Campaign to save The Wheatsheaf âlong way from victoryâ MUSIC lovers are celebrating after plans to turn Oxford city centre’s last real gig venue into flats were withdrawn. But they say their campaign to save The Wheatsheaf, off High Street, is a ‘long way from victory’ – with fears it may never reopen. The battle is now on to reopen the upstairs venue it and prevent it being left empty and unused. Its owners had submitted plans to Oxford City Council to turn the first-floor venue into nine student flats, a shared kitchen area and common areas. But in an unexpected change, the application was withdrawn following concerns from council officers who are thought to have been recommending refusal on the grounds of the loss of a community facility, the poor quality of accommodation proposed, harm to a local heritage asset and inadequate consideration of refuse storage.