My Favourite Pubs


Here you are then. The top ten boozers in Oxford, and the next ten, in no particular order to save making too many controversial decisions.


The Top Ten

Butcher's Arms , Wilberforce St
Fuller's Chiswick, IPA, ESB
Quality of beer : * * * * *
Value for money : * * * *
Atmosphere : * * * *
Food : ?
Friendly local, regularly in the GBG and worth finding. Not particularly studenty, but not overly local either, if you see what I mean...

James St Tavern , James St
Greene King IPA; Abbot Ale; Old Speckled Hen.
Quality of beer: * * *
Value for money : * **
Atmosphere : * * * *
Food : OK
Sadly the Morlands has gone, but Greene King's OK. Fully of trendy Brookes types, can get a bit smoky, but a good enough place to find Sky TV.

Walter Mitty's , Bridge St
Morland's Bitter, Independent IPA
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : ?
Good beer; lots interesting interior decorations hanging from the ceiling; good atmosphere. Just check out the Monopoly board round the ceiling with Oxford streets on it.

Hobgoblin , St Aldates
Wychwood selection; guest;
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * * *
Atmosphere : * * *
Food : Yes
New as of October 98, this replaces the old Bulldog, and as far as I could see, for the better. Kind of Firkin-esque decor, but better, in my humble opinion. Good jukebox selection, wide variety of real ales, and £1.50 for a pint can't be bad.

Fishes Inn , North Hinksey
Morrell's Bitter, Mild, Varsity, Graduate; guest
Quality of beer : * * * * *
Value for money : * * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : Good
Excellent food, conservatory, fire, location.

Gardener's Arms (Plantation Rd) , Plantation Rd
Morrell's Bitter, Varsity, Mild;
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : ?
A frequent GBG contender, known for its busy atmosphere with a mix of students and locals. Nice sofas.

Radcliffe Arms , Cranham Terr / Cranham St
Marston's Pedigree; Tetley Bitter; Burton's; Morland's Old Speckled Hen
Quality of beer : * * * * *
Value for money : * * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : Good and very cheap
Legendary pub for lunch, but it's great at any time; without a doubt an Oxford classic. Good jukebox, too.

King's Arms (centre) , Parks Rd / Holywell St
Young's Bitter, Special; Wadworth 6X
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : Good
Studenty at the front, local at the back. Extremely popular, open all day.

Turf Tavern , Bath Place
Archer's Golden; Marston's Pedigree; Felinfoel Double Dragon; 4-5 others
Quality of beer : * * * * *
Value for money : * *
Atmosphere : * * * *
Food : Very Good
Pricey, but with good atmosphere and a wide range of beers all the time. Great for contracting hypothermia whilst sitting outside on those cold winter nights, cos there's no room inside.

Gloucester Arms , Friars Entry
Tetley Bitter; Marston's Pedigree; Burton's
Quality of beer : * * * * *
Value for money : * * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : Cheap
Great pub this. No students, with a brilliant loud jukebox, as pubs should have. The food is as cheap as the Radcliffe Arms, and the beer is always great.


The Next Best

Prince of Wales (Iffley) , Church Way
Wadworths 6X, Henry's IPA, Farmer's Glory; several guests
Quality of beer : * * * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * * *
Food : Good
Real Ale festivals on the last weekend of the month, with at least half a dozen guest beers. Worth the trek.

Angel & Greyhound , St Clements
Young's Bitter, Special
Quality of beer : * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * * *
Food : Good
Usually full of language students and arty types, but nice nonetheless. Plenty of board games and bar billiards available.

Folly Bridge Inn , Abingdon Rd / Whitehouse Rd
Wadworth's 6X, Henry's IPA, Farmer's Glory; Theakston's Best Bitter
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * * *
Food : Good
Busy but relaxed lounge, good food, and a patio in summer.

Rose & Crown , North Parade
ABC Bitter; Ind Coope Burton Ale
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * *
Atmosphere : * * *
Food : Good
Interesting heaters in the back garden. Justly famed for the food (and the landlord), but a good pint of Adnam's too. This pub's grown on me a bit, actually, but's it's too expensive.

Half Moon , The Plain / St Clements
Greene King IPA, Abbot
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * *
Food : ?
Small, quietish pub with more than a hint of the Irish. The Greene King can be excellent sometimes.

Plough , Wolvercote Green
Morrell's Bitter, Varsity
Quality of beer : * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : Good
The decor is a bit overdone, maybe it will tone down. However the food is excellent, the beer is good, and you can go train or canal boat spotting on the front lawn (if you must).

Jude the Obscure , Walton St
Morrell's Bitter, Mild, Varsity
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * * *
Food : OK
Replaces the old Prince of Wales, which was reckoned to be about the worst pub in Oxford. It's quite good now, with decent beer, and the landlord is mad, which is always a good sign.

Old Tom , St Aldates
Morrell's Bitter, Varsity, Mild
Quality of beer : * * * * *
Value for money : * * * *
Atmosphere : * * * * *
Food : Good
Another GBG regular, small, friendly and central.

Old Ale House , Iffley Rd / Bullingdon Rd
Morrell's Bitter, Varsity; Hook Norton, Fuller's London Pride
Quality of beer : * * * *
Value for money : * * *
Atmosphere : * * *
Food : Good
I was a bit worried when this took over from the Fir Tree, but it seems that my fears were misplaced. Apart from a decor change (lots of the usual bollocks paraphernalia), there's still plenty of good real ale and food. I don't think there'll be too many folk evenings from now on, though...


Oxford Pub Index

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