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Masons Arms, Headington, Oxford
Headington
Oxford
OX3 8LH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Komakino . left this review about Masons Arms
A free house nestled in quiet Headington Quarry just off the Oxford ring road which was once a small village built on a limestone quarry (hence the name), The Masons is one of the city's gems, and should definitely be on any pub ticker's Oxford 'to do' list. An old school pub with an old school clientele: Aunt Sally, darts and bar billiards are all played here. A five-ale line-up on a Saturday afternoon visit found
Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, Rebellion Smuggler, Kirkstall Pale Ale, Wye Valley HPA and Tiny Rebel Show Me The Money: pints of the latter two in excellent condition (new NBSS = Excellent). I made sure to compliment the landlord on the cellarmanship, but having been Oxford Camra's Pub of the Year six times since 2004, and a perennial in the Good Beer Guide, he was probably well aware.
On 11th July 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1104 recommendations about 1104 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Masons Arms
I can't add much to that below. This is a family-run pub, friendly older locals with a slightly dated interior and yes, the window fan *is* noisy. I'm also not a big fan of net/mesh curtains as not only are they very dated, but aren't very welcoming. I'm also not at all enamoured of TV sport which is shown here on multiple screens which no-one was watching - 1 point deducted.
In all this is a nice, lively pub and if I were a local I'd come here frequently. That said, Quinno's description of this as being a backstreet pub is an understatement; I only turfed up here out of chance because my friend lives around the corner. Otherwise, this pub is in the middle of nowhere which perhaps adds to its charm.
On 14th December 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2342 recommendations about 2283 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Masons Arms
Long-overdue revisit found Old Bog Mild (good), OB Gold (good), Dark Star Hophead, West Berks GOB and Rebellion Mutiny at the bar. Darts and bar billiards available inside, as well as a flat screen TV inlaid above bar. Fairly straightforward interior with fabric banquettes and carpet. A noisy window fan clattered away for seemingly no reason where we were sat. Very nice beer garden to the rear - a decked upper section overlooking a grassed lower level housing Aunt Sally and the former toilet block that now house the Old Bog Brewery. An enjoyable place and really is one to seek out specifically. A 10 minute walk from the frequent Headington buses from Oxford city centre, so not that hard to get to.
November 2005
Nice little place, tricky to find in a quiet backstreet in the picturesque Headington Quarry area, so take a map. Hosts a good range of real ale fir its size, usually has a West Bekshire on. Has its own microbrewery in the old toilets (Old Bog - ho ho) - the quality of these aren't too bad either. Clean and cosy, thought big TV sports screens might put a few off. Populated mainly by older locals. Worth seeking out. Rated 8
On 20th May 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 6249 recommendations about 6228 pubs]