please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A Youngs pub I've visited on and off for years; I grew up in London drinking Youngs beers and like a nostalgic pint! In November I'd hoped to see Youngs Winter Warmer (do they still make it?) but they only had one Youngs brew (ordinary bitter) amongst the selection on the handpumps. Maybe a sign of the times since the Charles Wells takeover and the closure of the Wandsworth brewery. Nothing wrong with the pub itself - still the usual mix of locals, unversity and toursists but rather lacking in the company's product.
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I like this pub, with its Youngs beers, atmosphere, and its generally welcoming woodiness.
I'm not sure if its the woodiest pub that I've ever visited, but if I were in a betting mood, then I'd at least say that it's a good contender.
The home-made pork crackling etc. as bar snacks are a nice touch, for those who like that sort of thing too.
Eight-out-of-ten seems fair.
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Overrated and expensive ...
£4.30 for a pint of Twickenham Grandstand is out of order.
Go to the White Horse near by.
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Worth a visit. As other 'posters' have said, it has many other rooms off the, what seems to be, the main bar area. Parts of it remind me of a typical London boozer. Beers supplied by Young's, with a couple of guest beers as well. Very nice traditional pub.
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The large main lounge area seems geared for the mainly pub grub role of this establishment. The smaller bar around the back is quite charactersome with some interesting features and other small snugs leading off. Several real ales on tap.
A nice enough pub.
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Excellent pints of Youngs had here. Large, woody main room interior becomes very lively on a Friday certainly.
There are the usual Youngs trademarks: framed photos of a young Price Charles, colours and so on. Bar snacks of home made pork crackling, scotch eggs and pork pies sell well.
Good beer, atmosphere and surroundings make for a very pleasant visit.
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Sought this one out as we had our dog with us. We and she were welcomed as soon as we walked in. A Youngs pub and the beer was ok. We sat in the back room next to the open fire which on a cold day was welcome. We arrived in mid afternoon and it was reading week so no students and it was quite quiet. Despite that there was only one person behind the bar serving and ordering the food was a faff. However it was reasonable pub fare when it came. The pub delivered what we wanted - beer, food, open fire and welcomed our dog.
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Another pub I didn’t go into for 35 years – but I don’t remember the inside of this one at all. Though I’m fairly certain that there used to be two separate rooms at the front – one has been opened out. There is much (seemingly genuine) wooden panelling round the bar, and a separate room behind.
A Youngs house with their standard range of beers. Was disappointed to find out that the London Stout advertised everywhere was actually keg. I can’t remember the prices unfortunately, and all I can remember aboput the food is whereabouts the serving hatch was !
There are a few tables outside the front on the main street. Not sure why anyone would want to sit there, but when we left, one was occupied by the same three people who had been sitting outside the White Horse when we left there !!
7/10 – a good solid pub, that could do with a more adventurous beer range.
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I was going to say vastly over-rated but I see the reviews already.
Best bit: interesting set of interlocking rooms (which usefully fill up with people who would otherwise fill up the surrounding good pubs).
Worst bit: always rammed.
Food unimpressive. Drink is Young's standard offering with their standard guests. Both too costly by Oxford standards.
Beware the treacherously long stairs to the toilets.
A student pub (most in the centre are - try The Crown or The Wheatsheaf if you want to avoid these) with well-dressed interlopers in for weekend lunches.
Nigh impossible to get a bench out the front - if you do then it's great for people watching. Front bar is just a room now, they've closed off a room (you can rent it out for functions); back bar is a series of 3 interconnected rooms, of which 2 are good to sit in (not the middle one).
But with The Turf and The White Horse within 2 minutes walk - go to one of those infinitely better pubs.
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Went here for Sunday Lunch. The roast sirloin beef was inedible, tough, like eating old boot. It was also very pricey @£12.95. I shall not be going here again in a hurry.
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Visited at lunchtime busy but got a table Beer Youngs Bitter was top notch Food simple but reasonable quality arrived within 10 mins of ordering Staff were helpful & as others have said has an excellent atmosphere. Only disappointement were the frankly pretty awful loos which probalbly as a result of being in the basement were terribly smelly.
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Another dissappointment from Oxfords declining pub scene. The inside is fine but the staff are terrible. It took an age to get service and then the wine measure was short. They dont seem to know what their doing - perhaps it was a first shift for all of them. Find somewhere else.
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Didn�t have a lot of hope for this one when approaching along Broad Street and was expecting the usual Youngs inner city type sterile gastro food orientated pub, but found a much better pub than I was expecting.
This was possibly helped by the fact that we did get some table space in one of the very pleasant smaller snug rooms towards the back of the pub.
As mentioned by previous reviewers, it�s quite a large pub internally, but divided into several distinct spaces , with two serving bar spaces and additional separate rooms. The front bar is comfortable but not the best space in this pub and the smaller rooms at the back have much more atmosphere and house a display of pictures of old customers who have visited down the years, including of course, Morse and Lewis.
Named after King James 1, who was closely involved with the adjacent Wadham College, at various times over the years it�s been a coaching inn and a hotel, and the back bar, known as "The Office" was a male only bar until the fairer sex were allowed in after a redecoration after a fire in 1973.
A decent beer choice for a Youngs pub with seven beers available, which were four Youngs with the usual protagonists and three guest ales. The couple we had were well kept and I could not fault my St Austell�s Tribute, except for the fact that it was bloody expensive and this must be one of the most expensive pubs in OX1.
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Young's gastro pub with their usual high prices which seems to happen when Young's spoil a pub. John Young must be turning in his grave seeing what Young's are doing to his pub's. This was totally against his ethos. Wood floor and fittings.
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From the outside this looks like a pretty bland foodie pub aimed at tourists & students. At first glance from the inside it looks the same. But take a look around and you see a number of side rooms and alcoves that make this a nice place for either a session or just a quick drink. It's mainly Young's but there are a couple of good guests on although prices are, indeed, eye-watering.
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Large rambling pub aimed at tourists but retaining much character. Food not bad. Owned by those purveyors of bland beers Wells & Youngs but always has interesting guest beers. Only downside is the price (�3.45).
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Nice traditional pub, shame its now owned by Youngs though. Bloody expensive, �3.40 a pint, would need deep pockets here for a session.
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Good selection of beers of which the Wells's Waggle dance and Young's Special were very good.
The oldest pub in Oxford, although it must have been refurbished a few times by the look of it, it is very rangy, multi roomed open plan place with large rooms at the front and back but a couple of smaller rooms with another entry from the side street.
Woody and eclectic and quite busy and chatty with seating out the front it still has a good atmosphere despite its size, especially in the smaller rooms.
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very overpriced for very average beer although surroundings are pleasant.
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Type of place I'd normally pass by but popped in and was pleasantly surprised by a reasonable choice of beers and comfortable seating. Bath Gem and Double Chocolate Stout sampled on this occasion.
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Youngs Ordinary was fine. Not very lively late afternoon though. I prefer the Turf.
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Enjoyed a pint of Slaters Bitter (guest ale) and my colleague suppped some good Youngs Ordinary. Always a good cosmopolitan atmosphere in The Kings Arms with customers coming and going all the time (a good mix of Oxfordians and tourists and students) and the barman was very helpful as he got my pint straight from the cellar. Food counter is separate from the bar so you don't have to wait to be served for beer and it all seems to work well. Very handy for all the major Oxford City sites/sights.
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Never been a huge fan of Youngs brews but I do like this pub and it's very well placed near the centre of town. Generally a nice college crowd and good atmosphere. Would recommend their apple pie and custard washed down with a pint of Special.
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Rather fine pint of Burton Bridge Old Expensive for �2.90 good for Oxford. Warm and comfortable, shame its a Youngs pub now, I remember when it was a Morrells house!
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The Bath ales Gem was in prime condition, pity that all the staff seemed as though they were all in the middle of being trained but would definitely give it another visit.
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Popped in for a couple of quick pints yesterday. The Youngs' Bitter was excellent as usual. Not busy but good general atmosphere and friendly efficient staff.
I would recommend it to anyone drinking in Oxford.
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nice beers, didn't try the food.
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A Youngs pub that has some guest ales, not bad condition but not fantastic either. Very food oriented although retains that 'olde English Pub' idyll for the tourists, of which there were many.
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Clearly their "guest" ales don't change very often as they were still Tribute and Gem yesterday! The Youngs Gold was great. Prices quite reasonable and the service, as always, was efficient and the staff polite. I visit here most times that I'm in Oxford.
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It's some years since I last visited this pub and it's nice to see that it hasn't suffered the destructive makeover that Youngs/Wells have seen fit to inflict on so many of their pubs. It retains the multi-room layout I recall from my previous visit. However it is in desperate need of some TLC - the carpet is filthy and torn in places and a large chunk of wall was missing near where I sat.
There are six handpumps, dispensing Youngs Bitter, Special, Winter Warmer, London Gold, Tribute and Bath Gem. I had a well-kept pint of Winter Warmer.
A good pub, but it's time to give it a spruce.
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Huge, multi roomed pub but very busy so a good atmosphere despite of the size. Youngs beers plus Tribute and the guest was Bath Ales Gem which ain't great when you come up from Bristol for the day. Still , it was served in perfect condition. The service was faultless, friendly and helpful.
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Bit dissapointed with this one , a sort of multi roomed barn of a place lacking any sort of attmosphere , may have just been an off day , Decent beer range and efficint service . As previously stated some intresting overheard conversations .
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An interesting pub in Young's empire. There seemed to be at least three distinctive areas for drinking of various architectural vintages. The Young's bitter was good and overheard conversation intriguing!!
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Excellent trad pub right in the historic heart of Oxford.
Still has little nooks and corners where vague old Dons can sit on creaky seats that are older than them, and sup a decent pint for a peaceful hour.
Get's incredibly busy though, but is a very efficient pub, in terms of layout and food ordering.
Food is normally above average, but can be variable. Prices are generally good value.
Bar staff are helpful, friendly and efficient. The boss (well I assume it is he) is a good bloke and runs a tight ship.
Highly recommended.
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Splendid, spacious, unspoilt pub with good range of real ales. Pray that some greed head doesn't get hold of it and turn it into yet another trendy restaurant.
D_J_C - 19 Jun 2009 13:25 |
One of my faves and a 'must visit' of a Saturday afternoon and days off.
Well done Richard and the other staff for keeping me stocked up with Young's Chocolate Stout!
"Choccing out with Chocolate Stout!"
Eamonn (the muso - in the back bar with the music mags and DVD/CDs)
anonymous - 10 Feb 2009 17:01 |
Still as busy as ever. Note the cellar is being currently being refurbished so beer range limited. I think this is due for completion by Fri 16th Jan.
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Ubiquitous, large and busy. Evenings in term time can sometimes get a little overbearing, but at all other times this is an excellent pub, with great beer (Youngs, St Austell Tribute, one guest). If you can get a seat in one of the two backrooms, then all the better - they are far more atmospheric than the front area. Manages to attract a regular and local crowd despite it's large size and city centre location.
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Had the nicest pint of Youngs bitter here since the brewery in Wandsworth closed down and transferred brewing to Bedford. Good pub with pleasant atmosphere. Well worth a visit. Food menu is bar food type.
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An Oxford institution, this bustling den is always convivial and packed with students and an unpretentious crowd of locals. It has a beautiful location round the corner from Blackwell's bookshop.
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Exactly what a pub should be: Busy, varied clientele, good variety of proper ale well kept, brilliant atmosphere, helpful staff - just go, see for yourself, choose your favourite tipple, if you're lucky find a seat in the back sung by the fire, settle down with a good friend or favoutite book and let the day drift away.......mmmmmmm perfect
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Well known traditional City Centre pub dating back to 1607 and now owned by Youngs since 1991 ( their first pub in Oxford )
The small rooms at the back have more atmosphere and display pictures of old customers who have visited over the years, including the deadly duo of Morse and Lewis.
Despite it being a Youngs pub, the KA has always sold guest beers - on my early May visit, these were Deuchars IPA ( now a regular guest in many Youngs pubs ) , St Austell Tribute and a beer from Beartown Brewery ( regrettably my notes on which beer are now illegible !)
Bottled Quadricentary Ale ( ABV - 6.4%) was being sold in bottles to commemmorate the 400 years Anniversary.
The pub is close to several colleges and is inevitably popular with the Gown. It does however open at 10.30 in the morning, which is a good time to visit.
Definitely one of Youngs best pubs - worth seeking out.
