Clinton Pugh is in an expansive mood when we meet to discuss why he’s bought back Kazbar on Cowley Road, despite a tumultuous few months.
Because having lost over £900,000 since Covid, “my pension” as he puts it, and his Oxford restaurants Cafe Coco, Tarifa and Kazbar going into receivership, he’s back.

Never one to feel sorry for himself, Clinton has made a comeback, buying Kazbar in August, revamping the menu, adding a few new touches and reopening its doors. “You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that easily did you,” he laughs.
Tarifa has since reopened as Dosa Darlings, Cafe Coco has been taken on by an Italian family who have retained the name, Kazbar is once again bustling with tapas and cocktails under Clinton’s tutelage.

So why buy Kazbar Back? “I’ve had a little help from my friends,” he says, “and Florence (his daughter is the famous actress Florence Pugh) has been incredibly generous, “but I’m a big boy and this is my mess so I’m the one that’s going to sort it out.”
“Florence has been incredibly generous but I’m a big boy and this is my mess so I’m the one that’s going to sort it out.”
And what can we expect? “Well, we are redecorating a bit and tweaking the menu and the ingredients, so we have sustainable fish and shellfish now, but it will still be mezze/tapas based. We’ve just upgraded it really,” he says gesturing around him at the Moorish interior, beloved by so many over the past 25 years.

“And Kazbar is a great site. What we have done with Dawson Street in terms of pedestrianising it makes it a really exciting place. So I’m not finished yet, you’ll have to put up with me for a bit longer because I love a challenge.”
It hasn’t been an easy time for the Oxford restaurateur though, who over the years has brought us The Lemon Tree, La Cantina, Bideckers, Cafe BaBa, Royal Oxford and The Grand Cafe over the years – quite a legacy.

“I’ve put a lot of time and money into my Oxford restaurants to make the city a better place,” he says, “and it’s nuts running restaurants – you don’t get much credit for it – but I’ve survived 32 years in the industry and we had a winning formula for many, many years. i’m still proud of what I’ve achieved over the years’
“There have been so many incredible moments during that time and I’ve met so many amazing people along the way, many of whom are friends to this day,” he says, while offering me some tapas.

Having put all his restaurants up for sale just before Covid, Clinton had buyers lined up, but they disappeared once restrictions were lifted – he blames the looming hospitality crisis and LTN’s (Clinton has campaigned hard against them as well as the lack of parking in East Oxford). With mounting debts, the administrators moved in and he nearly lost everything.
‘I think kazbar is the best site on Cowley Road’
So why not cut his losses, retire to the tropics and run the beach bar he so often talks about? “Because I’ve got to earn some money and The Kaz Bar is such a good concept. It’s timeless and everyone loves it there.”

“I think it’s the best site on Cowley Road, but a good restaurant is about more than that, its about finding the right atmosphere, team and some great food.
“And even though I won’t keep Kazbar on for ever, because I’m 66 and this business takes up a lot of energy, I don’t know how to do anything else. It’s how I make my living.”
Kazbar, 25-27 Cowley Road, open Mon-Thurs 5pm-12, Fri 5pm-12.30, Sat 12-12.30, Sun 12-11pm. Go to https://kazbar.co.uk