Dave, Ed and G arranged a St George's Day crawl in Oxford, obviously on 23 April. I decided to join them. After catching the lost and lamented 66 bus (thank you Oxfordshire Cunty Council and Cuntral Government) down to Banbury, it was then a rapid train ride and brisk walk to the Turf.

I had only just got there and G was feeling thirsty so we struck a faster pace than Ed and Dave. As expected the Turf was quite full yet we managed to get ourselves that nice oval table next to the bar. Decent beer selection, interesting, extensive, well-kept, though I didn't write it down. Always a good pub but somehow always rather busy and it can be hard to truly settle in.

I have not been to the Angel and Greyhound for ages, as it's a pain in the arse to get to, but we endured the walk of all of 8 minutes so that we could try it. Very nice Young's pub with a decent array of beers. I seem to recall that G got his fingers burnt by opting for a craft beer or lager that was over a fiver. Highlight was the Scotch Eggs which G and I took part in, Smiley and Dave being more sensible and less hungry. G and I also had the extra beer. For some reason, we sat inside, nothing wrong with that, even though I am sure it was OK weather outside. Maybe it was full up out there.

We finished up and crossed the road to the Cape of Good Hope which is more of a trendy hipster boozer type place than the A&G, shabby chic. Once you have negotiated past the craft beers they do have a decent enough selection of proper beer that is worth drinking. Fairly light and airy, big windows, quirky furniture, beards. Worth staying in strangely enough.

Back to more traditional surroundings and up the high Street to the garden of the Bear, unsurprisingly because it was full up inside. Decent range of Fullers products, tie collection inside, miniscule toilets, garden really just a collection of picnic tables in the thoroughfare out back. Very civilised.

One of my favourites has always been the very modest surroundings of the Old Tom, even though the service has got slow and they appear to have morphed partially into a Thai restaurant. Two or three beers on, cosy and unremarkable surroundings, still didn't get into that huge window seat out front that overlooks St Aldates. Also worth noting that there is a quaint little courtyard/garden out the back with high walls and not a lot growing in it.

Food was taken at the Three Goats Heads, along with some Sam Smith's beer. A few varieties are dirt cheap but the majority are on par with other pubs, so be warned. And at this pub it's all on keg. Cheap solids were also consumed with the cheap beer and it's a cheap and cheerful experience. You could do a lot worse in the middle of Oxford.

A bit of a walk cost us some time, especially as food inevitably slows you down, but we reached the Lamb and Flag, an old favourite which was customarily full and pretty much the same as it was 20 years ago. We sat in the low area near the bar and fireplace and enjoyed some cracking ales; I am sure that someone had some Old Peculier. Sadly, time had marched on and I had no chance to go to wherever they went next. Instead I had to content myself with a mad dash across Oxford to my train which I made with seconds to spare, and spent the trip back to Banbury hyperventilating.