The Turf Tavern, Bath Place

This is the classic tourist in Oxford, often quoted as a must visit. And you’d be forgiven for not realising that the Turf Tavern is owned by Greene King given the range of beers.

Oddly, for a classic tourist destination, it’s incredibly hard to find if you don’t know where it is – access is either via a seemingly indescript doorway on Bath Place or via a passageway which is almost underneath the Bridge of Sighs. (Navigation has been made easier more recently by a sign put up on the latter passage entrance – boo!).

The pub nestles in amongst the old city walls and has two pleasant beer gardens to sit in – but I have to say it’s not one of my favourites. The staff can be grumpy and the times I have been in there the recent past, there has not been as wide a choice as previously. And service can be slow even with two bars, especially when busy with students/tourists.

Woe betide anyone who loiters near the hatch in the top bar... I just feel there are better pubs in the centre than this.

Nearby: KA, White Horse