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Recommended Reviews - The Turf Tavern
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OLD, OLD, OLD. So much history. Even though I'm sure lots of tourists weave their way through alleys to get here, nothing about this bar felt touristy. We sat in the beer garden, and around us college kids chatted, a couple next to us was maybe on a first date?, just people of all types. And we drank. Drank in the warmth of the early fall day. Drank in welcome gulps, or quiet glugs. Drank away the beginnings of what would be a long day. Drank away the start of what would be a long night. Just a fun as hell kinda place. And old too. Some parts of the building have been there since the 1300s. And if you love history, or Hollywood, it's said that C.S. Lewis , Stephen Hawking, and Bill Clinton used to hang out (not together LOL). And where Billy boy allegedly "didn't inhale." Ahhh the 90s, am I right?
Part of coming here is for the experience of eating at an old and charming tavern. Most seating is outside but there are some inside with a nice ambiance. You seat yourself, order from a QR code, and they bring it to your table fairly quickly. Since it was Sunday and I was a tourist, I tried their Sunday roast. It was pretty good but several of the veggies were burnt, so I don't know that I'd recommend it. Tried their pies too which I thought were a good deal. The salad wasn't bad either. Overall a decent meal in a historic location.
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
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?
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!
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!
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
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Somewhat hard to find secret :-) well worth the time and its history. Expect mostly small rooms inside (but cool in the summertime) and lots of outside tables. Covers a fair amount of rooms/space in between the buildings etc. It's however a Greene King owned location now so perhaps not the flexibility of drinks as others. I don't try the food in this trip, but tried the Greene King IPA (the defacto US "Budweiser" sold beer in over 2500 pubs owned by them, but better than an US mass sold beer), and then a local Reggie's Turf beer. You can use the Greene King (GK) mobile app to order (QR code on each table), and there is an open bar area (with a low ceiling) to order some locals that are not in the GK app. Service is friendly and courteous! What I have experienced so far is that the WiFi is the same in any Greene King (GK) owned location :-) read more
5 months ago
A hidden gem in Oxford's history. Truly, a hidden gem. I almost don't want to write this because I want it kept hidden for as long as possible! Service was great in a bustling dining room. This 19th-century tavern is nothing short of charming and cozy, serving some fantastic meals. You can't go wrong with their Steak & Ale Pie and Fish & Chips. read more
The Turf Tavern is Oxford's second oldest pub, as it was founded in 1381! It's a hidden spot down a meandering alleyway located against the mediaeval remains of Oxford's city walls. The interior is downright medieval with low ceilings (watch your head!), low lights, and plenty of seating. They also have an open and airy beer garden for better weather days. You can either order at the bar, or use their QR code at the tables to order online which was helpful. The pub food was great, the pints kept pouring, and we made some new friends in a very old pub. Come for the history and stay for a proper pub experience. It's definitely worth the trouble of seeking this one out. read more
OLD, OLD, OLD. So much history. Even though I'm sure lots of tourists weave their way through alleys to get here, nothing about this bar felt touristy. We sat in the beer garden, and around us college kids chatted, a couple next to us was maybe on a first date?, just people of all types. And we drank. Drank in the warmth of the early fall day. Drank in welcome gulps, or quiet glugs. Drank away the beginnings of what would be a long day. Drank away the start of what would be a long night. Just a fun as hell kinda place. And old too. Some parts of the building have been there since the 1300s. And if you love history, or Hollywood, it's said that C.S. Lewis , Stephen Hawking, and Bill Clinton used to hang out (not together LOL). And where Billy boy allegedly "didn't inhale." Ahhh the 90s, am I right? read more
Part of coming here is for the experience of eating at an old and charming tavern. Most seating is outside but there are some inside with a nice ambiance. You seat yourself, order from a QR code, and they bring it to your table fairly quickly. Since it was Sunday and I was a tourist, I tried their Sunday roast. It was pretty good but several of the veggies were burnt, so I don't know that I'd recommend it. Tried their pies too which I thought were a good deal. The salad wasn't bad either. Overall a decent meal in a historic location. read more
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 read more
1 year ago
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? read more
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! read more
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! read more
5 months ago
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 read more
2 years ago
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. read more
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). read more
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. read more
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. read more
7 months ago
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. read more
3 years ago
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. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Great fish and chips!! The ambiance is super cool. Makes you feel like you're very "in the know" read more
3 years ago
Their delicious drinks are making my butt spread like rumors! The regularly have new specials which I am forced to try, staying here for 9 days, pushing me further away from my goal of being a swimsuit model. I was hoping to lose weight on this trip. I guess not. They are tapped out on their butter beer. The service is A plus. And the ambiance is super nice and they helped us try new beers. They really need to do flights, beer flights!!! read more
2 years ago
Very cute restaurant. The ambiance made me feel like I was in the hobbit. Perfect for brunch read more
3 years ago
Quick pub stop at this hidden gem. It's tucked away on Bath Place but worth the find. Supposedly CS Lewis, Margaret Thatcher and Tony ther known persons have come to this hideout! Ordered the Lilly Still Cider and 1381! Get your table and number in the courtyard, Line up at the curved bar, put in your food and drink order and walk out with your drinks and food gets delivered to your table. Did not try the meals but heard that the Mead is good here! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
This is a delightful alleyway "hidden gem" tavern with a ton of history. Be prepared to squeeze through tight corridors and duck under low ceiling bars as you come visit this aged and storied establishment! It has hosted famous patrons including Bill Clinton, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Blair, CS Lewis, Stephen Hawking, Margaret Thatcher, and the cast and crew of the Harry Potter films while they were shooting in Oxford. You can get a variety of brews on tap, plus classic English fare to eat. We enjoyed the big fish and chips, the sausage roll, and the scotch egg -- all hit the spot. They have quite a lot of space for the unassuming location, with both indoor and outdoor tables. Though if you come on an unseasonably nice day, expect big crowds and potentially some wait time. When we came on a beautiful April day, we were told 90 minutes for food(!) -- but then it was actually only 10 (unexpected but great!). Overall a fun visit for tourists and locals alike! read more
4 years ago
We made a reservation a day ahead of time. When we got there, we noticed there wasn't a lot of direction and we didn't know where to go to speak to someone or if we should just go and look for our table. We eventually found our table. Service wasn't overly accommodating even when they could see us looking around, unsure of what to do. Food overall was amazing! My husband got the regular size fish & chips and I got the steak pie with chips. Both had an amazing flavor and we both loved what we got. I got the butter beer to drink and was very under impressed. I didn't end up drinking half of it. Overall, food was great, service and beer could have been better, but would definitely come back! read more
2 years ago
First off, this place is SO cool. It's the oldest tavern in Oxford apparently, from the 12th century. The food was decent, my dad loved his shepard's pie though. A really cozy and nice place, def worth to stop by even just for the atmosphere. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
A must visit. Have a pint or a yard. Beautiful garden area, picturesque bar and great ales and beers. Former US president Bill Clinton and many other luminaries have been here, shared a beer and wouldn't you have wished to be a barfly on the wall to listen in on some of those conversations! read more
2 years ago
We loved this quaint tavern in an alley in Oxford. They had a great beer selection and the food was very good. We had their hamburgers. read more
3 years ago
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