Old Bookbinders, Oxford

Very popular pub which doubles as a French restaurant but retains a strong local following. Despite Greene King ownership, it has a wonderful and unique character and is far from corporate. Both beer and food were excellent, as was the general atmosphere. Beware the opening hours though - closed Mondays and Tuesday/Wednesday lunchtimes (I don't remember Inspector Morse finding closed pubs..!).

Situated out in the bohemian suburb of Jericho, but easily reached via a relatively pleasant canal side walk from the city centre, this is a quirky, food-led Greene King pub. You enter into a tile floored main bar with a plain panelled servery directly opposite. There is a simple tongue and groove bar back boasting an encouraging pump clip collection that sprawls out along beams and pillars across the entire bar area. A raised bare boarded seating area stands opposite, under the front windows, offering standard tables and chairs and a few low stools at bar level. The décor includes lots of beer adverts, postcards, cigarette cards, lighters, bar towels, a 'Beano' lamp shade, a 'Public Bar' door pane, a dresser stacked with cookery and beer books and all manner of bottles and ceramics - essentially, the accumulated highlights of many years in the pub trade. This area is probably the only spot that drinkers can make their own, as the right hand side of the room is set up as a formal dining space with seating arrangements set accordingly. There is a fireplace which has been put to use as a wood store, a few large barrels, a 'For Sale' sign from a West Norwood estate agent and a ceiling beam with the pub's nickname (The Bookies) spelled out in beer mats along it. A door leads through to a rear room with more formal seating and similar eclectic décor that included various suitcases and musical instruments including a huge bass drum suspended from one wall. Music played quietly throughout our stay and the food we sampled was really good and at sensible prices. Despite the pump clip collection's promise of guest ales, there was just the one on this visit - Holden's Golden Glow - leaving the other pumps to dispense Greene King brews, namely St Edmunds, Trial Brew 08, Old Speckled Hen and a house beer (presumably rebadged Abbot Ale?). My pint of St Edmunds was actually pretty good and you could argue that this represents a pretty adventurous range by Greene King standards. I expected this to be a full-on gastro pub experience and whilst it probably isn't that easy to turn up here during peak dining hours and just take a drink, it at least had a good deal of charm that makes it worth at least a try. We really enjoyed our food and nosing around all the crazy décor and I'd certainly consider another visit when in this part of town.