Lamb & Flag

Directly across St Giles' from the Eagle and Child, the Lamb & Flag is one of Oxford's oldest pubs and one of its most genuine. St John's College has owned the freehold since 1695.

The pub closed in January 2021 during COVID, but was saved by the Inklings Group — a community interest company of local residents, academics, and writers who signed a 15-year lease from St John's. It reopened in October 2022 as a community-run pub, with profits directed toward local philanthropy rather than a pub chain.

The Inklings (the literary group, not the CIC) drank here too — Tolkien and Lewis moved across the road from the Bird and Baby in 1962 when it was renovated. Thomas Hardy supposedly wrote parts of Jude the Obscure here (though several Oxford pubs make this claim).

What sets it apart

Community-owned, independently run, and refreshingly uncommercialized. The Inklings Group's stated mission is "positive impact rather than profit." The atmosphere is closer to what a proper Oxford pub should feel like — wood-panelled, slightly worn, and full of conversation.

What to drink

Good selection of real ales, well-kept. The pub is small enough that the turnover keeps everything fresh.

Practical notes

Small and can fill quickly during term. No food beyond basic bar snacks (crisps, nuts). The garden out the back is tiny but pleasant in summer. Cash and card accepted.