Public Houses in Oxford
40 Holywell Street
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 3SP
This pub is a linchpin of Oxford life. Situated at a junction in the heart of the city, it has spacious, airy front rooms, and at the rear three or four small rooms, all thick with honey-colored wood and irregular in shape. It was founded in the early 17th century when adjacent Wadham College was being built (the landlord presumably hoping for trade with the masons). It used to be host to bare-knuckle and cudgel fights, almost to the death, in its courtyard. Although it happens a lot less now you can still start an argument with one of the Oxford student's or professor's.
A User - 04/08/2008 | report this review
There is a bench that squeaks like it is really a quacentury years old (but we suspect the squeaking could be due to our friend's lovingly polished butt). The pub does claim to have been around since the 1600s though the bench seems to be the only remnant of this history. The rest of the pub is mostly renovated and newish. I like the way it is divided into different 'rooms' like a house. And it is bigger than most traditional pubs in Oxford. These rooms are usually quite filled up, the pub does get quite popular even on week nights.Food was so-so though. I had Fish Cake, and it was too flaky and dry for my taste. The whole portion (about £4++) was really just a tiny fish cake with tiny bits of pity greens, quite miserable. It was under the 'small plates' category in the menu, fair enough. But still quite pricey for the value.
A User - 09/09/2007 | report this review
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