please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Huge price increases (bitter is minimum £4.20), and a menu which consists of steaks priced at £28,£33,and £75. Yes, you read that right. Unbelievable. Seems that the current management are intent on running the place into the ground. The heady days of Pete McGarry seem a long time ago now.
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Reopens with new management Wednesday 1st October 2015.
Decent beer range now and simple pub grub in a proper pub.
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As mentioned, this pub has received the attentions of the "interior design" department, giving it a clean and fresh feel whilst not realy keeping it character of the building itself. The Australian influence extends to the menu, including kangaroo and shark, adding a bit of variety to normal pub fare. Range of ciders and beers on hand pump, but unfortunately the majority of the latter were not available on the day of my visit. Probably worth a second visit.
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The previous reviewer Komakino must have visited a few days before the Kite shut down for a big refrurb by Greene King. He was lucky to see it in old form.
The Kite now features exposed bricks, pastel lime green paint, and heavily patterned wallpaper. The pool table and dart board, and jukebox have been removed. It's an obvious attempt by GK to take the pub up market, but it looks so cliched and dated already. They needed to build on what was already good, rather than point to "Pub Option 4" in the corporate pub makeover handbook.
The new owners seem like a good bunch, but it's the first pub they've ever run. I wish them all the best, but can't help but think it would have been best for them to run it for a while, and make some of their own decisions about how they'd like to change things.
I fear that Greene King's removal of all the community features of the pub will backfire, and that a tacky makeover will not succeed in taking this pub upmarket as they obviously want to do.
Sure, the Kite needed a kick up the bum, but GK have really screwed this place around now.
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A backstreet gem just off the Botley Road near the station in the midst of student houses. The welcome was warm - the place has just been taken over by an Australian lad and his mother. The beer was good - despite the place being a GK house, I had a pint of Golden Galaxy (the brewer escapes me) which was extremely quaffable. The atmosphere was good - a nice mix of locals and students enjoying early evening tipples, and all-round plus points with no-nonsense decor, 5/6 hand pumps, pool table, quiz machine, jukebox, fruit machine and TV (sports results on quiet) gives this high marks indeed.
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as a user and local of this pub i was not pleased to find the prices of the drinks quite so high!!!! the new landlord is unfriendly down to the point of being rude! the food quality is very good on certain days, the roast dinners are by far the best around oxford! shame the chef is a bit miserable, i also dont like the fact we could hear music and some other weird noises from the kitchen!!i understand why the new landlord doesnt want dogs after the mess that was always there last time, but surely dogs on their leads wouldnt be so bad? it wasnt the punters dogs that messed the place up before moreso the previous landlords!! my fear for this pub is that the staff are unfriendly and prices too high would recommend eating here then leaving to go to another pub for cheaper beer!!
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Its like a breath of fresh air now that the pub is dog free and also free of the most obnoctious landlord in the universe, i for one will not mourn the departure of this animal who verbally abused me andharrased me and my family to a point where the policde were involved so you poor folk who were hoodwinked by that animal i feel very sorry for you, a pat on the back for the land lord for banning dogs who wants dog hair in their food ? not me for one plus those dogs should never should have been allowed anywhere near food or kitchens. So if you people are annoyed at the ban on dogs go to another pub i am sure they will welcome you with open paws. I you didpute the cleanliness of those licenced premisis you should have taken a look at the contents of the seven skips of rubbish taken from the living quarters of that place.
Well done Paul your top man in my book Oh by the way i own dogs myself so am not dog preduced.
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Tom and Sean: I've been going to the Kite for at least 8 years, and am disappointed by the change of direction the new landlord seems to have taken. I'll continue to use the pub, as I would hate for it to close, however I think banning dogs from the pub was a rash idea, and the prices are now a bit excessive. Most locals seem to have stopped going, which is a shame. Perhaps in time a different clientele will start using the pub.
For the record, I don't care what nationality the landlord is, as long he he runs a good pub.
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Come on you lot this is a good local with a good pint of Stella, nice approachable staff one of which has been working in the Kite for over 20 years what is your problem. If you are going to complain about a part of our community at least have the decadency to put your name. I personally have been coming in to the Kite for 5 years and the change is just progression into a different era. This is a good English pub with an English land lord so Whinge on.
Tom and Sean.
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Worrying developments since change of tenancy. Prices are up significantly, dogs are banned, the interior has been stripped of decoration and now feels very bare. The dartboard has been removed. Presumably the pool table might also go. There is now only one bitter being served. The locals seem to all be going elsewhere, as the pub seems dead whenever I venture in.
I hope Greene King aren't trying to run the pub into the ground in order to sell the building for flat development.
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Popped in to my old local, didn't bother to buy a pint as my dog had to remain outside. Feel desperately sorry to see yet another traditional pub go down the drain. I look forward to meeting my old local friends in other places. Come back Pete, all is forgiven!! And Pete, you can put ice down my back any day ;-)
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Sadly it hasn't been just "utility works", the Kite is now no longer recognisable as the friendly local Pete established. Dogs are banned and the price of a pint has soared, now more like central Oxford prices.
A very sad loss, Pete certainly is missed and the new landlord clearly doesn't understand or care for the locals. Another genuine pub being turned in to a run of the mill "bistro". A real shame.
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Popular landlord of 7 years, Peter McGarry has now moved on, and the Kite is currently closed for some 'utility works'. Fingers crossed that a great pub is now not in danger. Pete - you and the dogs will be missed.
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Unpretentious and very reasonably priced food, good real ales, and always happy to accommodate the Oxford Hash. They put on a good buffet spread as well.
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As others have pointed out, the location of The Kite lends itself to localdom, but don't let this put you off as it's handily-placed for a quick drink pre/post train journey. The dogs lend a certain charm, and the cheap and filling Sunday roasts (with a quick turnaround to boot) are a highlight. A couple of decent ales, but no cider other than Strongbow, which doesn't really count. Especially in Oxford. A good place for non-Premiership football fans whose teams are on the box; the landlord was more than happy to put Plymouth on a few weeks back, and even kept the game on until the final whistle when England had kicked off in the rugby minutes earlier.
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Deservedly popular backstreet pub, popular with local residents and workers. Excellent staff, darts, pool table, sports shown on the TV, ludicrously cheap pub food. Good hardcore of regulars, and very dog friendly. A proper, no frills pub. Greene King tied, but the beer is always served immaculately. Top notch.
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Never would I have imagined that you would have to book a table on a Friday lunchtime in a backstreet pub the wrong side of the tracks but that was the case. Amazing food prices (I was stuffed for �4) with a very friendly atmosphere.
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Tucked away the wrong side of the railway tracks, this is probably the best option close to the awkwardly located Oxford station. A bevy of canines patrol the place and are partial to the odd pork scratching. Delicious pints of Hooky are on tap and there is a cosy pool room. A dramatic roll on the pool table is the only black mark against this no nonsense establishment.
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Good back street boozer. Landlord Pete runs a tight ship, constantly changing real ales, nice freindly atmosphere, nice garden outside. Watch-out for the dogs though- they're allowed to run wild throughout the pub. Stays open late on the weekend (time called about 11:45)
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Excellent food, cannot afford to miss the delicious home made burgers, all great value for money. Friendly bar staff and excellent atmosphere.
anonymous - 8 May 2006 12:42 |
Great back-street boozer, popular among young and old, students and locals.
Good choice of guest ales with very high turnover.
All sports shown (except Prem Plus) and guaranteed banter with sport-mad, Australian landlord.
Good selection of typical pub grub at crazy prices plus home made pies and great Sunday lunch.
Pool table (free on Sunday evenings), darts and quiz night (also Sunday)
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