Isis Tavern is put up for sale

Local residents had expressed fears that Greene King planned to close the historic pub, but a spokesman said this was not the case.

It is currently under temporary management and the company hopes to find a buyer shortly.

The spokesman added: "We can confirm that the public house is to go up for sale in the next few weeks.

"The business is to be sold as a public house and would ideally suit an individual operator looking to invest in and run a freehold."

Greene King has closed a number of its pubs in Oxfordshire in recent years, including the King of Prussia, in Rose Hill, Oxford, The Horse and Jockey pub, in Abingdon, and Didcot's Great Western Junction and Prince of Wales.

Many of the pubs have never reopened, but have been developed for commercial or residential use.

Greene King said it had "absolutely no intention" of making an application to turn the Isis Tavern into a residential property.

Patrick Lawrence, chairman of the Friends of Iffley Village, said: "We feel the Isis Tavern is part of the riverside scene, much enjoyed during the summer months in particular by visitors and in the winter it is undoubtedly part of the village amenity.

"It has changed ownership two or three times in the last three months and if it is sold, it's just another change.

"But it would be a great loss if it ceased to be a friendly, local pub."

Ed Turner, city councillor for Rose Hill and Iffley, said: "While I am reassured to hear that they don't plan to close the pub immediately, local people and I will be watching like hawks to see that they are not planning to run it down."

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith MP said it would be an absolute tragedy if the pub closed.

He said any attempts to close it would be fought 'every inch of the way'.

The Isis Tavern was built as a farmhouse in about 1800 and became a riverside inn around 40 years later. At one time there was no direct access by road, and beer was delivered by punt. A road now exists for deliveries.