Pubs in Oxford

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seadragonpisces

Über Member
nic pubs along the river towards sandford, just away from magdalen college, you can walk or cycle along the river path and the pubs are right there, you can stop, dip your toes in the river, its awesome, path goes along for miles and miles
 

srw

It's a bit more complicated than that...
Is the Old Tom on St Aldates still going? That was our Monday-night post-choir-practice pre-Pizza Express watering hole. In those days it was a Morrells pub. These days, without a good brewery behind it, it's probably a bit of a dive.

Other than that, I'd second (third) the recommendations for the Turf and the KA.
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
the trout is nice, just outside oxford, or the catherine wheel or kings head in sandford, nr oxford, or rosie o'grady's (the tap room is cool, very retro), if its still there.

The Trout is in Wolvercote, about 10 to 15 mins from the town centre, fabulous riverside location, features in many a Morse episode, but is pretty 'commercial'. Half a mile along the road is the white Hart at Whitham which is a truly excellent beer and food pub, highly recommended, just not a riverside location.
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
nic pubs along the river towards sandford, just away from magdalen college, you can walk or cycle along the river path and the pubs are right there, you can stop, dip your toes in the river, its awesome, path goes along for miles and miles


From Folly Bridge, head towards Abingdon on the river to get to the ISIS Tavern and then on to Sandford Lock. To be honest, the ISIS is the better location and a shorter cycle.
The riverside ride to Abbers is a local delight!
 
OP
OP
Bodhbh

Bodhbh

Guru
I'm going to have my hands full visiting pubs, it will be awful.

No cheers for all this, Oxford does make a fairly good staging post from my place, so I will probably get to use the info another time.

I'm coming up from the E / SE, so would be possible to join the riverside path around Sandford and cycle up into town along the river?
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
I'm going to have my hands full visiting pubs, it will be awful.

No cheers for all this, Oxford does make a fairly good staging post from my place, so I will probably get to use the info another time.

I'm coming up from the E / SE, so would be possible to join the riverside path around Sandford and cycle up into town along the river?

Yep, Sandford Lock to Oxford is rideable along the river all the way. There are a couple of tracks, one is a rut through the grass right by the river, or from Sandford Lane (by the bridge and the little industrial estate) there is a tarmac'd path that joins-up with the mud track along the river to go towards Oxford. The Sandford paths are on the opposite side of the river from the pub at the lock. Easily doable on a racing bike.
It's a lovely ride, Iffley lock is very pretty and I recommend you have a beer stop at the Isis before hitting the city.

I'd absolutely love to join you, but my teenage daughter's having a party at our house tonight and I'd better be around!
Enjoy.
 
OP
OP
Bodhbh

Bodhbh

Guru
Yep, Sandford Lock to Oxford is rideable along the river all the way. There are a couple of tracks, one is a rut through the grass right by the river, or from Sandford Lane (by the bridge and the little industrial estate) there is a tarmac'd path that joins-up with the mud track along the river to go towards Oxford. The Sandford paths are on the opposite side of the river from the pub at the lock. Easily doable on a racing bike.
It's a lovely ride, Iffley lock is very pretty and I recommend you have a beer stop at the Isis before hitting the city.

I'd absolutely love to join you, but my teenage daughter's having a party at our house tonight and I'd better be around!
Enjoy.

Well thanks for the offer, although quite looking forward just to having a nose around anyhow. It's a carrot to get my miles up a bit for summer. Not very fit atm, and not on an ideal bike (18kg of expedition tourer, everything else is in bits) I set off in 15mins and hopefully get there b4 tea-time. I'll try and remember to post a field report when I get back.
 
OP
OP
Bodhbh

Bodhbh

Guru
Blimey, 1740hrs and still no word ... good hangover Bodhbh?

I did a bit. Got in to town about 6pm. In the end I just followed the Sustrans route 57 from Princes Risborough, thru Thame, Whealtley, etc, so came in from the NE. Had a good wonder around town, stops included the Weatherspoons on George street, up to Big Bang for dinner, couple of pints in the Jericho, same in the White Horse (couldn't find Tufts), and a nightcap in Weatherspoons on the way back.

