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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
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Detail Pages
The Grapes, Oxford
Oxford
OX1 2AT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Grapes
Curious-looking place, with a narrow frontage under a sharply pitched roof, and quite unlike any of the neighbouring buildings. The semi-traditional interior widens out as you go further back to the a L-shaped layout. Eight handpumps on the counter, featuring three cask ales from Craftsman Brewery - including the Chocolate Orange Stout - plus rare trips south for Vocation Heart & Soul and Make it Luminosa from Brew York, and an unusually long journey in the other direction for Harvey's Sussex, plus three draught ciders. Numerous crafty keg beers from taps on the bar-back too. Overall, much better than I was expecting.
On 28th February 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Grapes
A second weekend return visit since this place was reinvented as a hipster venue called Beerd Oxford a few years back; the place reopened this August, after a worrying period of dormancy, so warranted a return.
The Grapes has now been reinvented as something of a modern interpretation of a traditional pub: modern boarded floor, tall peripheral tables and chairs (normal height to the rear), blue wainscoting then an all-white paint job and masses of eclectic prints. Sport was on the TV with the sound off, not competing with the substantial and ever-increasing vinyl collection.
Now run by the same people behind Gunnersbury’s excellent Express Tavern, the current beer front contributes to a drinking scene which is an improvement on our communal 2016 visit, with 10 fizz-matic taps on the bar, two pumps for real ciders then 30 taps to a beer wall. Back to the bar and there were six pumps dispensing quality offerings from the likes of BBF, their Milk Stout very good and White Horse Black Beauty even better, served by a friendly barmaid and engaging manager.
This is now a good drinkers’ pub, a must-visit for the Oxford beer scene, the hardened pub traditionalist catered for in ample measure by neighbouring historic hostelries.
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14th March 2018 - rating: 5
A return visit to this pub, situated in Oxford's somewhat unprepossessing George Street and little had changed in the intervening three days since BF’s review.
Chunky wood panelling, a modern bare boarded worn floor and conventional furniture, there are hanging lamps and a chandelier. TVs with the sound off provided further unsympathetic illumination, contributing nothing to the pub's ambience. Some décor comprises Toby and pewter jugs which hang from a beam. Customers were clearly academic with some Americans droning on about their PhDs.
Ales: three pumps not clocked, then West Berkshire Brewery's Good Old Boy at under a fiver and decent.
This isn't a bad little pub, but George Street isn't exactly the city's most appealing area to hang out and there's better to be had elsewhere.
On 4th September 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Grapes
The Grapes feels like a traditional town boozer with plenty of wood - floors, bar, walls - comfy seating, lots knick knacks and a selection of games at the back.
The service was friendly enough and the atmosphere decent. I suspect that some of the clientele are regulars and if not then it feels that way.
Eight handpumps had on two coming soon (aaarghh!), two West Berkshire Maggs Magnificent Mild, West Berkshire Good Old Boy, XT 13 Pacific Red, Adnams Ghost Ship and Dancing Duck Nice Weather. Despite the waste of 3 handpumps I've seen many worse selections but both that we tried were flaccid prompting the inevitable decision to move swiftly on.
I liked the Grapes as a pub but the beer wasn't in sufficiently good nick to see me rushing back.
On 16th March 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Grapes
ORIGINAL REVIEW March 2015
I popped in to see what real ales were on offer.A full range of Bath Ales and an unexceptional guest at which point I turned turtle because Bath Ales just dont suit me,harsh as that may seem.Shame this brewery owned pub isn't confident enough of the quality of their Bath Ales to put up some meaniful guest alternatives,it's now a real tied house .Well described below by other contributors.
UPDATE
Name changed from The Grapes to Beerd Oxford and the interior now has a designed rougher look,with lots of unplaned wood,a neon pizza sign and more beer choice.Not all 8 handpumps were in use,but besides Bath Ales (Gem,Boundary) and their sister Beerd brews (Cubic),guests came from Wild Weather Red IPA and Shepherds Warning IPA (interesting but served too warm).There are 10 craft beer fonts,if that is your game.
Friendly staff but there were some issues with the quality of the ale,strange for a GBG listed pub.
