
The Old Bookbinders Ale House
A 19th-century Oxford pub blending traditional charm with a French bistro menu. Known for its quirky decor, excellent ales, and friendly vibe.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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The Old Bookbinders Ale House

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A 19th-century Oxford pub blending traditional charm with a French bistro menu. Known for its quirky decor, excellent ales, and friendly vibe.
"A hidden gem loved by locals for its fantastic food, great ales, and unique, cozy atmosphere."
Book Ahead for Weekends
Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits. Consider visiting on weekdays.
Set Menus Offer Value
The set menus provide great value for money, offering delicious multi-course meals.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
French Pub
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+44 1865 553549
Address
17-18 Victor St, Oxford, OX2 6BT, United Kingdom
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Quirky Traditional French Bistro
Experience a 19th-century pub with a traditional interior and a French-influenced menu. Quirky decor includes a train set on the ceiling.

Delicious French-Influenced Dishes
Savor traditional French bistro fare, including standout dishes like goat cheese tart, sea bass, and French-style burgers.

Well-Kept Ales and Friendly Atmosphere
Enjoy a great selection of well-kept ales in a warm, friendly pub atmosphere, praised by locals and visitors alike.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead for Weekends
Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits. Consider visiting on weekdays.
Set Menus Offer Value
The set menus provide great value for money, offering delicious multi-course meals.
Explore Beyond Main Streets
This hidden gem is tucked away on a residential street, rewarding those who venture off the beaten path.
Ales Over Beer, Cider for Sides
Diners suggest feasting on the ales and enjoying cider, rather than focusing on beer.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead for Weekends
Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits. Consider visiting on weekdays.
Set Menus Offer Value
The set menus provide great value for money, offering delicious multi-course meals.
Explore Beyond Main Streets
This hidden gem is tucked away on a residential street, rewarding those who venture off the beaten path.
Ales Over Beer, Cider for Sides
Diners suggest feasting on the ales and enjoying cider, rather than focusing on beer.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
The Old Bookbinders Ale House is a highly recommended 19th-century pub in Oxford, celebrated for its delicious French-influenced menu and excellent, well-kept ales. Diners praise the warm and friendly atmosphere, the quirky decor, and the consistently high quality of food and service. Getting a table can be challenging, especially on weekends, as it's a popular spot.
"The food and service were just fantastic. The food was delicious. The servers were lovely and friendly. The restaurant itself inside is amazing. I highly recommend it and would 100% love to eat here again."
Caroline Ratcliffe
"A lot was on going and it seemed as if I had stepped in at the wrong moment. The bar was alight, the ales flowing, the desserts unmissable.and the service was with a smile. Sometimes being alone in a crowd can be just feeling lost.
Feast on the Ales, shun the beer, cider is for the sides, food is amazing. Atmosphere bursting with energy.
You need to be in there to feel it"
Ashish Gupta
"I love this pub, easily one of the best in Oxford, the beer is very well kept and there is a good selection. On top of that the food is great too (I go there for beer mainly but I suspect most people go there to eat). You don’t often find a pub that does good beer as well as food."
MJ E
What People Like
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Frequently Asked Questions
The restaurant serves a traditional French bistro-inspired menu, alongside well-kept ales and other drinks.
It can be tricky to get a table, especially on weekends, as it's a very popular spot. Reservations are highly recommended.
Popular choices include the French-style burger, sea bass, goat cheese tart, steak frites, and the set menus offer great value.
Yes, it's known for its excellent, well-kept ales and a good selection of other drinks, including cider and French gins.
The pub has a cozy, quirky, and traditional 19th-century interior with unique decor, such as a train set on the ceiling.
It's strongly advised to make a reservation, particularly for weekend visits, to ensure you get a table.
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Another fine local hidden away down an unassuming residential street, this characterful pub was built in 1869 for workers from the nearby Oxford University Press. Inside, it appears wholly traditional with tankards on the shelves and beer mats and posters on the walls, until you notice the train set on the ceiling and the delectable smell of cooking. Ale enthusiasts crowd the bar and diners huddle around tightly-packed tables at the rear to sample the traditional French bistro menu.
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Located in Oxford’s trendy Jericho area, the Old Bookbinders is an excellent example of the traditional Oxonion pub: cosy, quirky and welcoming. The atmosphere is eccentric and full of character, with an old toy train set suspended from the ceiling and with the walls and ceiling covered with music posters and memorabilia. The pub continues this theme in its events, holding regular open mic nights for locals, students and visitors to come and perform.
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The Old Bookbinders Ale House in Oxford is one of those subtle gems, from the outside it has the appearance of your regular run of the mill pub buts as the website says it’s known as Oxfords best kept secret since 1869. The Bookies (as it’s also known) is a family run pub settled off Walton street away from the everyday hustle and bustle of Oxford and was re-opened in 2011 by the Sardones family who endeavoured to mix the quaintness of the British pub with the formidable menu of a French Bistro. Although the menu itself is bijoux, the menu changes regularly so you’re never bored and it also allows the emphasis to be on quality rather than quantity.
