That’s all folks. Landmark Petersham pub The Oxford Tavern (or “the Tav” to those who know it well) will pour its last pickleback shot this weekend, after a decision by operators Odd Culture – the burgeoning hospitality group behind Sydney pubs The Old Fitz, The Duke Of Enmore, and Newtown bar Odd Culture – not to renew the lease.

The future of the pub remains unknown, but the group made a statement on Instagram earlier today:

"It’s with a heavy heart that we announce our lease is up at the Oxford Tavern.

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This pub has always held a special place in our heart—a space for our people to march to the beat of their own drum, and create the wild and wonderful, queer-coloured programming that resonated with the Inner West. It was a saving grace for us, and a lot of people in the industry, through two (or three?) lockdowns, with our Tav Delivers stint, and a lot of that drew us even closer to the community. The pub has a rich history, and we are grateful to have operated the place as an inclusive Petersham local, and a queer institution. We’re proud of everything we’ve put into the Tav. It’s been a wild ride, but the time has come to end this chapter.

This coming Sunday, 2 April, will be our final day of trade before handing over the reins. For a bit of fun, we’ll be running out the kegs, spirits, and other good stuff, in a glorious toast to a glorious pub. We would love to see everyone there for a final drink. <3”

The pub, which sits on the corner of Crystal Street and New Canterbury Road, has seen its share of ups and downs in the last decade. Up until 2013 – when operators James Wirth and Michael Delaney (then known as Drink ‘n’ Dine) took on the pub and installed a barbeque smoker – the Tav was best known for topless barmaids, strippers and cheap drinks.

Then, in 2016, it was taken over by hospitality group Australian Venue Co, which did little to the venue.

Then – to the relief of just about everyone – Odd Culture took the reins in 2019 and revitalised the pub once again, with a keen focus on local beer, minimal-intervention wine and late-night trading. The group also gave the pub a major facelift last year.

This certainly isn’t the last we’ll hear from Odd Culture this year. The group will soon open a 400-square-metre basement bar in Newtown (with an unprecedented 4am licence), and recently unveiled plans to bring Odd Culture to Melbourne.

Additional reporting by Che-Marie Trigg