please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
For sure, not Oxford's most toothesome pub but a tad under rated all the same. Decent beers and superior Thai food are complemented by acceptable decor and beer garden that is a good spot for a chinwag, even if it is largely sheltered from the sun. If this were in Didcot, we'd be waxing lyrical.
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Had for ages been an indistinguishable Greene King pub, so I was surprised when my friends suggested we leave the Oxford Beer Festival and go there for some food. A steaming hot plate of spicy goodness (don't remember what it was called but it sounded like a Carry On script) was in front of me in double quick time and disappeared almost as quickly, washed down with a nice crisp pint of Castle Rock. Great Thai food at very reasonable prices and they keep the beer well.
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Nice small independent boozer. Good food and ok Greene King beers. Rude little dark haired dwarf behind bar but woth a visit.
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My friends and I congregated here after a dinner in Christ Church and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised but the staff, atmosphere, and the beers. The Greene King's beers were consumed with relish and the staff were friendly (even while we were finishing our pints past closing on a Sunday).
I've overlooked this pub before, but I won't in the future.
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Their Thai food is cheap and good, with generous portions. The staff are friendly. It doesn't strike me as a touristy place, though it does tend to be full of academics and (to a much lesser extent) undergraduates.
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Called in twice while in Oxford this weekend. Pub was packed Friday evening, so moved on after a good pint of Hyde's. Returned the next night and it was much quieter. Great "real" Thai food, spicy and very good value for money!!
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Not bad. Serves Thai food, which smells fantastic and looks great. Will have to try it some day soon...
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My experience is that this place is just fine for a quick pint or two before getting on the bus. And there's nothing wrong with that . Certainly more pleasant than St Aldate's which can be intimidating to the pub-shy. Nice little bit at the front to get cosy with a pal or the newspaper. Friendly staff
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Reasonable boozer serving Morris Mayhem, Greene King and Abbots (it is a GK pub). Narrow bar area becomes single file, side on should you wish to go out in to the rear yard as a games machine has been placed with reckless disregard for fire safety at the narrowest point. No carpets, full of students wearing some sort of satirical golfer's gear, friendly atmosphere. I went out back in to the yard. It was not aesthetically pleasing but was fine enough. It has two tiers. the upper one of which seems to encourage burglers to have a go at adjacent buildings. Incidentally, it is named after a bell.
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Went in for some nostalgia. Left very quickly - too little of the old atmosphere left. Very much now part of the tourist drag.
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My Wife and I visited here 12.7.2008 (day trip shopping s/seeing )had lunch.Food was very good as was the Beer and very very well priced , value for money.
The Landlady / Manageress was most helpful and took time to explain a little local history.I could have stayed all day , however , women being women had to go.
Will I return...........Oh yes !
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Generally a sound night out (though occasionally have experienced erratic food serving times, and once had a long debate with the bar-tender over a sub-standard pint ... it was very cloudy, she said she thought it was always like that, I explained it wasn't, she explained I could buy another drink if I wanted one ... slightly aggravating when a large group of us had settled in for the evening).
But normally the IPA and Abbot ales are well kept, and the guest beer - when available - is worth a go. In summertime, the garden out the back is splendid, and the pub manages to appeal to a nice mix of punters. A few years ago, it went through a really rough patch, and it's great to see it back on form. There was a brief "purple patch", when the very friendy Czech bar-tender attracted Czechophiles from all over Oxford, but she seems to have left.
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Hello
My name is Jacqueline Paphitis and I am the licencee of The Old Tom. Would the gentleman/lady who posted the comment on the site be so kind as to contact me. I would like to offer apologies for the service you experienced on this day and can only say that this matter has been dealt with. I do listen to customer comments and act accordingly. If possible I would like to offer a re-visit on our expense as a gesture of goodwill. Once again I can only apologise for this experience.
Tel 01865-204801
Jacqueline Paphitis
Fellow MBII
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I am not impressed with this pub. Signs are displayed EVERYWHERE (even in the loo) stating that food is served 12-10pm. So in we trundled at 3.45pm looking for a late lunch. I'm a vegetarian, so my choices were extremely limited with their menu, but luckily I love pasta, so went with that. After placing our order however, the barmaid told us that there was no pasta. So I had another cursory look at the menu, but there was nothing else I wanted (I don't eat eggs, so the quiche was out, and I would grudge paying �6.95 for a salad when I know I'd be hungry aterwards). My Mum (who was treating) put her money back in her purse and we said we'd go elsewhere. At that, the barmaid toddles into the kitchen again, only to reappear saying that I could have the pasta. Was the chef just lazy? Why did he not want to do the pasta?
