please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Backstreet Fuller's pub where a quiz was taking place on our Thursday evening visit. I never feel particularly comfortable walking into a quiz, as you can't really enjoy a normal conversation whilst everybody is trying to listen to the questions. Nevertheless, we sat at the bar and I enjoyed a London Porter, which I rarely see on cask. London Pride was also on, along with Gale's Seafarers & Dark Star Hophead & Revelation. Decent place. But, I'd rather visit when there's no quiz!
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Some of the punters of this pub behave as colour prejudiced. It is frequented mostly by Jewish community who sometimes engage in singing Zionist songs. They pester Asian punters particularly those of Middle Eastern origin. They have a rat looking long nosed longish haired security man who pesters these punters by racially profiling them and haunting them, searching under their seats and treating them as if they are terrorists.
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A group of us went along on Friday, thinking it might be a pleasant pre theatre stop. Sadly no! My girlfriend (an English Lit grad so can term a phrase) described the "bountifully bearded" bar steward (yes thats intentional) as performing "service with a scowl"!! Why work in a pub if you don't like interacting with the public? Rude, impatient and enough to dissuade our reattendance. Enough to persuade me to write a review though, even though I haven't before, in the hope you'll read and avoid giving such a badly represented place your hard earned.
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I suppose all pubs have to move with the times to a certain extent, but I sometimes wonder about the people who decide what's best for the customers. For many years, the Harcourt drew a loyal crowd of regulars (and visitors) from across the world because it so typifies Oxford and what it means to be "in" a pub: a real fire, well-kept ales, an experienced landlord. An atmosphere of calm prevailed with pleasantly dim lighting, table tops worn by generations of pint pots, and the gentle hum of conversation among friends.
Fast forward to late 2012 and the image has been shattered. The fine quality post-war interior with its wood panelling has been painted over in battleship grey, much of the seating has been ripped out or entirely or replaced with pseudo-retro alternatives, even a glitter ball now hangs incongruously behind the bar. A true classic no more ....
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Not living in Oxford anymore I hadn�t been here for a couple of years but had fond memorys of it. I gather it has changed hands since then and I�m sorry to say it has gone down hill a lot. A friend and I visited a few weeks ago and were left depressed by the whole experience! The usual assortment of old and young local drunks make up the punters and couldn�t have been less welcoming. Conversation seemed to consist of fart gags and specualtion about which member of staff the landlady is �favouring�. We felt very uncomfortable and left after one watery ale. It cant seem to decide whether it�s an old mans pub or an artistic persons front room and the fact that it was virtually empty on a Friday evening means it will probably go the way of so many local boozers. A pity because it used to be a cosy place, but I won�t be returning for another couple of years.
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Still a good bet, and a surprisingly nice large garden out the back I only recently found! Fullers beers well kept, agree the inside lost something with the most recent make over but still a great neighbourhood pub.
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Another excellent stop off in Jericho which truly is a great neighborhood for a pub crawl. The redecoration of a couple of years back and the lack of choice on tap are slight drawbacks. I like Fullers ales, but this is Oxford, not Acton.
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Jon the old landlord left fairly recently and it is now under new management. The brewery Fullers have redecorated and made some changes, mainly for the worse, but it is still a drinkers pub. Now has over-loud piped music and rather bright white walls which are not particularly welcoming. As a result I think it has lost a lot of the character for which it was famous. Still a cracking pint of ESB tho'
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Yeah I went there the other day and those definitely weren't PORK scratching.....
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A good number of the customers at Harcourt Arms pub in Oxford are passionately Jewish and they sing Jewish nationalist songs trying to make the rest feel outsiders or even unwelcome. The beer tastes a bit...watery too.
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New landlords just moved in, so a different feel to that suggested by Beer Guide, but very friendly and a relaxing place to read a book - Chiswick beer good. Give them a try.
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Favourite pub in Oxford - too expensive to frequent on too regular a basis as a student, but that is probably a blessing for the atmosphere. Fuller's beers, board games and pints of pistachios.
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Nipped in after catching a film at the nearby Phoenix Picturehouse. Small, yet cosy place. Not overly busy for a Saturday night, but refreshing to experience no big screen or piped music. Four Fuller's beers on tap. Plumped for the excellent Discovery and wasn't let down. Managed to squeeze in an extra half thereafter. Will be coming back.
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I just love this classic place. Excellent beer and incredible service. Look for London Porter on tap. John, I'll be there after my Viva and also Graduation
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A surprisingly large local, which wasn't packed out even late on a Saturday night.
The Porter looked great, Pride was top notch.and the pint or half of pistachios was a treat!
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The only place in Oxford to serve Fuller's Chiswick. Good old fashioned pub with a few quirks (odd latin music, modern art on the walls). Has two log fires, and seat by one of these in Winter with a decent pint is one of the best places to be drinking in Oxford.
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A proper pub, but with London Pride at �3.10 a pint (and I have to say that it was not a particularly good pint)it's hardly much competition in a sea of Greene King.
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A lovely old-fashioned pub, everything you need for a nice garrulous beer with friends on an evening. There are board games too should conversation fade. Look it up!
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I lived and worked in London for 11 years but have to say that I cannot recall a landlord who serves such a superb pint of Fullers Chiswick as this one.
Truly a wonderful experience, topped off with interesting decor and a diverse musical backdrop.
This is truly a pub worth seeking out.
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The old barman was still there when I was there a couple of weekends ago, serving a stunning pint of Fullers London Porter. The only distraction was a very smokey fire - reminiscent of the bad old days before the smoking ban. Even so a true classic!
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Looks a back street local, but is comfortable and friendly serving good Fullers beers.
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The landlord seems to have changed; the new couple are very friendly, made a real effort to see our group sat down comfortably, and all the usual range of fullers' beers were excellent.
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Good landlord and decent beers (Fullers, well kept). Cheap and tasty jacket potatoes and toasted sandwiches. Avoids loud music so it is a good place to go to chat with friends over a decent pint. There is a small patio garden out back which many people miss as you need to go out the front door and reound the corner.
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Rather quiet on my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, but the Pride was in good nick. Surprised it doesn't stay open all afternoon on Friday, Saturday - perhaps that's why it was so quiet. Nice surroundings and decor, apart from the rather odd looking abstract paintings which seemed out of place
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The term "back-street local" is probably entirely accurate, but I realise that this description can conjure up images of peeling paint, gruff, insular locals, poorly-kept beer, a loud jukebox and possibly unspeakably filthy toilets. Let's be clear: this is NOT the case here.
Yes, the Harcourt has a comfortable patina to it, it is no frills and lacks the pretense which has crept in in more mainstream Oxford boozers. But mainly it must be commended for its friendliness, well-conditioned cask ales, and sheer honesty. There aren't many places as unspoilt as this, even in Jericho, and for those traditionalists who prize good conversation, atmosphere and ale above image, bright lighting and fizz, this is a must.
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Undeservedly quiet pub with well-kept beers, and good landlord. Some games. A little small, but it's not usually that full. Worth a trip if you're a little bored of the other great Jericho pubs.
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Excellent back street local. Fine Fullers beers and friendly landlord. Recommended.
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