White Lion, Crays Pond

A pub since around 1860, in late 20th and early 21st century it was owned by Greene King and functioned mainly as a restaurant with a small bar area for drinkers.

In November 2013 it was sold by Greene King to a private individual who attempted to turn it into a residential property - details of planning applications below. The local parish council managed to get the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value. An ACV is still in place until 2029.

There is an active campaign to save the pub, run by The Crays Pond Community Group. The website, email address and Facebook links above are theirs.

The latest position regarding the campaign can be found here.

The pub did briefly reopen as Whisky Haveli in late 2018 (Henley Standard Article), but shut again in early 2019 and unfortunately, the property currently remains empty and unused.

The following South Oxfordshire District Council Planning applications refer to possible changes to this establishment:

P13/S3934/FUL 2nd January 2014 - Change of use from A4 (public house) to C3 (residential).(as amplified by drawings & Viability Assesment accompanying email from Agent dated 21 January 2014) - Refusal of Planning Permission on 1st April 2014.

P16/S2683/FUL 12th August 2016 - Erection of two storey building at northern end of site to provide five bed and breakfast units, three staff units and an office and reorganisation of car parking serving public house. Change of use of southern part of site to residential and erection of two detached 5-bedroom dwellings incorporating construction of driveway and parking - Withdrawn prior to determination on 5th December 2016.