The Old Bookbinders Ale House, 17-18 Victor Street, OXFORD, OX2 6BT [Map]
01865 553549http://www.oldbookbinders.co.uk/ 
12-23 MO-SA; 12-22:30 SU
Evening Meals, Real Fire, Lunchtime Meals

Me outside the pub, May 2002

If you don't know Oxford you'll definitely need to consult detailed cartographical material to find this bare boarded back-street gem. The clientele is predominantly composed of students and locals but welcomes outsiders. Their varied range of real ales direct from the barrels racked up behind the bar is very impressive. We sampled the Arundel Castle bitter (abv 3.8%). This fruity beer with its satisfying hoppy aftertaste was so good that we had to return to the bar for a second helping. They also serve lagers, cider and stout on tap and the pumps are marked 'fizzy drinks'.! Above the bar bottles of whisky sway precariously! The pub is one of Morrell's 'flagship' pubs converted at the very end of the 20th century and is now very popular and lively. Interestingly the original retained exterior of the pub has featured in Inspector Morse. The cosy interior is packed full of interesting bric-a-brac minus that 'theme pub' feel!

It seems to be one of the few decent real ale pubs in the city to serve food during the evening. Customers can select from a very wide range of specialist sausages served either with mash and onion gravy, mash with spicy sauce or with bread and salad. There is also a range of more standard food options. For the peckish penny pincher, there's a barrel of help yourself complimentary monkey nuts! Finally I'd like to thank Jon for assisting in the compilation of this review.

Jon starting his second pint and moments before devouring
the wild boar sausages, May 2002