A popular cocktail bar in Oxford is preparing to open its doors again for the first time in three years.

Raoul’s Bar on Walton Street closed during the pandemic and has since struggled to reopen.

But Raoul’s recently confirmed they are working towards welcoming drinkers again in the next couple of months.

Thomas White, a Raoul’s regular, said: “Very much looking forward to the bar reopening as I spent many evenings in there in the past, as did my partner before we met during lockdown.

“I went every Tuesday evening with my mates when I was a student.

“Easily the best cocktails in Oxford, the best spirit selection, and the most friendly and knowledgeable staff.

“Specifically looking forward to drinking a ‘rum and raisin old fashioned,’ and a ‘jam jar hand shandy’ on opening night.”

Raoul’s is known for its huge selection of cocktails and at one time had up to 99 drinks on the menu.

But the size of the bar and staffing problems have presented unique challenges in recent months.

In an Instagram post, the bar’s management explained: “Well initially being a tiny bar with no outside space we just weren’t Covid safe but we would open again tonight if we could but its just a question of staffing.

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Our other two sites [The Victoria and The Big Society] are fully open again but have required a lot of our support, time and effort to get them back on track.

“We are nearly there and that means we are getting close to swinging open that door at Raoul’s again.”

An exact opening date is yet to be confirmed.