Nightlife in Oxford
 

* Oxford City Guide now has separate pages for live music.
Please see the 'see & do' menu above.

Pubs & Bars

Oxford is a student town, and so there's plenty of great bars, pubs, and clubs to choose from. The English love a good pint, and a pub is a great place to sit back, relax, and even possibly meet a person or two - especially if you're buying the next round.

Recommended:

Turf Tavern, 01865 243235, 4 Bath Place. Official Website
Hidden down an alleyway in the city center, this popular pub was featured in the Inspector Morse (TV) series.

Eagle & Child, 01865 302925, 49 St. Giles'
This charming pub was the weekly meeting place for the Inklings - a group of writers that included JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis - from the 1930's-1960's.

Lamb & Flag, 01865 515787, 12 St. Giles'
Across from the Eagle & Child, this pub also has a literary history - Graham Greene and Thomas Hardy used to drink here often.

The Bear, 01865 721783, Alfred Street (off High)
Said to be the oldest pub in Oxford, the low ceiling, wooden interior and slanted floors make us believers. The Bear features a very difficult quiz night each Tuesday., so if you think you're smarter than the average Oxford student, show up during term time and give it a go!

King's Arms, 01865 242369, 40 Holywell Street
Crowded and popular student pub across from the Sheldonian

Other Notable Pubs and Bars...
... in the city centre

All Bar One

124 High Street

01865 258991

Anuba

11-13 Park End Street

n/a

Baby Bar Love

3 King Edward Street

01865 200011

Bar Milano

Ground Level of Pizza Express, Golden Cross

01865 790442

Bar Risa

3-5 Hythe Bridge Street

01865 722437

Brewery Gate

5 St. Thomas Street

01865 250020

Castle Tavern

24 Paradise Street

01865 201510

Chequers

131 High Street

01865 727463

City Tavern - now called Market Tavern

Market Street

01865 248388

Duke of Cambridge

5-6 Little Clarendon Street

01865 558173

Duke of York

Norfolk Street

01865 248507

Escape

9a High Street

01865 248480

Eurobar

48 George Street

01865 725087

Far from the Madding Crowd

10-12 Friar's Entry, off Magdalen St.

01865 240900

Gloucester Arms

Friar's Entry, off Magdalen St.

01865 241177

Golden Cross X

Golden Cross, off Cornmarket

01865 790442

Goose at Gloucester Green

14 Gloucester Street

01865 726255

Grapes

7 George Street

01865 793380

Ha!Ha! Bar & Canteen

4 Oxford Castle

01865 246592

Head of the River

Folly Bridge

01865 721600

Holywell's Bar & Brasserie

38 Holywell Street

01865 203536

Honeypot

8 Hollybush Row

01865 200208

Jolly Farmers

20 Paradise Street

01865 793759

Kings Arms

40 Holywell Street

01865 242369

Kiss

Park End Street

01865 200555

Las Iguanas

40-41 Park End Street

01865 263150

Living Room

1 Oxford Castle

08701 662223

Maxwells

36-37 Queen Street

01865 242192

Merton's Bar

73 High Street

01865 249065

Mitre

High Street

01865 244563

Mood

29-31 George Street

01865 726036

Next Door

38 Holywell Street

01865 203536

Ocean and Collins

43 Park End Street

01865 241144

O'Neills

37 George Street

01865 812931

Old Orleans

George Street

01865 792718

Old School House Pub

Gloucester Green

01865 792703

Old Tom

101 St. Aldates

01865 243034

Oxford Retreat

1-2 Hythe Bridge Street

01865 725196

QI

Turl Street

01865 200404

Que Pasa

12 New Road

01865 250099

Quod

92-94 High Street

01865 202505

Rosie O' Grady's

1 Park End Street

01865 204060

Royal Blenheim

13 St. Ebbes Street

01865 242355

The Royal Oak

42 Woodstock Road

01865 310187

Smollensky's

17 Park End Street

01865 793793

St Aldate's Tavern (was Hobgoblin)

108 St. Aldates

01865 250201

Three Goats Heads

St. Michael's Place

01865 721523

Thirst

7-8 Park End Street

01865 242044

The Wheatsheaf

129 High Street

01865 721156

The White Horse

52 Broad Street

01865 728318

Yates's Bar

51-53 George Street

01865 723790

... Cowley Road, St. Clements, Iffley Road

Angel & Greyhound

30 St. Clements

01865 242660

Aroma

234 Cowley Road

01865 250730

Baba

240 Cowley Road

01865 203011

Bar Baby

213 Cowley Road

01865 202506

Black Swan

Crown Street (off Cowley)

