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    The Turf Tavern

    4.2 (184 reviews)
    ModeratePubs, Diners
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    The Turf Tavern Photos

    THE TURF TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - The Turf Tavern

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    1381 Ale
    Luke B.

    Beer and atmosphere were excellent, truly top tier. Food was just fine, but I don't really care. Tried the Mac and cheese and it was excellent though. Service app works well

    David H.

    FIRST SUNDAY ROAST EVERRRR!! the roasted meat was good, kinda plain, tbh everything was kinda plain, but the gravy makes up for it!! yorkshire pudding was pretty good, i liked the texture (it's the bread thing, i was expecting pudding lol). the roasted veggies was crunchy and the potato's were okay. star of the show was def the gravy, pretty flavorful and very rich. i wish they gave me more of the gravy though. yummy rating: 6.5/10

    Decor outside
    Jessica W.

    Food: Sunday Roast (chicken), impossible burger, and sticky toffee with custard. Disappointed that they were out of roast so hubby had to get chicken and also out of ice cream so had to get custard. The chicken was moist and it was fun to experience a Sunday Roast at a pub. Service: grab any table and there is a QR code on the table to order and pay and they will bring you your food. Ambiance: quite a bit of flies and bees but you're outside so what do you expect?

    Bacon cheeseburger with chips
    Barnes R.

    Stopped in for lunch while exploring Oxford. We'd just come from the Hertford Bridge and were looking for a place to eat. My wife had spoken of a pub she'd heard about so we went looking. Thanks to the help of a gps, we found it! Hidden down a narrow alley was the Turf Tavern. Fun little pub, with great beer and pub grub. The ambiance was nice and airy in the upstairs area and the downstairs was so cool, almost dungeon-like! Staff members were friendly and the food was really good. We were able to order through their website, pay, and a short time later, our food arrived at our table. So convenient! We ordered burgers, mac and cheese and a Korean style chicken sandwich. All were delicious and no one left hungry! Cool place to stop in for lunch and have a pint and definitely worth the search!

    Nicky S.

    An education in intoxication...The Turf Tavern should be a "must" on your Oxford places to have a drink or bite to eat. I'm also adding it to my "must return" to places as I just did not get to experience enough of it. As you enter you are immediately struck by the low ceilings and traditional pub vibe. Dating back to 1831, you can't go wrong staying inside or heading outside to enjoy the beer garden. It is also famous for being the pub where Bill Clinton famously said he smoked marijuana but didn't inhale. The low beams in the bar area will keep you ducking if you are tall! This front bar is cozy but oh so cool. Don't miss The Turf Tavern as any Oxford student would recommend it to you!

    Christopher N.

    The Oxford experience isn't complete without visiting one of the oldest watering holes in town. This establishment has been there educating countless students about intoxication. Plenty of choices for cask ale and others in keg or bottle. The bar is in a really old house so low ceilings. There is also garden seating. But in winter, best to cozy up inside. Seating is limited so when there is a lot of tourists, can imagine they there will be a long wait. Not your typical pub food. I had a soft crab burger but should probably ask for fish and chip instead to get the full pub experience.

    Best tagline ever
    Tracey A.

    Places like The Turf Tavern are the reason I travel. On a walking tour of Oxford my guide told great stories of The Turf (which dates back to 1381) without ever walking to it. Our tour group was nearby but getting to The Turf involves a narrow, winding alley path not conducive to tour groups. This only made a return visit to this historic spot mandatory. The Turf might be the only place in Oxford that you'll sit beside the ancient city wall that once surrounded the town. Inside, you'll line up to order drinks, chuckling over the too tall bartender who has to spend all night craning his neck to fit under the very low eaves. Outside and inside, there's all sorts of seating areas but finding one that will accommodate you may be a challenge. The Turf does a booming business and, with such a lengthy history, has all sorts of claims to fame (it's said that The Turf is where Bill Clinton, while a student at Oxford, "smoked, but did not inhale"). Let your tour guide tell you all about The Turf then return there to enjoy it firsthand. No introduction to this charmingly funky place is required for you to enjoy a drink here which is exactly what I did (note: they also serve food; it's a pub).

