Some of the best cocktails in the world at this place, and mostly for less than 10 pounds even when it is not happy hour - about 7 pounds when it is. If you go here and don't get cocktails you've missed the point. They have very light bar snacks, which are fabulously tasty.My only complaint is the music can be a bit too loud, but to be fair they did lower the volume when asked.I've been here many times and is my go-to place. They've had the same bartenders for quite some time, which means they know the drink menu inside out.
Ricardo iro
Service was nice, but the Music is always too loud.
josephtE3773GV
Great place for a drinks with mates - good vibes and really reasonable prices, especially for cocktails! Bit out of the way but worth a visit
Oxonlady_78
I miss the Duke of old days. Always packed. Brilliant atmosphere. Lively bartenders. Menus. Good music and nice decor. Popped in recently and was seriously let down. Awful decor that looks so wrong in there. More like a garden centre and nothing matches. Bored staff snd a DJ playing drum n bass to nobody. It was empty. I asked for a menu and the barman pointed at a QR code. This was a premium cocktail bar in its day. I certainly don’t want to view a menu on my phone like it’s 2020! Saving grave was the banging cocktail I had. Glad that hasn’t changed. I really think they are missing a trick. The same people that used to go here and spend money are still drinking, just in other places. Bring back the old Duke. Oxford needs you!!!! We miss you!!!
Emily G
I was served by a very attentive bartender I believe called Hannah. She was delight to be served by and made me a delicious mojito.
Louise Pack
Amazing cocktails with lots of attention to detail. Great vibe here with friendly staff, would recommend
David Shepherd
Amazing! We rented the bar out of a private event and it was brilliant. Service was great from booking all the way to excellent bar service on the night. DJ was great and played our type of music. Great drink selection. Everyone had positive things to say about the venue and the staff. Thanks for making our night special.
bernadette71
Used to be an amazing pub not sure what's happened if its been taken over as the atmosphere was awful and the staff so rude and unwelcoming.
Isobel Innes
Awesome, fast service even though it was busy
Harry Chatzimanolis
A refined ambience for a relaxed drink. Excellent bartending and delicious cocktails.
Nice bar, doesn't really get busy till 1030. Seems to be for over 30s atmosphere. Cocktails and good beer but not a pub more high class. If u do like your beer it on sell 2/3 pints. Good booths for large groups and bars stools. Nice modern decor
Katie Ryan (Media Marketing)
Really annoyed me. Stood at the end of the bar because the rest of the bar was full. Guy making cocktails was very slow. Made the mistake of not moving towards the centre of the bar as people took their drinks, why would you? Guy served 2 sets of people who walked straight up to the centre of the bar and totally ignored me. He only served me when I called out "Excuse me. Am I invisible? I was ahead of these people and the last people you served." No apology. A guy behind me said exactly the same had happened to him. Mediocre cocktails, small, overpriced, rude staff, don't bother as there are plenty more places in Little Clarendon Street and much nicer.
Explorer01521926799
So I came during happy hour on a relatively quiet night. Firstly it was clear the staff were purposefully running down the happy hour clock but fine I can get that. The happy hour ended at 9 so I joined the bar at 8:45. Not only were three people who joined after me served before me (and the bar staff had clearly made eye contact with me on multiple occasions so knew I was there) but it was 9:03 by the time I was served (I have never had to wait over 15 minutes at an oxford bar/pub on such a quite night). Therefore, I asked to pay before they made the drink and was denied happy hour price despite my long wait and the regular prices are overpriced I think, especially when compared to better cocktail bars like Alchemist with similar prices. I left the bar empty handed to go sit with my friends only for loud music to play every now and then meaning I couldn’t hear most of them.
Rachel Harvey
Lovely way to start Christmas eve. A couple of cocktails before our restaurant booking. Reserved a table no problem. Good cocktail menu, plenty of staff. Even pre warned when happy hour was about to finish.