Very close to the famous Turf Tavern ( on which I've also commented recently )
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A decent Youngs pub, with a number of good guest ales in decent nick and some nice bottled beers stocked from the Youngs range.
I've never felt able to settle in here though, although both visits were on a Saturday evening. There's something about the front bar I don't like.
Well worth a pub crawl stop-off, but not great for session unless you get in there on a weekday.
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I visited this pub again, on a Saturday lunchtime, but it was completely full with large crowds waiting to be served at the bar, so I went elsewhere.
A great pity, really, as it's a splendid pub. Perhaps it's a victim of its own success.
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I like this place. Large open room at the front, but some quieter nooks at the back with Uni lecturers doing crosswords etc. Plenty of interesting prints on the walls.
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Decent pub although the lager was very ordinary, good food though
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Enjoyed an Elgoods guest ale as well as one of the Youngs on offer. Noticed Wells beers appearing too now. Large room where the bar is, but some quieter rooms. also an outside area that always seems lively with conversation.
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In many ways a rather splendid pub. I'm particularly fond of the interior, a happy medium between the hegemonic open plan format and the be-snugged pubs of yore. I've noticed on my last few visits something of a decline in quality though, perhaps in part due to the inferior nature of the debased Bedford-brewed Young's and partly, I suspect, due to a lack of care in the cellar. Still a decent enough pub - but nowhere near the best in Oxford.
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I visited the KA just before noon on a Saturday. There was a good range of beers (not all by Youngs) but I don't think there was a mild.
I sat in "The Office", a nonsmoking room, which weirdly had a permanently-open window into the bar, which was not nonsmoking. Still, that'll be fixed in 62 days time...
Good pub, I thought. Nice architecture.
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Nice traditional Youngs pub in the centre of Oxford. It was good to find a pub opening at a civilised hour on Saturday morning - 10.30 - and to be able to visit it while quiet. The rooms at the back are preferable, more atmosphere and traditional than the large bar at the front, which I'm told is where the students congregate.
Still has Wadworths 6X on a permanent guest beer seemingly, not sure of the history behind this, does anyone know ?
One of Oxfords must visit pubs
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Elegant, creamy, stucco Georgian-looking building right in the centre of Oxford. Lots of stripped down wood inside. Seemed good, and certainly did nothing worong, but did lack atmosphere after the nearby Turf Tavern.
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Having been put off this pub at first by the prices and the clientelle (students wearing scarves, flat caps and smoking pipes - but then what do you expect in Oxford?) I have had to change my mind, largely because of the bar staff. I came here recently with friends, and sat in the front room in relative luxury for a pub. It was supposed to be No Smoking, but we were there quite late, and nobody else was in the room, so the barman brought through an ashtray and let us carry on. The evening was unfortunately interrupted by the fire alarm going off, but when we were evacuated, another barman told us that we could go home and take our glasses with us (as we all had almost full pints), as long as we brought them back the next day. We were made to feel like guests rather than customers, which makes a change from those all-too-common establishments which alienate their customers by their anally retentive "company policy".
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It's a decent pub, but not inspiring. With prices more expensive than in London, though, it's one to avoid.
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Crow-Valley, the Young's lagers have been discontinued as part of the Wells takeover* along with Kew Brew, Summer Zest and Dirty Dick's.
*Becoming part of a company with only two shareholders, where you hold 40% and they hold 60%, is a takeover in my book.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2006 20:03 |
Nice Young's pub, with a variety of interesting rooms to sit in. Usual range of Young's beers on tap (but not their lagers) plus a wide selection of bottled Young's beers. Enjoyed quite a few bottles of Oatmeal Stout which were delicious. Definitely one to visit if you're in the area.
(And yes, Stonch, Oatmeal Stout is also available on keg, but I stuck to the bottles.)
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Don't they still serve Oatmeal Stout on tap (keg, sadly) here? They always used to.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2006 14:22 |
Kew Brew discontinued by cracking bottles of Oatmeal Stout. Nice to see a Youngs pub (especially with so many tourists and students) making the effort to stock some of their more unusual beers. At �2.50 a bottle I wouldn't say it was any more expensive than any other pubs round that way.
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Sorry should have been clearer, and I see your point: my main complaint was the pricing. The food costs pretty much the same as anywhere else, even if it's far from wonderful. I've had better, cheaper beer elsewhere in Oxford but I suppose you're paying for location as you say.
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The last reviewer, with respect, appears to be in bizarro world - the beer here is good, the food is shite. It gets busy for two very good reasons - its location and the fact its a good place to meet people.
anonymous - 5 Sep 2006 16:46 |
The attraction of this bar eludes me other than its location. Far too busy, for no good reason, at night. It is however not lacking in atmosphere, but mostly it's students. Also, the Young's beers here are overpriced for the quality. It doesn't seem nearly as bad for food though, and at least during the day it's generally possible to get a seat.
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Very crowded, very overpriced (�2.50 Ale, �3.10 Stella, �4.15 Hoegaarten) poorly kept beer and full of rahs.
I don't know why I kept going back during my three year stay in the town, but I did. Maybe it was because it was nearest pub that wasn't the college bar. Would recommend the white horse and the turf in preference and both of them are within a minutes walk.
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Considering it's at the heart of a tourist honeypot, this is a quality boozer, and deservedly popular. The Youngs beer is of good quality, and was kept at a reasonable temperature, even on the hot day when we visited.
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One of the nicest pubs I've ever been to. Service wasn't brilliant but the place WAS very crowded.
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Great mix of people, lots of musicy types who come in having just finished concerts talking away about who played the best! Cheap pints, great place.
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A nice pub for having a drink however the food is pants
anonymous - 22 Apr 2006 12:26 |
I think the question should be how has this pub got as low a score as 7/10?
To the gentleman who was surprised to find a �5 minimum on cards - that is completely standard - indeed just yesterday I was reading in the CAMRA guide to pub etiquette that you should always ask before you pay on card and that �5 as a minimum is industry standard. However, if someone was rude to you I'd understand you being upset.
Service is not the best in this pub - but bear in mind how central it is, how busy it is and just how wonderful a place it is to be.
10/10 for me.
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How can this pub have 7/10!? I never had someone treat with such rudness in all my life. Don't forget, girls and boys, you have to spend over �5 if you want to use your card! Don't expect to told politly either!
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I drank here in the late 70s and returned recently. It's still a fun place with a good mix of people (not just students) and the beer was fine. Had a fine time. Eeeeee, took me back to ... (cont. p 94)
anonymous - 30 Jan 2006 16:26 |
Was in here for the first time since before summer on Saturday evening. An immensely enjoyable place, always had a good atmosphere even when very busy. Had a couple of pints of very well kept Winter Warmer, very gratified to see lots of the students were drinking this too. I only remember drinking Stella in here when I was an undergrad.
anonymous - 16 Jan 2006 11:01 |
A good bet, try the Kew Brew. Some parts better than others, interesting stuff on the walls tho and on the list for any Oxford pub crawl. Don't know about the food.
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The beer is kept well. They have good take-home stuff, though that is not great at the best of times. Well organised space, and this makes it a pleasant place even when crowded. As others say, good mix of people.
anonymous - 1 May 2005 22:45 |
I love this pub. Its a great mixture of Students, Tourists and locals. Its over priced but that is Youngs for you, but the atmos compensates for that. Its one of those pubs where you can go in on your own for a quiet pint in the afternoon and not feel intimidated. But be aware that it gets very packerd on friday and saturday nights.
The food is also great...its good old faishoned nosh.
Also if you get the chance Visit Wadham Coolege next door, it was my old College.
Enjoy.
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Expensive and busy, but very pleasant inside. I'm told the food is 'dodgy'. To be fair, it isn't far to walk to better pubs, but you could do far worse than the KA.
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The girls here could not be "anymore up themselves" but they are very attractive.
Penskirt - 16 Jan 2004 16:40 |
If you're looking to meet a typical Oxford 'ra', you've headed to the right place. If not, you might be better off making your excuses and leaving - beer is average, and they do do take-away Youngs bottled beers and wine.
Adi - 22 Nov 2003 19:12 |
It's a fine pub in so many ways, but nowhere in the world wil you find a clientele quite so fond of itself as here.
Justin - 28 Apr 2003 16:31 |
Confusing food ordering system. They only put two things on an order because the chef gets huffy if he has to do more than that.
Techno - 7 Apr 2003 13:07 |
