miss it. Please don't spoil it. Please.
subhead!!
"DBAs come in for beer but struggle to find a table"
Very well done!!
Anything to keep old pubs alive
It's an absolute tragedy that they've closing down.
Ellison does something positive
Shocker
Beer clusters
One beer for 500 quid? You're kidding me!
Ah... but you *could* have had any of the drinks in the pub...
I've had many a drink and meal in The Eagle and Child (its also know locally as "The Bird and Baby"). Use to be a lovely pub with a great atmosphere and equally good beer/food. Was very sad to see that it had closed; my son was at St John's college so it was handy when visiting at lunchtimes. Hope it does reopen again with its original features; I'd hate to see it converted to a Weatherspoons-style plastic pub.