About Us

Bethany Evans

Manager

Beth’s been with the Oakley since day one, back in 2016. She started out as Assistant Manager and worked her way up to General Manager—basically, she runs the show now!

Born and bred in Bishop’s Wood (just up the road), Beth’s a local through and through. When she’s not holding things down at the pub, you’ll probably find her in another one, singing with her two aunties as part of their fun little trio. And when she’s not doing that, she’s hanging out with her big (and we mean big) family of nine.

James

James, joined us in June 2025, arriving fresh from our sister pub, the Red Lion, and brought with him a healthy dose of pub passion (and questionable dad jokes). After a stint down in London soaking up big city pub life, he came back with plenty of energy and fit right in from day one.

When he’s not charming guests with a warm welcome or cracking jokes that make you groan and grin at the same time, James is usually off-duty with his beloved Staffie, Stella, by his side — or knee-deep in his latest DIY home project. He’s also our go-to guy for all things wine and whisky, always on hand to help guests pick the perfect pour.

Lizzie

Assistant Manager

Where do we even start with Lizzie? She’s been part of the Oakley crew since 2019, but her hospitality journey began at 17, and it shows. From casual shifts to climbing her way up to Assistant Manager, Lizzie is the kind of person every team dreams of: reliable, hard-working, and always the first to put her hand up when someone needs a cover or a helping hand. Off the clock, Lizzie’s just as full of energy. A proud West Brom fan (yes, we forgive her), she’s either on the sidelines cheering or on the court playing netball for her local teams. She loves to travel, explore new places, and she even smashed last year’s B&P Triathlon Challenge, and yep, she’s already gearing up for the next one!

Catch her at the bar after a long shift, Zinfandel in hand, laughing with the team — Lizzie doesn’t just help run the place, she brings the heart to it too.

Ted

Trainee Assistant Manager

Meet Ted – one of the legends on our team who’s been with B&P for two fun-filled years. He kicked things off at the Mytton and Mermaid, made a splash, and has been keeping spirits high ever since. His drink of choice? An ice-cold Asahi. But don’t be fooled — he’s also partial to a fruity cocktail when the mood strikes (umbrellas optional). When he’s off the clock, Ted’s all about keeping active... or at least trying to. You’ll catch him throwing darts, chasing footballs, or hacking his way around the golf course (badly, but with great enthusiasm). When he’s not on the move, he’s winding down with a bit of fishing or sharing a glass of wine with his mum — a tradition he proudly owns and absolutely recommends.

Whether he’s cracking a joke, mixing a drink, or just bringing good vibes to the team, Ted’s the kind of guy who makes every shift a little bit better.

Ang

Supervisor

Angela has been with us since July 2016, joining shortly after we first opened our doors. A true team player and hard worker, she’s always ready to lend a hand wherever it’s needed. A proud local, Ang has lived just up the road in Bishopswood for most of her life. When she’s not enjoying a well-earned cider at the pub, you’ll likely spot her out walking her beloved dogs, Jasper and Holly. In her spare time, she keeps active with regular Zumba classes — dancing her way around the village hall with energy and enthusiasm.

Evie

Supervisor

Evie joined us in 2023 and, as a local girl through and through, it didn’t take long for her to feel right at home. She briefly ventured over to our sister pub, the Hand & Trumpet, while studying marketing at uni, but she couldn’t stay away for long. Cool, calm, and collected under pressure (but never afraid to roll up her sleeves), Evie brings a creative spark to the team. She’s got a real passion for all things marketing, is a whiz on social media, and snaps an incredible photo to boot. Outside of work, Evie’s been dancing since she was little, loves watching F1, and dreams of one day affording some very cool cars. When the shift's done, you’ll find her with her friends, glass of Vinho Verde in hand, and always up for a good bottle-up.

Arun

Head Chef

Say hello to Arun, flavour fanatic, and all-around kitchen wizard. He started his B&P adventure three years ago at the Red Lion in Longdon Green, before heading to the Physician and now bringing his skills (and calmness under pressure) to our kitchen crew. Arun’s cooked his way across the UK, France, and Cyprus, picking up a serious amount of flavour know-how along the way. He thrives in the heat of a busy kitchen and loves nothing more than turning great ingredients into plates that make people happy.

Outside the kitchen, Arun swaps chef whites for fishing gear, experiments with wild flavour combos at home, and is always up for trying something new, especially if there’s food involved. His perfect wind-down? Good company, good food, and a glass (or two) of Pinot Noir.

Carl

Senior Sous Chef

Carl joined B&P back in 2021, starting out at our sister pub, the Fox. A true Newport lad, he’s been in the kitchen since he was 15 and hasn’t looked back—bringing fresh ideas, top-notch quality, and loads of passion to everything he cooks.

When he’s not behind the pass, you’ll probably find him cheering on his beloved Sunderland (someone has to!) with a cold Mahou in hand, or relaxing at home with his two girls—one still at home, the other off at uni doing her thing.

Toby

Chef de Partie

Toby is young, hungry, and full of enthusiasm- just kicking off his cheffing career with some serious drive. He started with us as a Kitchen Porter while studying culinary arts at University College Birmingham, and since then he's been sharpening his skills in pubs and restaurants across London and the UK. Toby’s all about the finer side of food, and it shows. He represented us in the company’s Junior Chef competition, where he wowed everyone with a standout monkfish dish, bringing real flair and passion to the plate.

When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll likely find him winding down with a Guinness in hand… unless he’s in the mood for something a little fancier, he’s got a soft spot for a good Pinot Noir.

Rob

Gardener/Maintenance Person

Rob our go-to handyman and all-around legend who’s been part of the Oakley family for over four years. There’s no job too big or too small for Rob, if something needs doing, he’s already on it (usually with a toolbox in one hand and a smile on his face). Before joining us, Rob spent over 30 years as a school caretaker and even ran his own plant nursery, known for the most beautiful hanging baskets around. His green thumb is no joke! When he’s not fixing, building, or brightening up the place, you’ll find Rob out on one of his epic 22-mile cycle rides always making a well-earned pit stop at the Oakley for a light ale to refuel.

And if you ask Rob about gardening, he’ll likely share his favourite quote:
“Gardening is medicine that doesn’t need a prescription and has no limit with dosage.”
We couldn’t agree more.