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Disappearing and 'in peril' breweries with rpadam
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Turtle Bay, Oxford
Oxford
OX1 2BY
Served areas
Turtle Bay
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8:00 PM Sep 3rd 2019 from Buffer
Reviews of Turtle Bay (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Far From the Madding Crowd
The Far from the Madding crowd is closing its doors for good at last orders on Saturday Night 24th this week. I gather the nearby Tesco are having it as a staff canteen. From Twitter:
"Sad to confirm that Far from the Madding Crowd is closing on 24 Jan. Landlord wants us out by end Jan as we can't do a deal on the rent"
August 2014
A couple of years on, no real change inside beyond a bit more wear and tear of the furnishings. Five on, and a good selection of Byatts x2, Salopian, Goddards and Kelham Island. My Byatts Red was fine if a little flat (end of barrel?). It’s never going to win a charm contest but in terms of being a premier division Oxford alehouse that should be on the crawl list, it’s a shoo-in.
August 2012
Enjoyable modern pub/bar in the town centre opened at the turn of the millennium, located down a small alleyway by Debenhams - which means you won't find it by accident so few tourists in situ as a result though there are numerous students. There’s plenty of ale on, a good selection too with a number not seen often down south and usually including a stout or mild. One of the ales is always a “manager’s special” and retails for about 50p less than the others. Quality is usually excellent. A selection of Belgian and German bottled beers is also available as well as proper cider. Food is fair if not exactly spectacular and staff service is good – you’re given an honest waiting time for the food before ordering, most places would take your cash and then let you sit twiddling your thumbs. The atmosphere is pleasant with a broad clientèle mix all of whom all seem to rub along happily. Sunday quiz. The interior is fairly bland but it was converted from a shop, so expect JDW+ not the Bird & Baby. Granted, it might not be the quintessential Olde English Pub that some are after but it does more than enough to warrant a visit if in the city and it's a good place to take non-ale drinkers. I like it and would recommend it. Rated 8
On 21st January 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Far From the Madding Crowd
The name is most appropriate,it is far from the maddening crowd of tourists who flock around Oxford during the day in good weather,this is an oasis of calm and the preserve of the real ale drinker.Not much to look at down an alley next to a Tesco Metro ,the interior is basic and now well worn .The green sofa in to which I slumped was difficult to extract oneself for a trip to either the bar or loo.
The six handpumps were drawing Orkney Dark Munro,Brakspears Bitter,Ulverston Laughing Gravy,Beowolf English Norseman,Kelham Island Mistress Flames,and Sadlers Elementis and both my pints were in good shape as befits a 2013 GBG entry.Food is very much pub grub and looked good value although I didn't partake.
The ale policy here seems to be a completely rotating selection ,so your view may be a function of what's on offer at the time of your visit.There is no history or features here,but I have a feeling that if Morse wanted to escape the throng common to many town centre pubs ,he may well have sloped in here for some decent real ale while knocking off the Times crossword.
I will always be popping in to see what's on offer when ever in Oxford.
On 9th June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about Far From the Madding Crowd
As other reviews have pointed out the interior of this place is rather bland and uninspiring , it was quite busy on my visit and the beer and service was very good .
My pint of Isle of Purbeck Solar Power was pretty good , even though the beer was good and one of the barmaids appeared to be wearing her pyjamas i felt no need to stay for more than one pint .
On 9th June 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
View more reviews of Turtle Bay (11)
A selection of 2013 GBG city centre pubs. by Bucking Fastard
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Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 02 October 2013 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 02 October 2013 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 02 October 2013 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes - Carribean. - last updated 03 September 2019 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 03 September 2019 by Tris C
- Real Ale : No last updated 03 September 2019 by Tris C
