A new chapter for a historic village pub.
The Mole Inn, a historic village pub in Toot Baldon about five miles south-east of Oxford, is preparing to reopen under new operators Valentin Raileanu and Karina Muliar, the husband-and-wife team who also run The Ash Tree in Ashendon, Buckinghamshire.
The change follows the departure of the pub’s previous operating team, who announced in July that they were leaving after two years. In a message published on the pub’s Facebook page on 22 July, the team thanked customers for their support and said news of the next chapter would follow through the pub’s website, newsletter and social media channels.
According to property adviser Christie & Co, Raileanu and Muliar have secured a new lease from members of the Heather family, who have owned the pub for decades. The incoming operators intend to build on the Mole Inn’s existing popularity while introducing their own ideas and maintaining its standards.
An earlier relaunch with ambitious plans
The latest handover follows an earlier change of operators in 2024, when Jack Anderson, Dave Phillips and builder James Morris took over the pub with plans to broaden its appeal as a food and hospitality destination.
In an interview published by Ox In A Box in June 2024, the team outlined proposals to develop the gardens, introduce outdoor dining and food events, and make greater use of the site for weddings and community gatherings.
Longer-term ambitions included converting disused barns into guest accommodation, with plans for 12 rooms and a bridal suite. The operators also wanted to encourage more regular visits from local residents, rather than relying primarily on customers attending special occasions.
The proposals reflected the potential of a site with extensive grounds and a countryside setting within easy reach of Oxford. However, the available information does not establish how much of the proposed development was subsequently delivered.
The latest lease brings a new team to the business. Whether the incoming operators will pursue similar plans for accommodation, weddings and community events has not yet been established.
A historic village pub
The Mole Inn occupies an early 18th-century building in Toot Baldon, a rural Oxfordshire village about five miles from Oxford. Constructed from limestone rubble with brick and stone dressings, the two-storey building was designated Grade II listed in March 1984, recognising its architectural and historic interest. Historic England records its former name as the Crown.
For much of its earlier life, the pub appears to have served a more traditional local trade. According to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), it struggled as the Crown before Alan “Moley” Heather acquired it and undertook a substantial renovation, transforming it into a food-led destination.
The family’s stewardship helped establish the Mole Inn as more than a conventional village drinking pub. Its combination of historic character, dining and gardens also provided the foundation for later ambitions to develop weddings, events and other hospitality activities.
That legacy forms the backdrop to the latest change of operators. After the 2024 takeover brought plans for a broader food and hospitality offer, the new lease to Valentin Raileanu and Karina Muliar marks another transition for a business whose identity has evolved significantly from its days as the Crown.
