Latest reviews from Oxford
| 56 /100 Four Candles (JDW) (Bar) 47 GEORGE ST. “Dropped in on route to the station. Didn’t seem to be the biggest Spoons. Typical decor. As usual, depressingly busy whilst other pubs struggle. One new local tick. Didn’t hang around.“ |
| 58 /100 3A ST. MICHAEL’S STREET “Thought this place was shut (Handle Bar already having been locked up), but realised that I had to go downstairs. Compared to the London Sam Smiths this pub was tired looking. Small range of beers... something like 2 casks and 6 kegs max. A least the two cask bitters were new ticks. Pretty busy. I was amused to overhear the bar manager telling off the young barman (extremely tall, German or Eastern European).for having physically removed a rude punter the previous evening. She was telling him to just try and defuse the situation but it was clear that she also partly approved of having a barman/bouncer on staff. Left promptly. Just didn't want to hang around.“ |
| 66 /100 13 ST EBBES “This place made me think of a Nicholson's pub or suchlike... i.e. trad decor like a tourist would expect, only slightly rundown. I think Whitehorse are owned by Titanic? Certainly there were more of the latter's beers on, including the house keg lager and SIPA. Had a couple of Whitehorse beers and a pork pie. The beers were pretty average. If I'd had more time I'd have gone for a few more ticks from the circa 8 taps and 8 casks. OK. A bit too corporate cask... whatever that means. Busy early on a Wednesday evening, after work crowd I suspect.“ |
| 72 /100 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “My favourite location in Oxford. More like a wine shop than a typical tap... albeit with the focus initially on beer. Although the guy running it was just as knowledgeable about the wine they we're stocking as he was when he was talking about the beers with me. Very friendly guy. He also recommended which other pubs to check out. The beers aren't super but they manage an interesting array of styles plus the odd guest beer. A warm buzz to the place.
“ |
| 64 /100 Gulp Fiction (Bar) UNIT 28 COVERED MARKET, “So a bookshop/coffee shop that had 3 taps (only one on) and 2 or 3 more mainstream beers/cider in bottles. At least it was a new brewery for me in Oxford Brewing. Staff were friendly. A small unit. There was one table free but it was crammed into a corner. So instead of squeezing past some other tables, I went and sat outside. Nice little spot, if not really a beer spot.“ |
| 68 /100 Market Tap by Tap Social (Bar) UNITS 60-62 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “At 4:30 on a Wednesday afternoon I had 30 minutes until closing. There were about 4 other punters. Ordered from their range of 8 beers on tap - had only ever had one of their beers previously so ticks weren't an option. Ordered two thirds and as I sat down the barmaid announced that she was having to shut early because they'd run out of gas. Hadn't been overly impressed by her when she served me... all business, not particularly welcoming. Returned later when I spotted that they were open again. Picked up a couple of cans and then had to wait for service as staff were chatting. Not overly impressed but a range of OK ticks. The market stall set up makes it feel like it's not really permanent, like a pop-up tap.“ |
| 62 /100 Turf Tavern (Bar) 4-5 BATH PLACE “Varied if pretty safe beer choice down an alley and built next to castle walls lovely setting and beer garden“ |
| 56 /100 Four Candles (JDW) (Bar) 47 GEORGE ST. “JDW near the railway station. Nice old brown interior. Otherwise typical Wetherspoon. Cask selection was not very interesting, but had a Bowman Swift One. To check ticks if you are around or for cheap JDW breakfast.“ |
| 54 /100 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “Found at the Covered Market of Oxford. Market hall itself is worth of visiting but it has also two beer places. Smallish place with some room to sit outside. 6-7 taps + casks. First beer I tried from the cask was clearly off and tart, bartender at first claimed that "it should be so". Bullocks, bitter is not tart and don't underestimate your customer. Place to catch Church Hanbrewery beers in Oxford centre.“ |