    Inside March 2025
    Brett B.

    As an American visiting Oxford, you just can't turn down lunch at a 700-year-old pub. I'm not a huge fan of fish and chips in general, but when you're in England and it's on the menu you just gotta go with it. Fireplace built to the 13th century it's a little bit strange that you order yourself in an app, but those are modern times. We talked about 15 minutes to arrive and aside from some old cooked chips which they were happy to replace everything was great. So much history in this pub. It's difficult to find, but if you're in Oxford, I would recommend seeking it out.

    Duck hash
    Kevin L.

    Located near University of Oxford, seating is super limited. Our group probably would have to wait for a long time hadn't we came in right when a group was leaving. There's no waiting spot and the workers don't really do a good job of facilitating an environment to do so. Duck hash (4/5): the duck was tender. I really like the potatoes. They were crispy and soft inside. The color was offsetting though as it looked a little burnt. Overall, Turf Tavern is one hectic of a spot. Food is alright but I really don't think it's worth the loud and crowded atmosphere.

    Stana B.

    Blink and you'll miss this quirky & historic spot down a cobblestone alley in Oxford. Steeped in history & a location for the beloved Inspector Morse, this place is worth a stop. You might need to mind your footing & duck if you're tall. The seating is quite tight & cozy. Like with most pubs, you order at the bar. That's fine! When we were there, there was a bit of slow turn over for clearing glasses from previous patrons as tables filled with up fast when someone leaves! For dinner, I decided to try the Christmas turkey plate that had Brussel sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, stuffing, potatoes, gravy & 3 Turkey slices (similar looking to a slice of spiral ham). Everything was lovely. My aunt had the soft shell crab sandwich which was well battered and came with a spicy sauce. Chips were coated.

    Outside
    David S.

    Well, my statement about this place is that if institutions had institutions then this place would be it. I first discovered it when my cousin and her partner caught up with me when we were in Oxford. Personally, I had never heard of it, but upon turning up I discovered how famous the place it happened to be. Like, an Australian prime minister broke the world record for skulling a yard glass of ale, and an ex-president definitely didn't enhale here as well. Look, yeah, I have to say that it is a pretty awesome, and pretty old, tavern, and it can be pretty tricky to get to as well. Still, as a pub, I have to admit that it certainly meets its reputation.

    Chicken salad
    Emma A.

    Very cute restaurant. The ambiance made me feel like I was in the hobbit. Perfect for brunch

    Fish and chips
    Lindsay C.

    Great fish and chips!! The ambiance is super cool. Makes you feel like you're very "in the know"

    Banana old fashion  Good drink

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    1 year ago

    A lovely pub. Hidden away but still very popular. Staff were helpful and very friendly and food and drink both really good

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    Page 1 of 5

    The Turf Tavern Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - The Turf Tavern

    Hidden down a series of narrow alleyways, getting here is half the fun.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Three Goats Heads - 7/1/23 Indoor seating, bar in background

    Three Goats Heads

    4.1(15 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    £

    To my Yelp friend Dean C - While on my quest to help find the best UK breweries, I discovered this…read moreplace. Sorry, but it is again kinda far away from the downtown/touristy London area. Oxford, UK is a college (and tourist) town. Quality/Quantity - Beer was good, and more importantly one of the few breweries within walking distance to the many college campuses here. See pictures of the menu for both the brewery and guest beers. Kitchen was closed when I got here, but that was ok as I just wanted/needed a beer. Atmosphere - Events - See pictures. Small pub, brewery. Two floors. I think the upstairs is bigger? I never went up, sorry. Indoor/outdoor seating. I started indoors so I could be near the bar, LOL. Then I decided to have my next beer outside and people watched. Another beautiful day (see picture)! I preferred the outside seating over inside. Service - Good. Not sure if it is just me, but I noticed a lot of men sitting at the bar waiting for their wives to come back from shopping. And I was one of them, LOL. Price - I can't remember? But I think less than 5 pounds a beer/pint? It just does not matter sometimes. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success. Cool spot, I am surprised that there are not more breweries in a college town. I am sure there are many pubs, but you guys need more breweries!

