Lamb and Flag

September 9, 2008
Spent an evening in here with a friend at the end of an Oxford pub crawl. Had a lovely plate of sausage and mash. Prices for the food were pretty fair. Beers are in good condition and the pub itself has a lot of character. Good selection as well. Took quite a long time to get our food but otherwise, no complaints at all. The second best place in town, after The Turf.

August 10, 2008
Visited on a quiet Tuesday afternoon in September 2007. Across the street from it’s sister rival, the Eagle, the Lamb is comparatively open concept with two large rooms (one with a high ceiling), a long wrap-around bar, red curtains, brown wooden decor and decorations of little flags and crests about the bar. The young bartenders were disinterested but more or less helpful in procuring beverages. Beer selection is good with interesting casks and others on tap. Overall, an intriguing stop.

July 26, 2008
Good pint of Skinners, on our visit, was not very busy for a Saturday afternoon. Would visit this place again.

April 23, 2008
I had the pleasure of visiting this pub twice in mid-March 08 on a Saturday afternoon and late on a Sunday evening. Very inviting and welcoming atmosphere. No muzak, and the perfect place for getting together after a meeting or conference at the university. The pub is own by the near-by St. Johns College and is centrally located on St. Giles Street. Nothing to complain about on the offering of real ale. 11 hand pulled cask, including the house beer Palmers. All the beers I had from Skinners, White Horse and Palmers were well kept. When in Oxford, Lamb and Flag is a must-visit pub.

March 12, 2008
One of the better beer ranges of the pubs visited in the city (Palmers, Skinners). Incredibly surly service. Corners to retreat to, barstools to hold court from. Students seemed a docile bunch. Would return to spend more time here, despite the obnoxious service (try looking at your customers and not scowling...)

February 17, 2008
7 different cask ales on offer in this rather tidy, upmarket two roomed pub. Palmers is the house ale. Great fireplace at the back. Above average in terms of the beer range, and a well run place, but lacking overall oomph for me.

June 26, 2007
Lamb & Flag has actually been a bit of a disappointment. It is one of the coziest pubs imaginable, with friendly nooks for conversation scattered all over. lots of interesting things on tap, and history in spades. And yet, I avoid the place whenever possible.

Three reasons: 1. the service and clientel have been some of the least friendly I’ve encountered in Oxford, 2. in the summer, your odds of getting seriously warm, completely flat, oxidized pints are quite high, 3. the wonderful old fireplace converted to hold...a light bulb, seems indicatative of a serious ignorance for what should make a place like this special.

The Lamb & Flag feels like it should be something grand, and for me, has just not lived up to my expectations. I’ll keep checking though, hoping for better.

February 18, 2006
I loved the Turf, but Lamb and Flag was my most frequented pub in Oxford. Selection was a good mix between items I would find at home, and nice local and English bitters. I had the house bitter - Lamb & Flag Gold, as well as Adnams. Nice service, and the place wasn’t cramped. Yet, it was not too open either. The best pub, overall, and would probably become my favorite, if I ever were to live in Oxford

August 25, 2005
A nice enough place when we visited after lunch. Decent selection of taps, and a nice atmosphere (not counting an obnoxious group of tourists who dropped in).

January 28, 2004
Number 6 on the Oxford Centre Pub crawl and a good walk from No. 5. This is a Free House owned by St. Johns College and hence frequented by the dreaded Students, though they are generally harmless. This is a rare, particularly for this part of the country, outlet for Skinners beers and also a regular Palmers. Always an interesting choice on tap, the beers are always top notch. There has been a long term connection with literary matters in this pub, from Tolkein (very topical at this time), through CS Lewis to another Morse story, although these are also shared with the pub opposite, a bit of a boozy lot these writing folk! i think in all of Oxford, this is my long time favourite pub, I have been going there for 20 years or more!