Below is my hand-picked selection of Oxford pubs, good beer, good food, good company.
For directions and table booking links click on the image or 📍 Open in Google Maps
The Crown
The Crown, Cornmarket Street – A historic Oxford inn dating back to the 16th century and famously linked with Shakepeare who lodged with the landlord, and was particularly friendly with his wife, allegedly.
Excellent pies!
The Turf
The Turf Tavern
Share a drink and a bite to eat with Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Stephen Hawking, David Bowie, Thomas Hardy, Emma Watson, Ben Kingsley, Margaret Thatcher, President Bill Clinton, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, and many others!
The King’s Arms
The King’s Arms – A classic Oxford pub directly opposite the Bodleian Library.
My favourite city centre pub since I was a student, the KA.
Sit on this side so you have amazing views of Broad Street.
A pint of Young’s Ordinary Bitter is my top tipple.
Remember, during term time there is more IQ, more brain power, more intelligence per square foot than anywhere in the known universe.
Open in Google MapsThe Bear
The Bear – Oxford’s Oldest Pub 1242? Maybe.
Good pint, tiny inside, collection of snipped off ties the unique decorative feature.
Big outside terrace just visible to the left in this photo.
The Lamb & Flag
Owned by St John’s College, legend has it that profits from the pub go to fund Graduate Scholarships, the Graduate Scholars drink in the pub, thereby funding the Graduate Scholars ad infinitum…
More seriously it’s where JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis and the other Inklings met after being banned from the Eagle & Child opposite.
Not because they were drinking too much, but not drinking enough!
Sadly the Eagle & Child is closed for redevelopment, although the Ellison Technical Institute which owns the pub now has promised to restore it sympathetically.
Watch this space…
Only pizza on the menu.
The Chequers
Another old favourite from student days, and school (but don’t tell anyone…)
The original bar on the right as you go in is of course haunted.
Listen for the desperate scrabbling of a 16th century Catholic, bricked in by priest hunters, trying to claw his way out from behind the fireplace.
