The Wharf House

Free House
Butterwyke Place, Oxford. Tel (01865) 245070 (not guaranteed) 

Now closed. (2011-10-06)



Pontus Lurcock writes:
Much the same as ever. The beer is still incredibly good. There have
been two major changes.

Firstly, it's been redecorated. Only mildly, but to excellent effect:
a lick of paint, a few new pictures on the walls, and a bookcase, and
suddenly it feels a great deal less desolate. There was a Christmas
tree too when I went (in late February).

Secondly, I have heard that Brindle (the dog) has passed away since
our visit. She will be sorely missed.
(2005-02)

Editorial note:
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*	Hook Norton Best (3.8%) £1.65 (26.viii.2001)
*	RCH Pitchfork £1.70 
*	Cottage Mallard IPA (4.0%) £1.90 
*	Hoegaarden White Beer (5.0%) £2.40 
*	Rochefort Number Eight £2.70 
*	Westvleteren Number Eight £3.00 
*	Rochefort Number Ten £3.40 (28.viii.1999)

Very quiet pub. Even on a Saturday evening. This is more to do with the 
location than anything else. It's very good. They do two real ciders or 
perries, which are kept in polypins, but aren't usually on the bar in 
summer on account of the heat. All the students I have ever seen in here 
have been ones I've brought or been taken by.

Red-painted benches out the front where you can sit in the sun, and an 
Aunt Sally (Hook Norton) out the back on Butterwyke Place. (29.viii.1999)
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Mark Dickerson writes:
I really like the Wharf House; but it should be moved by God to the centre 
or Jericho. Where it is means that a lot of people have never heard of it, 
and I'm afraid the regulars are "characters". This used to be one of the 
most frightening pubs in Oxford, and then got done up; the locals are 
sometimes still intimidating, but I've never had any problems.


Mind you, I don't walk around in a boater and college scarf. 

Decor is stripped pine, rather like the Evening Star in Brighton; the pub 
is about the size of the Carpenter's Arms. The owners are friendly, and 
the beer selection quite superb, though the bottles are expensive 
(£1.50-£6.95, mostly around £2-£3). Draught beer is normally Hook Norton 
Best and RCH Pitchfork, plus two more obscure guests; for lager fans 
Bitburger; also draught Hoegaarden and a scrumpy. Bottles usually include 
Orval; Chimay Bleu (and sometimes the others); Guinness foreign Extra 
Stout; Rodenbach Ordinaire; Adventinus; perhaps 15-20 more.

Basically, go with a quietish group, perhaps on route to the Head of the 
River or the Folly, and give it a try. Coachloads of Camra fans turning up 
are usually a good sign (if not actually when you're there). (12.i.1998)