Our nominations are in for BEST PUB at the Ox In A Box Food Awards.
1) The Chester – Off Iffley Road, East Oxford – the steak platters are legendary, the queues for Sunday roast stretch round the block and the locals can’t believe their luck
2) Up In Arms – Marston – Rescued from dereliction and development by the Dodo brigade (Rickety Press, Rusty Bicycle) funky, warehouse style interior with Americana food and laid back vibe from the Dodo pub brigade – think pizzas, pancakes and burgers
3) Hollybush – Witney – always good, fun and lively, with great food. What’s not to like?
4) White Rabbit – one of Oxford’s best – drawing an eclectic crowd, serving great pizzas, with a new heated outdoor area, perfect for winter and summer, and doubling the space.
5) The Punter – Osney Mead – by the river, the perfect stop on a summer’s day and their £5 lunch deal is hard to beat. A proper boozer.
6) The Crown, Woodstock – catering for an upmarket crowd with a great distinction between the dining and pub areas
7) Horse and Groom – Caulcott – French chef Jerome and his wife run this uncomplicated inn with great flair. The summer beer festival has a massive following too.
8) The Perch – Binsey – tranquil, busy, able to cater for the masses, elegant, welcoming, scenic
9) The Thatch, Thame – A Peach pub, one of many to choose from, but this has a particularly loyal clientele and is constantly busy with drinkers and diners.
10) Jolly Postboys – Florence Park – another closed pub reinvented and reopened with great gusto and enthusiasm.
11) Old Bookbinders, Jericho – tucked away in the backstreets, an Oxford faithful where Michel Sadone’s cooking draws the locals in
12) James Street Tavern – another reinvention, aimed firmly at the local community by providing events, drinks and food to a happily co-existing student and resident crowd.