| 60 /100 Market Tap by Tap Social (Bar) UNITS 60-62 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “Found at the Covered Market of Oxford. Market hall itself is worth of visiting but it has also two beer places. 8 taps on the wall, mostly same beers in the fridge to take away. Service was good and nice place to relax with few ticks. Cinnamon bun was good too.“ |
| 44 /100 Market Tap by Tap Social (Bar) UNITS 60-62 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “Just round the corner from the Teardrop and Gulp Fiction. This is an open bar area, sharing bench seating with a few food outlets within the indoor market. Quite a short beer list, all by Tap Social, all keg on my visit. If you are new to Tap Social beers you will obviously be fine but they do seem to only stock the standards in here. Took a while to find someone to serve me. There are better Tap Social bars to visit but it is very central Oxford.“ |
| 66 /100 38 ABINGDON ROAD “This is a pleasant 20 minute walk from the Railway Station via the Thames Footpath, lovely. It is quite a large pub on the main Abingdon road but has one of the most pleasant pub gardens in Oxford. The beers are all Tap Social offerings with 1 cask and about 6 keg. Opens early and is quite a foody place, breakfasts for tourists I'm guessing. It's well worth a visit if out that way.“ |
| 54 /100 Gulp Fiction (Bar) UNIT 28 COVERED MARKET, “Visited December 2022. Imdownthepub has absolutely nailed the description of this, I've not got much more to add. At 2pm on a Friday it was definitely a bookshop and café first and foremost - I don't know if the beer takes more prominence later in the day. It was a very friendly and popular place, with plenty of students reading and drinking coffee - possibly due to the offer of a free book (from a limited range) if you bought a coffee. Definitely not a beer destination in its own right, but worth popping in if you're in the Covered Market) visiting Teardrop and the Market Tap (which are only a ten-second stagger away).“ |
| 54 /100 Market Tap by Tap Social (Bar) UNITS 60-62 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “In the middle of Oxford's fantastic Covered Market and a few second's stagger from the market's other beery venues at Teardrop and Gulp Fiction. This is the newest of the three venues and is very rough and ready. There are a couple of taps offering Tap Social brews to drink in or for growler fills. They also sell the brewery's canned range and baked goods - although there were very few of either left by the time we arrived (2pm on a Friday). Not that impressed with this in its current state - however, I understand the set-up at the time of my visit was just a temporary "pop-up" for the run up to Christmas, and in the new year it will be closed for a while before re-opening as the finished article (so probably best to check if it's open before travelling if you're planning to visit it in early 2023. I'll have to return and re-rate post-refurbishment, as I do like this brewery for both its beers and the other good work it does for the community.“ |
| 50 /100 White Horse (Bar) 52 BROAD STREET “Quick stop to get our bearings. Had a nice malty bitter sitting on the benches out front. Only a few cask lines, bland Camden keg, Rosies pig cider. Basic set-up. Read after our visit that many Oxford-based drama series and films use the pub for a filming location. Fine basic pub, but don't expect much in the way of interesting beer, or ticks.“ |
| 58 /100 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “Wandered in after an hour walking around the sights. The owners run both this beer-focussed bar and a decent wine bar next door, both in small market stalls in the covered market with bench tables in the passageway.
Beer selection was heavy on Church Hanbrewery, which is owned or run by the owners. 6 tap lines, covering an array of styles, with two guests. 4 thirds for £6.50, which I took advantage of. Like others have said the beers were generally fine, but nothing grabbed me.