Keith Tomlinson
Great choice of cocktails in a lively bar. Sadly we had to wait 25 minutes to be served at the bar which was a shame. Also if going on a Saturday, reserve a table as everyone else seems to have and there was nowhere to sit.
Some of the best cocktails in the world at this place, and mostly for less than 10 pounds even when it is not happy hour - about 7 pounds when it is. If you go here and don't get cocktails you've missed the point. They have very light bar snacks, which are fabulously tasty.My only complaint is the music can be a bit too loud, but to be fair they did lower the volume when asked.I've been here many times and is my go-to place. They've had the same bartenders for quite some time, which means they know the drink menu inside out.
Service was nice, but the Music is always too loud.
Great place for a drinks with mates - good vibes and really reasonable prices, especially for cocktails! Bit out of the way but worth a visit
I miss the Duke of old days. Always packed. Brilliant atmosphere. Lively bartenders. Menus. Good music and nice decor. Popped in recently and was seriously let down. Awful decor that looks so wrong in there. More like a garden centre and nothing matches. Bored staff snd a DJ playing drum n bass to nobody. It was empty. I asked for a menu and the barman pointed at a QR code. This was a premium cocktail bar in its day. I certainly don’t want to view a menu on my phone like it’s 2020! Saving grave was the banging cocktail I had. Glad that hasn’t changed. I really think they are missing a trick. The same people that used to go here and spend money are still drinking, just in other places. Bring back the old Duke. Oxford needs you!!!! We miss you!!!
I was served by a very attentive bartender I believe called Hannah. She was delight to be served by and made me a delicious mojito.
Amazing cocktails with lots of attention to detail. Great vibe here with friendly staff, would recommend
Amazing! We rented the bar out of a private event and it was brilliant. Service was great from booking all the way to excellent bar service on the night. DJ was great and played our type of music. Great drink selection. Everyone had positive things to say about the venue and the staff. Thanks for making our night special.
Used to be an amazing pub not sure what's happened if its been taken over as the atmosphere was awful and the staff so rude and unwelcoming.
Awesome, fast service even though it was busy
A refined ambience for a relaxed drink. Excellent bartending and delicious cocktails.
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice bar, doesn't really get busy till 1030. Seems to be for over 30s atmosphere. Cocktails and good beer but not a pub more high class. If u do like your beer it on sell 2/3 pints. Good booths for large groups and bars stools. Nice modern decor
Really annoyed me. Stood at the end of the bar because the rest of the bar was full. Guy making cocktails was very slow. Made the mistake of not moving towards the centre of the bar as people took their drinks, why would you? Guy served 2 sets of people who walked straight up to the centre of the bar and totally ignored me. He only served me when I called out "Excuse me. Am I invisible? I was ahead of these people and the last people you served." No apology. A guy behind me said exactly the same had happened to him. Mediocre cocktails, small, overpriced, rude staff, don't bother as there are plenty more places in Little Clarendon Street and much nicer.
So I came during happy hour on a relatively quiet night. Firstly it was clear the staff were purposefully running down the happy hour clock but fine I can get that. The happy hour ended at 9 so I joined the bar at 8:45. Not only were three people who joined after me served before me (and the bar staff had clearly made eye contact with me on multiple occasions so knew I was there) but it was 9:03 by the time I was served (I have never had to wait over 15 minutes at an oxford bar/pub on such a quite night). Therefore, I asked to pay before they made the drink and was denied happy hour price despite my long wait and the regular prices are overpriced I think, especially when compared to better cocktail bars like Alchemist with similar prices. I left the bar empty handed to go sit with my friends only for loud music to play every now and then meaning I couldn’t hear most of them.
Lovely way to start Christmas eve. A couple of cocktails before our restaurant booking. Reserved a table no problem. Good cocktail menu, plenty of staff. Even pre warned when happy hour was about to finish.
Great choice of cocktails in a lively bar. Sadly we had to wait 25 minutes to be served at the bar which was a shame. Also if going on a Saturday, reserve a table as everyone else seems to have and there was nowhere to sit.