MyNewPub

The Bull

Charlbury

Oxfordshire

Agent: Colliers Robert Barry

Alix Blumsom and Stuart Matthews are adopting an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach at their new pub, the Bull at Charlbury. Already a successful business, the food-led site sold off an asking price of £1m.

Alix said: "It works very well as it is - we're certainly not looking at doing anything drastic in terms of its position in the market. I'd describe the offer as good pub food, not quite a gastropub but not far off. It's going well. We're busier than we thought we'd be at this time of year - we did 60 covers last Sunday and Valentine's day was very good for us."

The couple are well suited to the job, with a broad range of

experience in the hospitality industry.

Alix has a degree in catering and hotel management and has a wealth of experience in bars, restaurants and hotels. She most recently worked in marketing. Stuart recently ran a pub in Sussex for relatives, but his last job was in the shipping industry.

The pub is split into two areas. The bar area serves simple pub grub like home-made steak and ale pie and fish and chips, while the restaurant serves more up-market fare like fillet steak, calves' liver, Barbary duck and a popular weekly chicken special. Alix said: "The chef we've got is great, we only ever get positive comments about his food."

The beer has also received top marks from the pub's set of Campaign for Real Ale members and Alix hopes to offer another real ale in the warmer months to cope with demand.