Going out in Oxford can be an expensive business, especially if you’re on limited finances, but there are some places you can drink without breaking the bank.
The Three Goats Heads
The Goats is an absolute gem of a pub, set on two lapidary levels. It’s on St. Michael’s Street, just off Cornmarket and next door to the Oxford Union. Upstairs the decor is bright red and blue, with carved pillars in faintly Victorian gothic style – rather as if William Morris had designed a casino. Downstairs is tiled green, with gleaming brass fixtures and mirrors. The pub is owned by the independent brewers Samuel Smith and Co., and they don’t sell any products which are advertised in the media. For the drinker this means unusually tasty cola, blended juices and a range of beers that goes beyond the usual line-up of Fosters, Guinness, Carling and Strongbow. The Alpine Lager is enjoyably crisp, at two pounds a pint, with the smooth-tasting Old Brewery Bitter even cheaper.
The Goose
It’s not everyone’s idea of a good time, but the Goose on Gloucester Green is a cheap and cheerful chain-pub. The food is particularly good value if you look out for the special deals, and the drinks are below most pub prices, though don’t expect anything fancy or any real ales. They do have one of the cheapest gin and tonics around – and you can even get a double Pernod for two pounds, if you’re willing to bear the looks you may get from bar-staff and fellow customers for ordering it! As a proper “town” pub, the Goose gets a bit crowded and rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights, and has a continual background of sport on the big-screen TV, but if you wanted quiet you’d be at the Randolph...
The Purple Turtle
In the grand tradition of Oxford bars, this used to be the cellars of the Oxford Union. Off Cornmarket, and look for the sign with the big purple turtle winking at you. Out of term time, this bar and club is a favourite with American students visiting for summer schools. It still feels rather like a cellar: dark, low-ceilinged and subterranean. The walls are plastered with the kind of movie and music posters usually found on the walls in student rooms, and the ambience is halfway between nightclub and clubhouse. It’s always worth checking what’s on before you go, as some nights charge for entry, and the music styles vary wildly. It’s certainly an unusual bar, and miles away from the “Brideshead” image of the Union.