Next moan - my mum detests butter/marg/spread to the extent that the taste of it makes her physically sick. So when she ordered her BLT, the barmaid was told NO butter, in very clear, firm and polite tones. So when we sat back down with our drinks, I happened to notice (in tiny writing) on a blackboard facing the back of the pub, that the kitchen closes between 4-6pm. Ah ha! That explains the apparently lazy chef. Obviously (and understandably) he didn't want to do any meal that would make him too late in getting on his break (but he changed his mind when the cash disappeared!). Anyway, an American couple sitting opposite us had to send their meals back, because he'd messed them up, then my mum had to send her BLT back because it was spread thick with butter, the poor barmaid had to keep taking food back to the obviously impatient chef, and he didn't get finished until gone 4.30pm because of all the extra work he gave himself. The moral of this rant? ADVERTISE YOUR FOOD SERVING TIMES PROPERLY! If I'd known they stoppped at 4pm, I wouldn't have gone in and ordered at ten to.
anonymous - 29 Oct 2007 17:07 |
Had a good clean pint of Guinness here, staff are friendly and pleasant. The pub is oriented toward food, fairly extensive menu with daily specials. A good mix of clientele (locals, students and tourists), a small but pleasant courtyard at the back. Definitely one to visit.
anonymous - 8 Mar 2007 08:05 |
Though the pub took a huge gamble on the early enforcement of the non smoking (Jan 2006) I have found this to be one of the friendliest bars in town. The service,staff, ambience food and drink is great. Not too many choices of ales though, but very good nontheless. Can't wait for the garden to re-open.
anonymous - 19 Feb 2007 20:11 |
Visited there today. Had the best fish and chips in Oxford while sitting in the very pleasant garden to the rear of the pub (a rare thing in Oxford). The service was excellent. The non smoking atmosphere is fantastic. Being a non smoker myself there are few bars that I would venture in because of this reason. Would recommend the Greene King IPA or Speckled Hen. One thing which was a nice touch is the picture of the Queen. Good choice of wines. Would recommend to 'ladies that lunch'
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Refurbished controversially: non-smoking rules render this place clinical. No students in general it seems though. Food was terrible when I went, but I hear it isn't always bad.
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Beer good. Sat in the garden with swifts flying overhead. Cosmopolitan clientele (but then Oxford is jampacked with tourists from all over the planet).
Nice friendly bar staff.
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Withe reference to the anonymous licensee's comments. You monologue on why pub's are better now is interesting but we don't all have to agree with you. That is the point of this site. I preferred this pub as it used to be.
The staff are great, as is the food; the beer is good, but expensive. You've taken down the stupid pots and beermats. Well Done! I still preferred it as it used to be however. That is my perogative. I try and use pubs that I like.Plenty of pubs cater for me. You're obviously aiming at a different market. That's fine.
As for the comments about the late Roger Smith lots of people did try and help him. Keep those comments to yourself.
SB
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Now a Greene King pub. The exterior is now painted green therefore I have uploaded a new photo. Useful for good homemade food in the evenings, and the long narrow pub is intimate yet spacious within.
Staff are very friendly and attentive particularly the French girl behind the bar, and a good eclectic mix of all ages enjoy food and beer at the Old Tom.
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Enjoyed a lovely pint of Ale in there from friendly staff. Some of the decor not to my taste as posters 'of old' but generally a very nice pub in my opinion.
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Hi
I'm one of the licencees at The Old Tom in Oxford and have been here for two years now. However, I have been in the licenced trade for more than 25 years. I have to respond to the comment by Bob Evans on how pubs 'used to be'with relation to The Old Tom 15 years ago. The licenced industry has changed dramatically over the years that I have been in the trade. I think for the better! Gone are the smoke filled rooms with a male dominant bar of traditional beer drinkers. Gone is the 'men only tap room', and yes gone are the spitoons! The bars must changed to adapt to new clientelle. Should licencees/breweries/managers ignore this new trade then be it at their own peril. I here the sounds of 'things are not what they used to be' but I believe this is for the better. Customers want food, drink wines, teas, coffees, cappuccino and why not! Customers want a cleaner enviornment a mixed clientelle.
In closing I have heard many praises for the late Roger Smith although not having met him. I however do have to say, where were the loyal customers when Roger left The Old Tom peniless and literally on the street!
anonymous - 7 Jun 2005 16:20 |
The Old Tom seems to have come back to form recently. The miserable bar staff that were present the last time I visited with a friend are gone, and all of the bitters are now on rather than unavailable. Had a lovely ham & Oxford Blue ploughmans there too which I would highly recommend. Combine with the Hobgoblin for an excellent St. Aldates crawl
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About 15 years ago, this pub used to be an absolute gem. It was the local's local, with a fantastic landlord- the late Roger Smith (his Jesse Pye football hero wording is still above the bar). It is now an average Greene King boring house with too many stickers and so called 'interesting items' stuck on the wall and ceiling. Don't bother unless you're waiting for a bus - very convenient!!
bob evans - 5 Mar 2004 22:44 |
Decent beer, friendly type people behind bar. Generally good Pub.
Ian - 20 Feb 2004 20:02 |
Great music night at The Old Tom on Wednesdays, we make this our regular drinking place now. Great touch with the candles in the evening. The staff are great, sometimes they give free chips and dips. Its a bit on the small side, but they have a great garden to the rear.
Janie and Desiree
Janie, Desiree - 4 Feb 2004 18:13 |
Long thin establishment frequented by long thin types including staff from cathedral opposite (choir boys and organist types). Friendly staff, nice place to drink three bottles of wine without any hassle with a friend. Quiet.
Ron Malibu - 13 Dec 2003 18:59 |
Me and my mates thought this place was well below average.
Peter - 13 Oct 2003 01:48 |
