31/10/21 - More Good Beer Guide Ticking in Oxford

Good Beer Guide Ticks - #603 to #605

Proud father alert - if you're not impressed by Son Number #1's new college exterior, you will be by the canteen.

University College

Where he eat his Pickled Onion Monster Munch

I think his Chemistry PHD lasts 4 years, so this will provide plenty of opportunity for Good Beer Ticking in a City last visited four years ago.  

I predicted then that the Bear was the pick of the pubs and this is in the 2021 Guide, providing a bonus retro tick.

We arrange to meet in the Boy's new local, The Chequers.  20% off for Students on a Tuesday.  Its only a matter of time and budgets, before he succumbs to JDW's keen pricing.  He can't keep on paying more than a Lady Godiva for a pint.  I believe that from this week, it would get you 5 in Timbo's gaff.

The Chequers, High Street, Brew York X-Panda 

This takes some seeking out.  Not least, as its down a little alley off the High Street.

My sort of pub...

The real problem was that when I put Chequers into Google Maps, my phone navigated me to St Thomas Street.  There is a launderette that looks suspiciously like an ex-pub but the person living next door could not confirm it's history.

Mrs M was delighted to have a third traipse around the Premier Inn.

For history lovers, it was worth seeking out.  C16th, wall etchings, heraldic shields, stained glass windows.  A Nicholson's that provided me with the third chance to sample a Brew York Beer. 

And I could have watched the Vile get trounced by the Hammers

Rose and Crown, North Parade, Old Hooky

With a table booked at Pierre Victoire, I decided to take the troops to the GBG ticks in the North of the City.  Like all good plans, it collapsed at first engagement with the enemy.  Well, with closed pubs.  Both the Eagle and Child and Lamb and Flag opposite are historical pubs that have or are troubling the GBG.  Both are firmly closed.  Eagle and Child more permanently than the Lamb, according to Google Maps.

It became quite a trek to this little gem of a pub, located down a pedestrian only, narrow residential street - allowing them to take over the street with tables shared at the pizza restaurant next door.

Rose and Crown

Some but not all of the Covid rules are still applied here.  The front check in desk remains, but is unmanned.  Table service and table booking is still provided.  This made for having a mooch around a touch tricky but I did get to see the unspoiled, Victorian two rooms and rear courtyard.  Even if I can tell that the eyes of be-masked bar staff were screaming "for god's sake, just sit down will you".

Great Old Hooky.  Board detailing the available wines

Gardeners Arms, Plantation Road, XT Brewing Animal Roadrunner

Unbelievably, there is a Gardeners Arms along the same street as the R+C.  This was closed.  My two co-travelers refused to believe me that there was another about 10 minutes walk away.

Suitably for a pub in Plantation Road, it is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant. 

It also annoyed the hell out of me by having a thick rope across the entrance.  Wait at the threshold and see if they will let you in.

When will this madness end?

Mrs M working out how to get in

All other punters were there for the food.  Despite a pubby look and feel, it wasn't a pubby experience.

Turf Tavern, Holywell Street, Black Sheep

After fine French Food at the Bistro, it was back into town for a must visit Oxford Pub, that while it has such poor stock keeping, will never trouble the Good Beer Guide.  The majority of beers were off.  My son almost made the mistake of ordering a Greene King IPA but I quickly stopped that.  Not whilst I was paying.

Everything you need to know is on the sign behind the dead soldiers

It's always the sign of a historically important pub when it has its own wiki page.  What can I add to the stories?

1. Students buy drinks individually, rather than in rounds
2. This is very annoying when you are behind 8 of the egg-heads
3. But not as annoying as the low beams.  I was one of three over 5ft 7" people to use language that would give me a life ban from Malvern's Nag's Head
4. Food is not served after 9pm
5. Amusingly, this rather annoyed the American who tried to order a sweet at 9:10pm.

The Black Sheep was in a much better condition than I could have hoped for.  

Definitely a must visit boozer.  It was good enough for Richard Burton.  And Thatcher.

You didn't expect me to say Inspector Morse, did you?

Mrs M and the boy patiently waiting for the next Head Banger