The waiter in Big Bang is quite a character, my food was late and I got a free glass of wine, but he was giving out alot of free drinks. The Jericho was a good pub, nice pint forgot what is was now, but a bit crowded after 10pm.

Walked down the Thames to Iffley (sp?) lock the next day. Nice pub there too! I should have took the bike really and gone down to Sandford, but thought would have a wonder on foot instead.

Oh well, no wild goings on, a reconnaisance trip - will probably use it as a stop en route to the Chilterns later in the year.
 

threebikesmcginty

Corn Fed Hick...
Location
...on the slake
stops included the Weatherspoons on George street, up to Big Bang for dinner, couple of pints in the Jericho, same in the White Horse (couldn't find Tufts), and a nightcap in Weatherspoons on the way back.

Walked down the Thames to Iffley (sp?) lock the next day. Nice pub there too!

A noble effort! :thumbsup:
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
Is the Old Tom on St Aldates still going? That was our Monday-night post-choir-practice pre-Pizza Express watering hole. In those days it was a Morrells pub. These days, without a good brewery behind it, it's probably a bit of a dive.

Other than that, I'd second (third) the recommendations for the Turf and the KA.

I checked last night and the 'Old Tom' is alive and well!
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
A noble effort! :thumbsup:

Agreed!

Sounds like a nice trip. I like the Big Bang, it's a bit bohemian at times, but they always try to ensure the customers are happy. They've stayed-open and been flexible to us when we pile in there late before the midnight ride to London and are happy to let us pile our bikes against the windows.
The Kings Arms, Lamb and Flag, Eagle and Child, Turf and Old Tom, can be done on your next visit :biggrin:

Was there rowing on the river? It's a lovely walk and better when there's a lot of activity on the water. I guess the pub was the ISIS, a bit ramshackle with a big beer garden out front.
 
OP
OP
Bodhbh

Bodhbh

Guru
I like the Big Bang, it's a bit bohemian at times, but they always try to ensure the customers are happy. They've stayed-open and been flexible to us when we pile in there late before the midnight ride to London and are happy to let us pile our bikes against the windows.
The Kings Arms, Lamb and Flag, Eagle and Child, Turf and Old Tom, can be done on your next visit :biggrin:

Was there rowing on the river? It's a lovely walk and better when there's a lot of activity on the water. I guess the pub was the ISIS, a bit ramshackle with a big beer garden out front.

Yes I got that vibe about the Big Bang. To be fair, it must a pain having someone come in on their own at rush hour and take up a table although I ate plenty!

There was some rowing, but not too much. I dunno if anyone who was interested in rowing would have been watching it on TV, the other thing it clouded over and got a bit chilly Saturday. I think the pub was the ISIS, by the sounds. Seemed a reasonable place, they had a 4-5 local brews on tap and fair few bottled beers.
 

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
Agreed!

Sounds like a nice trip. I like the Big Bang, it's a bit bohemian at times, but they always try to ensure the customers are happy. They've stayed-open and been flexible to us when we pile in there late before the midnight ride to London and are happy to let us pile our bikes against the windows.
The Kings Arms, Lamb and Flag, Eagle and Child, Turf and Old Tom, can be done on your next visit :biggrin:

Was there rowing on the river? It's a lovely walk and better when there's a lot of activity on the water. I guess the pub was the ISIS, a bit ramshackle with a big beer garden out front.

I'd forgotten all about the Eagle and Child. I only ever went in there once with a couple of mates. In those days is was run by one of the most miserable women I think I have ever met, assisted by her two sons, who appeared to be very odd, slow verging on catatonic. When it was my round I ordered "two frontal lobotomies and a facelift please?" and got all of us thrown out.
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
I'd forgotten all about the Eagle and Child. I only ever went in there once with a couple of mates. In those days is was run by one of the most miserable women I think I have ever met, assisted by her two sons, who appeared to be very odd, slow verging on catatonic. When it was my round I ordered "two frontal lobotomies and a facelift please?" and got all of us thrown out.

:rofl:
 
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