FURTHER UPDATE
Reverted back to The Grapes , the neon signs have gone and a more traditional feel has been re-established.There maybe 8 handpumps but two were "available soon" while West Berkshire Maggs Mild was doubled up. My XT 13 was very poor ,flat ,too warm and I couldn't finish it.The keg selection seemed quite mainstream.Although owned by the same chain that operates the St Aldates Tavern,the ale quality here is way below it's sister pub .Keep on walking .
On 8th March 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Grapes
A revamp has restored its name and some of its original features following acquisition of the lease by City Pub Company, which also runs St Aldates Tavern
October 2014
Continues to keep a good stock of Bath ales and guests. Plus decent staff too, especially the genial Welsh manager. A city-centre no-brainer. Rated 7.5
January 2014
First revisit since the Bath Ales takeover in 2012. Whilst the original quirky interior charm of its previous incarnation has been consigned to history, the refit has been well-done and the revealing of the old tiling to the right of the entrance is a bonus. Chocolate, mocha and mushroom colour scheme with bare-boarded floor. Food more of a food focus than previous. Eight pumps, with five ales (two Bath incl Festivity), Dark Star Winter Meltdown, Hammerpot, Wild Beer Co and Wreckless Pale Ale plus a Bath Ales cider. My Festivity was in seriously good shape and I got chatting to the big Welsh chap behind the bar which meant I ended up taking in a few extra ales which all came out well. I noted he also made an effort to welcome and bid farewell to customers.
Is it an improvement? I can see the positives.
July 2011
An unusual and enticing frontage with a large chunk of its clientele emanating from the nearby theatre. Long and thin inside with dark wood panelling, red paint with film posters adorning every last inch on the ceiling. The row of wood and leaded glass snugs to the left of the pub are really nice. Five ales were available with a slant towards Greene King though some other interesting ones were also available. My Ilkley Mary Jane was good enough though the Rudgate was iffy but I think that was the beer more than anything the publican had done (or not). TV was on but muted. I was quite taken with this one and would be happy to call in again. Rated 7.
On 14th November 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Beerd Oxford
First time to visit since this former Bath Ales outlet became Beerd Oxford. Internally, décor wise not a lot has changed, except for losing the former posters, which makes the place even more rustic as stated by others below.
The beer offering has changed though with eight cask pumps and now a bank of ten cask fonts central on the bar. Five ales on the eight pumps and the Wild Weather Red IPA I went for was actually quite decent. Good service levels, especially as the barman offered to fill up my water bottle that had taken a hammering on the walk up the river from Iffley.
Overall I felt this place was falling between two stalls. It had lost a bit of the traditional pub feel it had as the Grapes but didn’t really cut the mustard for me as a cutting edge Craft and Cask bar and the craft offerings all looked a bit mainstream to me.
However still infinitely better than its original Greek King guise and worth a visit when in town.
On 28th July 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Beerd Oxford
An interesting looking rustic looking bar with a choice of 5 cask ales, across 8 pumps. There was also 10 keg options served from brass fonts in the centre of the bar. The staff were friendly and attentive and pricing in the affordable bracket for Oxford. I went for the Beerd Cubic, which is brewed at Bath Ales Brewery. They had described my choice as a pale ale, which turned out to be a rich brown colour and was a toffee flavoured alternative to what I was expecting, which was also warm, so I didn't finish it.
On 26th July 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Beerd Oxford
Modern interior with a rough cut cabin feel,decent range of beers and my choice of beerd Cubic,though not quite to my taste was decent enough but I agree with Tris below that maybe a little on the warm side. An interesting bar with some promise and worth another look sometime.
On 25th July 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Grapes
This place has lost a bit of character since my last visit but the beer range has improved and more importantly its still a good pub , my pint of Bath March Hare was very good .
On 9th June 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
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Steve of N21 left this review about The Grapes
Apparently a former Greene King pub, this place has now been given a new lease of life as part of the Bath Ales estate.
Cannot comment on what it was formerly like but I found it a very decent pub in its current guise. Obviously had a bit of a makeover with a minimalist modern style pine and metal appearance, but there is still some fine Victorian tile work to the right wall on entering from the street.
Still 4 handpumps on the bar top, now offering a range of Bath Ales beers. For my visit Gem, SPA and Barnsey were on, but I went for the seasonal Summer Hare at 3.9% which was well kept if a tad too cold.
I understand it was quite a good ale pub under its former GK stewardship and used to offer a decent range of guests. But as you can’t trust those bast%%ds from Bury St Edmunds, probably better now under this ownership.
On 4th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]