Lamb & Flag, 12 St Giles, OXFORD, OX1 3JS [Map]
01865 515787 
11-23 MO-SA; 12-22:30 SU
Lunchtime Meals, Quiet Bar, Rail Station Near Pub

The Lamb and Flag, September 2000

The Lamb and Flag is situated just east of the main central shopping area of Oxford. It was formerly a coaching inn that dates back to the 15th century. Oxford University's St. John's College surrounds the pub and the college took over the pub again at the end of the 20th century and have carefully refurbished it. Both Thomas Hardy and Graham Greene have written about it. The pub also has Morse connections like many others in the town, and allegedly Tolkein and CS Lewis used to frequent the bar!

The pub has a sizeable interior accessed by a door which stands a few yards up an alley on the pub's right-hand side. It's clearly a popular pub attracting a mixed clientele though students predominate and the atmosphere can get quite lively. There are 2 bars, the front being a little more formal with views out across the busy St. Giles. The lengthy rear bar serves 3 further drinking areas. The pub has also preserved a tiny drinking booth which takes just one drinker on a bare wooden bench though you could probably fit in two at a squeeze.

They've a good selection of real ale available including Fullers London Pride and Brakspear Bitter. They'll also have a guest ale or two available too. On visits during 2000 and 2002 they had Skinners Betty Stogs Bitter (abv 4.0%) on tap. Brewed in Truro, Cornwall it is a very decent hoppy beer well worth trying. The pub also serves lunches though unfortunately I can't provide any more detail about the .

Me in the one person drinking booth, September 2000