    A wonderful pub with a great bartender. It was a pleasant place to have a pint on an afternoon.read more

    Photos
    Three Goats Heads - 7/1/23 Outdoor seating

    7/1/23 Outdoor seating

    Three Goats Heads - 7/1/23 Bar

    7/1/23 Bar

    Three Goats Heads - 7/1/23 Interior

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    7/1/23 Interior

    The Kings Arms - King's Arms Burger

    The Kings Arms

    3.7(75 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    ££

    One of the most iconic pubs in Oxford!…read more The food is okay, the drinks are reasonably priced, but the location is elite. It has that classic Oxford pub atmosphere that makes it worth visiting, especially if you're showing someone around the city or looking for a casual drink in a historic setting. There are outdoor tables, seating inside, and a smaller section in the back. During peak hours, it can get quite packed, so it is not always the easiest place to grab a table, but that also adds to the energy of the place. Overall, I would not necessarily come here expecting the best pub food in Oxford, but for the atmosphere, location, and quintessential Oxford experience, it is absolutely worth a stop.

    It's no surprise this pub is popular considering its location, but the quality of the food, drinks,…read moreand the people-watching make it great in its own right, not just because it's smack dab in the middle of Oxford. We found ourselves coming here again and again, as it was always nearby after a tour, or perfect for killing time before the next event. (in town for a family member's graduation) There's a few outdoor tables, and many little rooms inside with all types of seating options. We were a larger group with children in tow, and kept lucking out with the long table in the first room on the left. It does get rather busy at peak hours, but if you're patient or come at off peak hours, you'll snag a seat just fine. The fish & chips were a standout from all other fish & chips I had that trip. This is an American tourist review, so take that with a grain of salt, but we liked the food and the service was always friendly and quick.

    Photos
    The Kings Arms - Seating area inside

    Seating area inside

    The Kings Arms - Fish & Chips

    Fish & Chips

    The Kings Arms - View from an outside table.

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    View from an outside table.

    Gardeners Arms

    Gardeners Arms

    4.3(32 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    ££

    The Gardener's Arms" which was established in 2013. The meal we had was very good. The garlic…read moreflatbread [£2.90]- was nice- very garlicky. The Indian Thali platter- curry, tasty aloo sag (potato and a green), salad, mango chutney, basmati rice, pappadam [£10.95]. The medley mushroom pie- delicious puff pastry filled mixed mushrooms in a red wine and safe gravy served with Italian style roasted potatoes and mixed seasonal vegetables [£10.95]. Take a table each of which has one menu. When you decide what you want, go to the bar and order, pay and get your drinks. They will bring your food to you when ready. Credit cards are accepted.

    Offering your standard pub fare, vegetarian style, it served one of the best veggie burgers that…read moreI've ever had and I've had many from Boca to Morning Star. The veggie burger appeared and tasted like real beef. It's offered as a single or double where you can choose from different condiments such as garlic mayo, mango chutney, burger relish, curried mayo, chili sauce, or your standard mustard. It comes with a generous serving of chips (fries). For a veggie burger, it is surprisingly filling. This place made such an impression on Ryan S. and I that we came back a second time. I couldn't do another veggie burger but ordered the Greek Salad. Prices are a little higher than other places but they serve pretty big portions. Beers are solid. Have a seat out in the backyard if the weather is warm.

    Photos
    Gardeners Arms
    Gardeners Arms
    Gardeners Arms

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    The Turf Tavern - pubs - Updated May 2026

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