The Gloucester Arms
Friars Entry, Oxford

The Reverend James GBP 2.20 (1999-11-05)

Dark, warm, five ales on tap (good condition), hairy.

They've stopped doing Royal Oak.  I think it's a disgrace.  An old review 
of the Harcourt Arms mentioned that Oxford's Goths congregated here on 
Wednesday nights.  This is no longer true.  They now (1999-11) come here 
on Tuesday nights.  The pub advertises "alternate R & B/Goth/Industrial".  
Surprisingly unobtrusive heavy metal nights on Fridays.  On Saturday they 
advertise "The Usual".  No, I don't know.

There's a sign up saying "This way to the biggest beer garden in the 
universe" through a fire door.  It actually leads out to the universe, 
which I think explains it.  Next to that there's a good long alcove with 
signed photos of actors on the wall.  I think one of them is of Ian 
Richardson, but it isn't visibly signed.  There's a false-colour one of 
Cilla Black.

It's the best pub for quite a long way round with the possible exception 
of the Grapes.  The name?  Same origin as Worcester College's previous 
incarnation as Gloucester College: the monks of Gloucester Abbey.

A barman was quite keen that a fresh-faced youth of my acquaintance get a 
proof of age card after spending quarter of an hour waving ID cards 
around.  They're quite keen on that sort of thing here.

(1999-11-05)