The Swan & Castle (JD Wetherspoon), Oxford

The Swan & Castle is a Wetherspoons located in a rectangular unit with a bar counter and adjoining kitchen that create an open plan L-shaped seating area. Two banks of five hand pumps are supported with the usual suspects being available plus Milestone’s Rich Ruby and Cairngorm’s IPA. The Milestone started off malty and then became very bland. I found this to be a below average Spoons with the only real draw being the cheaper pricing.

This is a modern building dating from 2009 which originally seems to have been a Lloyd’s, the name derived from its proximity to Oxford’s castle and former prison complex, and the late Swan, demolished in 1968 to make way for the ugly Oxford City Council offices just up the road. It's as described below (see photos), fairly large and airy due to the expanse of plate glass windows. Otherwise, the description matches other ‘spoons, minus the sticky, uncleared tables. Customers were mainly townies, many boasting about their preferred methods used to ‘take out’ their adversaries, some descriptions with an accompanying visual demonstration; otherwise the usual ‘spoons suspects and a few students, escaping the parents at Christmas time. The ale selection was probably the poorest I’ve experienced in a ‘spoons, with just Doom, GK IPA and Abbot at £1.40 a half, though at least in decent condition. I only came here out of necessity as all the ‘normal’ pubs in Oxford were closed for the Christmas/New Year week, but if you’re in need of the services for which ‘spoons are renowned, the nearby Four Candles is a far better bet. Rated 3.5.

Modern 'spoons with a partly sub-divided overall 'staple'-shaped bar, all fairly formulaic but it benefits from windows on two-and-a-bit sides so isn't too gloomy within. Moderately interesting selection of seven real ales from the two banks of five handpumps, such as my Green Jack Waxwing (£2.49).

Official site of The Swan & Castle (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Swan & Castle (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com