Bottles of Hitchcox cider and some blackberry mead made nearby. Good for a stop-off. Also, dogs not allowed in the market but we took ours, stayed for half an hour and weren't spoken to about it.“ |
| 64 /100 HEAD OF THE RIVER, FOLLY BRIDGE “Very nice and spacious pub with a large patio by the Thames. A bit limited selection, and we missed trying the food since the kitchen closed already at 8 PM and we were 5 minutes overdue.“ |
| 88 /100 13 ST EBBES “Kind of upscale classical pub with rustic yet elegant and slightly posh interior. Great casc selection, some micro stuff as well. Great service.“ |
| 62 /100 Castle Tavern, Oxford (Bar) 24 PARADISE STREET “Nice, rustic old style pub with a few outside tables on the sidewalk. Limited cask selection. Good service.“ |
| 74 /100 St Aldates Tavern (Bar) 108 ST. ALDATES “Very nice pub with spacious interior, and a large uppside secluded area. Limited cask selection, some other stuff. Good food. Very friendlt service.“ |
| 84 /100 38 ABINGDON ROAD “Very nice local beer joint in the ground floor of an old building. Large outside seating area in the backyard. Friendly service. Limited cask selection, but large tap line, especially with Tap Social who seems to own this place. Was located close to out Hotel so we ended both nights here.“ |
| 58 /100 Bear Inn (Fuller’s) (Bar) 6 ALFRED STREET “Very small but charming old pub. Pretty slow and slightly whimsical service, but very friendly. Limited selection.“ |
| 68 /100 131 HIGH ST “Nice pub with a large outside backyard. Decent cask selection.“ |
| 74 /100 White Horse (Bar) 52 BROAD STREET “Small cellar pub with low ceiling and wooden roof beams. Good cask selection.“ |
| 80 /100 Turf Tavern (Bar) 4-5 BATH PLACE “Quite a wonderful place in an old house, with a great inner garden. Great cask selection and good service.“ |
| 70 /100 Crown (Nicholson’s) (Bar) 59A CORNMARKET STREET “Nice old style pub with wooden beams and a patio in the ally leading to the entrance. Decent selection, good service.“ |
| 60 /100 Gulp Fiction (Bar) UNIT 28 COVERED MARKET, “Gulp Fiction is a cafe cum 2nd hand bookshop cum bar within the Oxford covered market, visible from the Teardrop. Despite the opening hours they cannot sell alcohol for consumption before 12 o clock. There are 3 taps in operation, all fairly local breweries on my visit. No new beers for me but visitors to Oxford will certainly find something of interest, there was a BMan beer on, which is currently very rare. Lacks some atmosphere, it's not really a bar, but worth a look.“ |
| 74 /100 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “We visited here Tuesday, October 12th, 2021 we were staying out of town, up the Abingdon Road at the Camping and Caravaning site. This is located in the Indoor market, so it really couldn't be much for central in the city centre, and can be accessed from the High Street, Market Street, and Cornmarket. It's difficult to explain exactly where it is in the market, but you'll find it.
It's a lovely little place with a couple of tables and chairs outside and a decent selection of their own beers in bottle and on tap. I think that the neighbouring unit sells wine, I am not sure if they also own this or if it is separate venture? I didn't get the opportunity to speak with the lady serving, I've seen her at a meet the brewer event in Kidlington and I think that she is the wife of the brewer, but yes to continue, there was someone else who loved the sound of his own voice and seemed oblivious that someone else might actually want to be served. I think that if you are in town this is well worth a visit and is a lovely little place. Re: beers, they are good without ever really wowing me.“ |
| 76 /100 38 ABINGDON ROAD “We visited here Tuesday, October 12th (lunchtime), we were staying out of town, further up Abingdon Road at the Camping and Caravaning site. In terms of getting here it is a very straightforward 10-minute walk from the centre of town, over the river and you cannot miss it on the right-hand side, alternatively, there are a number of buses that ply this route, P&R, and regular buses, and these are just 5 minutes, personally, I think that it is quite a nice walk.
We visited here at lunchtime and had a light lunch and a beer, it was a quiet time but there were a few folk around including one of the sisters (owners) that I recognize. I hadn't been here since it had become a Tap Social venue and it has been quite sympathetically refurbished, quite an open plan, simple look, wooden floors. The bar is straight ahead as you enter, there are a number of taps (all keg as I recall?) and all Tap Social beers. There was also a fridge to the side with some of their cans, so I guess that you can also buy to take away.