01865 242153

Brickworks

182 Cowley Road

01865 245999

Cape of Good Hope

1 Iffley Road (The Plain)

01865 262291

Chester Arms

19 Chester St (off Iffley)

01865 246203

City Arms

288 Cowley Road

01865 725299

The Corner Room, Pub Oxford

1 Iffley Road

Corridor

Corner Cowley Road, Princes Street

01865 247519

Cricketers Arms

43 Iffley Road

01865 726264

The Duke

78 St. Clement's

01865 438820

Elm Tree

95 Cowley Road

01865 792088

Exeter Hall Pub

1 Oxford Road

01865 776431

The Fir Tree

163 Iffley Road

01865 245290

The Half Moon

17 St. Clement's

01865 247808

James Street Tavern

47-48 James Street (off Cowley)

01865 247127

Kazbar

27 Cowley Road

01865 202920

Mangos

92 Cowley Road

01865 244404

Moya

97 St. Clements

01865 200111

The Pub

1 Iffley Road

n/a

The Shamrock Bar

Crown Street (off Cowley)

01865 421970

The Star

21 Rectory Road (off Cowley)

01865 248011

Temple Bar

21 Temple Street (off Cowley)

01865 243251

... in Jericho

The Anchor Inn

2 Hayfield Road

01865 510282

Angels

55 Little Clarendon Street

01865 554224

Duke of Cambridge

6 Little Clarendon Street

01865 558173

Freud

119 Walton Street

01865 311171

Gardeners' Arms

39 Plantation Road (bw Walton & Wdstk)

01865 559814

Harcourt Arms

Cranham Terrace

01865 310630

Jude the Obscure

54 Walton Street

01865 553344

Old Bookbinder's Arms

Canal Street

01865 553549

Radcliffe Arms

67 Cranham Street

01865 514762

Raouls Cocktail Bar

32 Walton Street

01865 553732

Sip

102 Walton Street

01865 311322

Sugar Brown

30 Walton Street

01865 515910

The Victoria

90 Walton Street

01865 554047

... in Summertown

Summertown Wine Cafe

38 South Parade

01865 558800

Dew Drop Inn

258 Banbury Rd

01865 559372

Joe's

260 Banbury Rd

01865 554484

 
Comedy & Performance Clubs

To find out who is performing at these venues, visit our comedy pages

Catweazle Club, East Oxford Community Ctr. (crn. Cowley Rd & Princes' St.) Official Website
Thursdays, 8:00pm. Music, storytelling, performance poetry, etc. Get there early if you want a seat.

Jongleurs Comedy Club, 3-5 Bridge Street, 01865 722437
Thursday - Saturday. Three/Four comedians per night, ending around 11, then turns into a disco. Opens at 7pm, doors close at 8pm for show. Buy Tickets Online

The Free Beer Show Comedy Club at the Cellar , Frewin Court, off Cornmarket, 01865 722437
Popular Edinburgh Fringe comedy club, The Free Beer Show presents a weekly show at the Cellar Club in Oxford. See TV stars, award winners, international headliners and the best new talent for only £6 with a free beer. Recommended by The Guardian, Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Oxford Times and Chortle. Doors 8pm / Show 9pm / Bar & Music til 1am. £6/£5 members free beer with every ticket. Buy Tickets Online

Live Music & Club Nights

To find out what's playing at these venues, visit our music pages, which can be found in our 'See & Do' menu at the top of the page

 

Live Music:

Oxford is the place where Radiohead and Supergrass got their starts, so chances are good you'll see some good bands in the following venues.

The Carling Academy Oxford, 190 Cowley Road, 0844 477 2000.
For information on buying tickets, click here.

Freud 119 Walton Street, 01865 311171

Backroom at the Bullingdon Arms, 162 Cowley Road, 01865 244516

The Cellar Frewin Court, Cornmarket Street, 01865 244761. Official Website

Jericho Tavern, 56 Walton Street, 01865 311775
It was here that Radiohead debuted in 1987, and where Supergrass played the gig that led to their record contract.

Oxford Folk Club/Port Mahon, 82 St. Clements, 01865 202067

The Wheatsheaf, 129 High Street, 01865 721156

Exeter Hall Pub, 1 Oxford Road, Cowley, 01865 776431. Official Website

The Venue, Oxford Brookes Student Union, Helena Kennedy Studen Centre, Headington Hill Campus, 01865 248388. Official Website.