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Nestled away in a backstreet of Jericho, The Old Bookbinders Ale House is named for the nearby Oxford University Press, and a nod to the printers and publishers who used to reside in the village-like suburb. Nowadays this family-run pub is an old-fashioned drinking hole where you can always find a seat and a real ale. Step back in time to sample one of the carefully selected house beers, or choose from a rotating selection of guest ales, which often come from local breweries.
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This quaint pub, a nice venue tucked away on an unassuming residential street, was built in 1869 for the workers of nearby Oxford University Press. Inside, it looks completely traditional with mugs on the shelves and beer coasters and posters on the walls, until you notice the train on the ceiling and the delicious smell of cooking. Beer aficionados flock to the bar and diners flock to the densely packed back tables to sample the traditional French bistro menu.
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Beautifully tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Walton Street, this 19th-century pub boasts French themed décor, and combines English pub classics with French cuisine and great ale. This family-run pub has plenty of character, along with a warm friendly vibe. It’s a famous eating place in Oxford’s Jericho area, and is also dog-friendly and has a small but good selection of wine, as well as some unique French gins.
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Located in the lovely Jericho neighbourhood, The Old Bookbinders Ale House is a cosy pub that is a favourite with the locals in Oxford. Often considered one of Oxford’s best kept secrets, this welcoming pub is set deep in the heart of Jericho, just a short walk from the city centre. This Oxford pub manages to effortlessly maintain charm and quirkiness of old public houses, encompassing the rich history of the town.
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If you walk back from The Rickety Press towards the canal, you’ll soon come across The Old Bookbinders. This cosy family-run local is tucked away in the backstreets of Jericho, a hidden gem beloved by the locals. The eclectic decor gives the Bookies a warm, quirky style all its own, and the eccentricities don’t stop there, because you can expect to chow down on french bistro-style meals alongside your real ale.
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Down a residential street, this French bistro can be easily mistaken for a local bar. This is one of the best restaurants in Oxford, with the bar hung with tankards and trains and the back rooms are full of satisfied customers digging into their escargots, moules and coq au vin. The food is delicious and affordable, so that attracts a lot of people, and if you want a nice dessert, the crepes are mouth-watering.
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Oxford does not have more pubs than you can shake a stick at (we've tried and the stick is still extant) but it certainly does have a lot of pubs, and the vast majority of them serve food. Some of the best are located in Jericho. The Old Bookbinders recently reopened under French management and boasts a suitably mouth-watering menu, while the Victoria, not far away, specialises in traditional British pies.
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Continuing with pubs in Jericho, this classic Oxford hangout is one of my favorite pubs in the city and somewhat of a secret spot. The Old Bookbinders has lots going on throughout the week to entertain punters; from an open mic night to a pub quiz, live music, comedy nights, and more. The pub prides itself on being “dog, child, and student-friendly (as long as they’re well behaved)“.
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Oxford itineraries
Head to The Old Bookbinders (17-18 Victor Street; 01865 553549), a gem of a pub hidden down a backstreet, for a dinner of surprisingly good French cuisine. Spend your evening drinking here or wander back up through Jericho for some live music at The Jericho Tavern (56 Walton Street; 01865 311775) where Radiohead and Supergrass launched their careers.
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A charming pub hideaway, adored for its captivating blend of vintage appeal and modern coziness, offering memorable moments and top service. I recently enjoyed an evening here while visiting Oxford. I came specifically because of the extensive gluten free offerings on their menu, and I was not disappointed!
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A lot of the best pubs in Oxford are buried deep in the small streets of Jericho – and The Old Bookbinders Ale House is no exception. This family-run pub focuses on two things – good ale and good food – the kind that keeps their clientele returning again and again. This is no bog-standard chain pub.
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In Jericho, Oxford, there is a historic bar called The Old Bookbinders Ale House. The bar provides a superb assortment of craft beers and ales and has a warm, inviting environment. The staff is helpful and courteous, and they are always willing to offer advice.
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The Old Bookbinders Ale House is a Pub managed by a Father and Son team which offers English and French types of cuisines. This restaurant offers great and affordable food. The people and staff are also very pleasant.
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Another hidden away drinking spot on the list is The Old Bookbinders on Victor Street with the traditional pub originally built in 1869 for workers from the nearby Oxford University Press.
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The Old Bookbinders: For hearty pub grub, make sure to head here. They have a couple of gluten free options (including items on the set menu for a great deal).
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