The Harcourt Arms, Jericho, Oxford

Nope. If a pub which was stripped out over the summer and hipsterfied with grey paint, industrial lamps and a bare brick, ceramic tiled and scaffold bar back deserves an '8', then I'm a Dutchman. And the guvnor drinks at the Bookbinders up the road...

As has been noted, The Harcourt is far from the archetypal, Jericho, street corner boozer but it has been recently refurbished by Fullers and is a very comfortable place to be. The furniture is mismatched wood with one notable high backed settle and there's plenty of vertical drinking space by the bar with a second high bar opposite creating the perfect area if you don't feel like sitting down. There's been a fair amount of thought put into the layout of this relatively small space. Added to this were two, lit real fires and a couple of friendly dogs pottering around. It feels like a proper, welcoming local pub. Added to all this was a decent selection of Fullers beers - Olivers Island, London Pride, HSB and Seafarers with the HSB easily winning Jericho pint of the evening. The addition of Bengal Lancer, ESB and London Porter to that list would make this nirvana. The best beer we found in Jericho.