The Victoria, 90 Walton Street, 01865 554047

The Magdalen, Iffley Road, 01865 243159

Clubs:

Oxford is not necessarily known for their clubs, in fact, our trusty editor couldn't tell you if any of these were any good or not, but she hears the following are pretty popular:

Carling Academy (Zodiac), 0844 477 2000, 190 Cowley Road. Official Website
Busy, spacious, and on two floors

Mondays -Zoo - In conjunction with Oxford University, Zoo is a brand new night featuring the best indie, dance and chart music from the 90’s to now. The only way to kick-start the week! £3 before 11.30pm/ £4 after. 10.30pm -2am

Wednesdays - Fuzzy Ducks - Oxford’s premier student club night, FUZZY DUCKS hosts a mixture of pop and cheese classics! Watch out for themed nights too, you WILL be expected to dress up! £5 all night. 9pm -2am

Thursdays - Smash Disco! - A brand new night and a ‘rave for the Oxford indie scene!’ Only the sweatiest rock’n’roll to electro’s dirtiest beats – think Klaxons, The Young Knives, Gossip, The View, Cold War Kids, Hot Chip, Dirty Pretty Things, Lady Sovereign, The Rakes – you know it makes sense. £4 all night. 11pm-2am

Fridays - Shake! - Get your groove on ‘til 3am with funk, soul, reggae, rock’n’roll, disco and get-down ghetto-jazz from the makers of Skylarkin’ Soundsystem and The Disco Shed. £5 all night. 10.30pm-3am

Saturdays - Transformation/Trashy/ Room 101 - Yes – we’re serious - three club nights in one! Seminal indie night Transformation returns with full throttle indie, high octane electro, influential retro and funking cool tunes. Upstairs in the Zodiac, the ever-popular Trashy takes over with ‘trash-pop’, indie, glam rock and 80’s classics; whilst in Bar Academy, Room 101 is THE Saturday night rock club, playing everything from alternative and rock, to the biggest punk anthems! £6 all night. 10.30pm-3am

Bar Risa/Jongleurs , 01865 722437, 3-5 Hythe Bridge Street.
Bar/club and comedy club

Sundays - LA/Cuban Salsa in Risa 8.30pm - 12 midnight.  £3 entry.  Classes for all levels, freestyle social dancing after.  Poker night in Jongleurs.  No limit Texas Hold'em, £5 buy-in.  See www.playpubpoker.co.uk

Mondays -Student Click in Risa 9pm-2am.  £4 entry.  Home of the pint cocktails.  Cheapest drinks in town inc. double VRB £2, pints/bottles £1.50. DJ plays R'n'B, funky house, chart

Fridays and Saturdays (and Thursdays from 7th Feb) - All star comedy show in Jongleurs.  One compere and three top acts.  To book call 0844 844 0044 or 01865 722 437. Thursdays £8 / Friday £12/ Saturday £16. In Risa, DJ Giles playing Commercial R'n'B, dance, chart. Entry £3/£4/£5 Open till 2/2.30am

The Bridge, 01865 242526, Hythe Bridge Street. Official Website
Busy, spacious, and on two floors

Mondays - Niagra - Brookes Student Night

Tuesdays - Juice - Oxford's legendary student night with Rockstudent . Expect cheese, r'n'b, hip-hop and chillout

Wednesdays - International Night - THE international student night every Wednesday.

Thursdays - Fresh - Gettin Fresh ! The finest student night in town. Party music, commercial RnB and Hip-Hop

Fridays - Every Friday the party is massive. Maximum upliftance guaranteed.

Saturdays - The Bridge Club - Every Saturday, one of Oxford's most popular nights. Old school, commercial dance and RnB over two floors.

The Coven II, 01865 242770, Oxpens Road
Large, lesser known club just outside of the city centre. Gay friendly, excellent sound system.

Park End, 01865 250181, 37 Park End Street. Official Website
Oxfords largest and most popular dance club

Thursdays - Main Room: Commercial chart & Dance, Room 2 RnB. £2 drinks all night

Fridays - Super Cheese! Main Room: Cheese as big as yer knees! Room 2: Hip Hop & RnB Room 3: Chill out. £2 selected drinks all night. 22:00 - 03:00 £3 B4 11pm, £5 after

Saturdays - Saturdays @ Park End - Music Policy: Main Room: House & Dance, Room 2: RnB & Bashment Room 3 Cheesy Party! 22:00 - 03:00 £6 B4 11pm, £7.50 after. Over 18s only. You will be asked for photo ID if you look under 21. Smart Casual Dress.