The beers were pretty good as was the food. I think that this place would also be a nice place to visit and be quite popular in the summer months as there is outside seating. I guess that you could combine this place with a visit to the Head of the River if you wanted some Fullers beers by a nice riverside venue. If we are ever in the area again, I think that we will make a return visit.“ |
| 60 /100 Jolly Farmers, Oxford (Bar) 20 PARADISE STREET “Close to the Westgate Shopping centre and the Castle Tavern, this is a LGBT friendly pub. Recently has started promoting their Real Ales, which we found to be well kept. It's a large, rambling pub with several rooms, nooks and crannies. Warm and welcoming. It is said to be the oldest continuous licensed premises in Oxford. It's worth a look.“ |
| 66 /100 Turf Tavern (Bar) 4-5 BATH PLACE “Visit October 2011.“ |
| 68 /100 Handle Bar (Bar) 28 ST. MICHEAL'S STREET “This is a bar and cafe that has been added to a long established cycle repair shop in the centre of Oxford. The cafe bar is upstairs, where the loo's are too but thanks to Covid there has been additional outdoors seating to the front. It's a popular part of Oxford, particularly now the road has been closed to most traffic. The beers are exclusively from Oxford Breweries, there is one tap with a beer from Shotover Brewery and a fridge full of beers from Tap Social, which is handy if you didn't want to leave town to get to the tap itself. It's a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, worth a look.“ |
| 74 /100 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “Note: pre lockdown visit in December 2019. Think the previous reviews have pretty much covered this, but here we go... It's a tiny bar/shop up one side of the covered market. It's owned by Church Han - a brewery that I've always loved thanks to the really friendly & enthusiastic brewer, along with his paper-wrapped bottles. Obviously beers on offer are mainly their own (in both tap and bottle), but there's always a few from other local breweries - Tap Social and Abingdon Bridge when I visited. I was only buying bottles on this visit, but I can imagine it's a great place to grab a beer, sit at the table out in the arcade, and watch the world go by. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in Oxford.“ |
| 76 /100 COVERED MARKET, HIGH STREET “Enjoyed our visit to this microbar bar well described below. Due to Covid19 I expect, only 1 ask available with 6 or 7 on taps. Most were Church Hanbrewery, an XT 8 porter, a couple of Heavy Water ones, and we enjoyed 2 rounds of thirds paying £5.40 for each round. Opening times tied to Market opening times. First visit, but it will certainly be on the list to go again when lockdown gves us freedom of movement back.“ |
| 68 /100 13 ST EBBES “Well-kept street corner pub close to the Pembroke College. 12 pumps with real ales and ciders, most of the beers from White Horse and Titanic. Basic layout in wooden interiors. Relaxing atmosphere on a Sunday eve. Polite service. (Visited with Finn 27.10.2019).“ |
| 60 /100 St Aldates Tavern (Bar) 108 ST. ALDATES “Located right in the central inner part of town. Quite busy when we visited the pub early on a Sunday eve. Seven hand-pumps, four of them on at our stay, mostly regionally sourced. Classic, basic British pub layout. Polite service. (Visited with Finn 27.10.2019).“ |
| 56 /100 Four Candles (JDW) (Bar) 47 GEORGE ST. “Rather small main room for a spoons, but more seating upstairs. Central location, about five minutes from the train station and close to the inner city area. Ten hand-pumps with ales from local breweries on three of them. And, as usual, a decent traditional breakfast for less than £4. Polite service. (Visited with Finn 25.10.2019).“ |
| 72 /100 13 ST EBBES “Well kept backstreet pub. Lovely!“ |
| 66 /100 St Aldates Tavern (Bar) 108 ST. ALDATES “Old fashioned pub with a few beers.“ |
| 58 /100 Four Candles (JDW) (Bar) 47 GEORGE ST. “Limited beer selection.“ |
| 84 /100 TOWN HALL, ST. ALDATES “Wow I hadn't twigged that reviewing Beer Festivals was a thing now, ok here goes. I have been to Oxford beer festival, countless times over the years, in fact I can recall in the very early days it once was held at the bus museum at Long Hanborough and on another occasion when I was living in Worcester I travelled to Oxford when it was held at the Debating Hall in one of the central University buildings. However it has been held at the Town Hall, which is really as central as you can get for many years now. The Town Hall sits on St Aldates but really it's very close to High Street, Cornmarket and Queen Street, so it is easy to find for those using public transport. As Glen mentions the Town Hall is a fantastic building and great venue for a beer festival, though if truth be told I think that the Beer Festival outgrew this sized venue years ago and really is crying out to be held somewhere bigger, but other than going under canvas I don't think that there are many options available. If you attend take a few moments to look up and around you at this building, there are a few rooms used and you can see old portraits, wonderful galleries, lots of wooden panelling a superb staircase etc, it's wonderful. I have both worked at (serving beer) and attended as a paying customer. I would suggest going a quieter times, so early on the Thursday or Friday because it gets rammed later on. Saturday is also much quieter but worth noting that even though there are casks that are to be put on, on Saturday the range will be much less. It's a great beer festival, great atmosphere and very good location.“ |
| 84 /100 TOWN HALL, ST. ALDATES “This is an annual 3 day Festival held in the gloriously decorative Town Hall in the centre of Oxford. There are around 90 casks of Real Ale on sale during Thursday & Friday then a further 40 casks on sale on Saturday, all freshly opened also 50 boxes of cider. It can get very busy on the Thursday and Friday evenings with much more peaceful sessions on Friday and Saturday afternoons. No music and just 1 food vendor. The seating is away from the beer sales area. No refunds on glasses unfortunately, but spare vouchers can be redeemed.“ |
| 72 /100 Lamb & Flag (Bar) 12 ST. GILES “This is a bit of a college hangout apparently, and was pretty busy on a Friday evening. Right on St. Giles, so plenty of foot traffic. Front bar and side bar, did not check if they had different tap lists. Interesting selection of cask and tap ales, plus a few ciders. Not a bad place for Oxford, but after a week it is obvious that Oxford is not a beer town.“ |
| 70 /100 Turf Tavern (Bar) 4-5 BATH PLACE “In a bit of an alley but gmaps is correct. Two separate bars, very crowded on a Friday night. Fairly standard cask and tap selection, but some good things to try. Did not ask about small pours; too busy. The garden out back is a definite plus for the place. Several cask ales, a few taps, at least one cider. Nice atmosphere. Kind of a college hangout, i think.“ |
| 72 /100 St Aldates Tavern (Bar) 108 ST. ALDATES “This was my first stop in Oxford, right after dropping stuff off at the hotel. Very traditional pub with a few tables and a nice wooden "L" shaped bar. Right across from the Museum. Several cask options available as well as a couple of taps. Service good, food a bit bland.“ |
| 76 /100 13 ST EBBES “Fairly classic centrally located pub. Mix of casks and taps; half pours available. Food is decent. Fairly busy in the evenings.“ |
| 66 /100 Grapes (Bar) 7 GEORGE STREET “An intersting pub in the centre. Not much occurring. Aircon best feature on a hot day. 7 cask beers and upto 10 kegs feature. Nice decor. Lots of West Berkshire beers as they own it... good brewery especially the Maggs Magnificent Mild.“ |
| 64 /100 Plough at 38 (Bar) 38 CORNMARKET “This is a resurrection of a pub that closed around 90 years back and has undergone a long soft opening during which time we were unable to get in. The outside of the pub shows its history more than inside which has been opened through. There is quite an echo inside with noise bouncing off the hard walls, furniture and windows that completely cover the 2 outside walls. We have already christened it the Goldfish Bowl as it feels like being on show in an aquarium. The bar is at the far end with around 4 hand pulls and a couple of banks of kegs. Behind the bar are 3 large conditioning tanks in what is labelled the Brewing Room, but the beers are brewed at XT and transferred into the tanks for final conditioning before sale, so not a Brewpub as such. The pub is not owned by XT however they have fitted it out with beer lines and tanks so the only cask ales and craft kegs will be from that brewery. There will be a restaurant area upstairs, which is being fitted out currently, it looks like the pub will be searching out the tourist dollar more than being a locals pub.“ |
| 54 /100 Turf Tavern (Bar) 4-5 BATH PLACE “Real gem interior wise, not easy to find, its like a mini maze. 2 rooms, low ceilings, beer selection is boring, but go here for the other stuff there is a good garden for summer“ |
| 62 /100 Grapes (Bar) 7 GEORGE STREET “This place looks old inside, but as Imdownthepub explains, it s totally renovated. I had a new beer from Animal Brewing at my visit, good service, and nice enough“ |
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