One of Oxford’s most famous music venues could be entering a new chapter, with plans submitted for a makeover of the historic Jericho Tavern.
The Walton Street pub, which helped launch the careers of some of Oxford’s most successful bands, including Radiohead and Supergrass, is set to undergo an exterior transformation if proposals submitted to Oxford City Council are approved.
Plans include repainting the frontage in a duck-egg blue colour, along with installing new signage and lanterns at the long-standing Jericho venue.
The tavern has been a cornerstone of Oxford’s grassroots music scene for decades, hosting early performances from bands that would go on to achieve international success.
Radiohead played their first ever gig at the venue in 1986 under their original name, On A Friday, while Supergrass performed there in 1994 before signing to Parlophone.
The pub later became the site of one of Supergrass’s defining moments. In 2012, the band was recognised with a plaque from the Performing Rights Society commemorating a mid-1990s performance where a promoter rushed into the dressing room after the show to announce they had secured a record deal.
The Jericho Tavern has also hosted performances from artists including Stornoway, Mumford & Sons, Bastille, Lianne La Havas and Foals.
The venue’s role in Oxford’s musical history will be explored further in an upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Oxford, which will examine pivotal moments in the city’s music scene and the importance of grassroots venues.
The pub was bought by the Firkin chain during the 1990s before being restored as a dedicated music venue in 2005. It is now owned by Mitchells & Butlers.
The proposed refurbishment follows the venue’s previous revamp nearly a decade ago, when the pub introduced a refreshed interior and new menu.
If approved, the changes will give one of Oxford’s most recognisable music landmarks a new appearance while preserving its place in the city’s cultural story.