Mondays - SEX - from MON 24/04 Oxford Brookes Student Night. Main Room: Chart & Dance, Room 2 RnB, Room 3 Cheese. £1.50 drinks all night. 21:30 - 02:00 £3 B4 11pm, £4 after. Casual. Over !8's only. Student ID required for entry

Purple Turtle, 01865 247086, Frewin Court (off Cornmarket). Official Website
Small, cave-like, and free for students with Union cards.

Thursdays - POP - Indie & Britpop night Happy hours 5.30 till 8pm (£1 a pint)

Fridays - Whats Ur Flava - The cheesiest of cheese because you love it Happy hours 5.30 till 8pm (£1 a pint)

Saturdays - The Jukebox - You choose the music!!! We have a massive list of music from all genres. All you have to do is pick your favourite tracks, write them down and give it to the DJ. Happy hours 5.30 till 8pm (£1 a pint)

Sundays - Alternate - The Beard Museum (live music night). 2nd and last week of every month Happy hours 7 till 9pm (£1 a pint) check www.beardmuseum.com for line ups Open Mic Night 3rd Sunday of the month The best performer wins £40 + runner prizes from Redstripe Chillout Happy Hours 7 till 9pm 1st week of every month

Mondays - Happy Mondays - Indie/Alternative night/ Jugs of beer £6 All Night Happy hours 5.30 till 9pm (£1 a pint)

Tuesdays - Kinky - Funky House Dj Russ Massive + guests Jugs of beer £6 All night Happy hours 5.30 till 11pm!! (£1 a pint)

Wednesdays - Crossover - Dj's playing a mash up of Indie/Rock/Hiphop/RnB VKs £1.50 all night Happy hours 5.30 till 9pm (£1 a pint)

Po Na Na Souk Bar, 01865 249171, 13-15 Magdalen Street. Official Website
Moroccan-style club that plays more mellow, jazzy beats than other dance clubs

Mondays -Rocka - FREE before 10.30pm £3 after. A little bit of everything from Indie to DnB and Chart to Old Skool!

Tuesdays - Fat Poppadaddys present a funky hotch-potch of crowd pleasers including Indie, Funk, Old Skool, Hip Hop, Reggae

Wednesdays - Brie - All your favourite dance floor fillers

Thursdays - Zoo Na Na - A hot-bed of energy and sounds gives Thursday nights a true pulse, with a mixture of Live Music and DJ’s sets including indie / Electro / Retro / Mashup

Fridays - FIG JAM - All sorts of House Music from Electro to Funky £5 all night. Local residents on rotation.

Saturdays - Boogie Beats - Funk, Soul and Breaks for the true music fan, £6 all night. DJs include Aidan Larkin, Rooty and Peepshow Paddy on rotation.

The Studio, 01865 245136, 35 Westgate Centre
Popular with students and young locals, the former Fifth Avenue club still plays cheesy music that has people crowding the dancefloor.

Mood, 01865 726036 29-31 George Street. Official Website
Music Cocktail Bar

Mondays - International Night - 6pm - 2am. Sample a unique blend of music and culture from around the world at the hottest international party in town

Tuesdays - Lust - 6pm - 2am. Sophisticated, chic & trendy. Designed for Oxford's clubbing elite.

Wednesdays - International Night - 6pm - 2am. Sample a unique blend of music and culture from around the world at the hottest international party in town

Thursdays - Ladies Night. 6pm - 2am.

Fridays - Funk Nation. 6pm - 2am.

Saturdays - Peaches and Cream. 6pm - 2am.

Sundays - Yum Yum. 9pm - 2am

Escape, 01865 248480 35 9a High Street (Market Avenue 1) Official Website
Dine, drink, dance. Monday - Saturday, 5pm till late.

Thirst, 01865 242044 7-8 Park End Street and Pennyfarthing Place (behind Westgate) Official Website
Monday - Saturday, 5pm till 1, Sundays 6pm - 12:30am. DJs every night.

Oceans & Collins, 01865 241144, 43 Park End Street
Imperial Night Club, 01865 794 900, 27 Park End Street Official Website

Lava & Ignite, 01865 250181, Park End Street
Official Website
Open 5 nights a week with three rooms giving you the best choice of House, Trance, Anthems, R&B, Hip Hop and Cheesy Pop Classics.

Pubs & Bars | Comedy & Performance | Live Music

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