Far from the Madding Crowd Friars Entry, Oxford Pontus Lurcock writes: Still going strong. Timothy Taylor's and Black Sheep Bitter are on permanently, and there are three guests---usually at least one from the Vale Brewery. (2005-04) Editorial note: The former proprietor of Jude the Obscure, and Charles Eld, who used to be high up in Morrells before it was sold to Michael Hanlon, have taken over this part of the Debenhams redevelopment, and turned it into a remarkable free house. Lots of old pump clips behind the bar (and bear in mind this can't have been going for even two years yet), guest beers clearly marked on a blackboard, Thatcher's single varietal ciders in the fridge, and proper wine. It used to have Nathalie Wahl's paintings of Oxford in it. I don't know where they've gone. I had lunch here. It was the chilli con carne (GBP 5.95) and came with wild rice. The rest of the menu looks like this sort of superior pub food. (Fieldwork: 2003-10-07)