Big Society
Cocktails and pizza on the Cowley Road — a good-time bar that takes both seriously enough.
Big Society is the Cowley Road's answer to the cocktail-bar-that-also-does-food format, and it executes it well. The cocktails are inventive and well-balanced, the pizzas are wood-fired and well made, and the atmosphere on a Friday night is exactly the right side of buzzy. The interior is spacious and eclectically decorated, with enough room to absorb a crowd without feeling sardine-packed.
It's not trying to be a fine-dining destination — it's trying to be a really good place to spend an evening with friends, and on that metric it delivers consistently.
What to order
The cocktail menu changes seasonally and the bartenders clearly know what they're doing — ask for recommendations. The pizzas are wood-fired and well made, not just bar-food afterthoughts. The loaded fries are indulgent. For non-drinkers, the mocktail list is worth trying.
Good to know
Gets busy on weekend evenings — arrive early or expect a wait. The outdoor seating area is popular in summer. Good for groups. The Cowley Road location means it's surrounded by other good options if you want to bar-hop. Not ideal for a quiet dinner — this is a social venue first and a restaurant second.
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk