London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs
Can a pub try and be too many things? I sometimes wonder that about the Oxford. It's got a nice chatty bar in one half with casual sofas you can lose yourself in and a mix of old school long and small pub tables and then the other half is a sit down restaurant which does good food. The split feels a little odd and it's not really helped by the pumping tunes in the bar and no music at all in the restaurant - that combined with occasionally having a small TV on for big football or rugby matches makes for a place that feels like it isn't quite confident in what it is.
Having said all that - I'm a fan. It's got a nice chilled out upstairs to get away from the busy bar, and the food on the whole is generally really good. Decor is dark traditional pub and works well. Staff are efficient and friendly in the bar, and they have had some excellent staff in the restaurant - interesting and fun. It's also got a whole load of benches outside for the smokers amongst us.
It can get really busy on a Friday and Saturday night, and watch out for turfing out time on a Sunday from The Church at the Forum as you are going to find a lot of very drunk antipodeans rolling in...not perhaps ideal for a far Sunday reading the papers....
Check out my review of The Oxford - I am scottishwolf - on Qype
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