The Royal Blenheim

When me and a few colleagues decided to go there for lunch we had a nice time. The place is like a hidden gem in Oxford. It looks like a fairly standard pub - unlike a lot of modern pubs these days. The menu has vegetarian versions of almost everything and there didn't appear to be much of a wait for the food to arrive. It was also worth every penny. I love Chocolate Fudge Cake and Ice cream, although it could be nice to have a little more choice of desserts. Desserts aside I do recommend people try this place out.

The Dancingman (DI User), 12/04/11

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My favourite Oxford pub! A real local pubby pub - but only 5 mins walk from dead centre - which hasn't had the make-it-look-like-a-pub designer bollocks. Excellent mix of ORDINARY folk, students and ale/sport enthusiasts. It even has 'grumpy' landlord twins for added value. The ale on pump is TERRIFIC: tasty, cheap and always a good choice. Great for a quiet pint or a bite with the missus and kids after shopping. Can get VERY busy of a weekend evening or when there's a match. The 'Village Idiot' has become a legendary pint.

Andron (Unverified), 15/02/11

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A top notch good beer guide pub, the ales are well kept, at a good temperature and there are 10 wickets, with a good turnover of guest ales. For those who don't know what the GBG is, it is a book that lists all the pubs in Britain that serve quality real ales consistently; something that is certainly true of the Royal Blenheim.

The pub is owned by Everards and sub-contracted to the local White Horse Brewery, meaning there are usually 5 or 6 guest ales from around the country complimenting the selection of White Horse Brews (Bitter, Wayland Smithy, Village Idiot) and usually one Everard's brew.

The food is of high quality, usually with a wide range of vegetarian dishes. There is a really good atmosphere in the place, there is a quiz on a wednesday and during term time there are students and locals alike.

The pub is also a rugby hotbed. Whenever a major international is taking place, expect the Blenheim to be packed and have a friendly atmosphere!

Prices are good too, with a pint of the bitter at an outstanding £2.30; with the rest between £2.70 and £3.00, with the price varying depending on the strength.

For those who are not real ale drinkers, there are the standard lager selection, with Stowford Press cider complimenting an interesting single malt range for fans of the Scottish water..

Excellent beer, brilliant food, nice atmosphere and staff. Top pub.

IdrisDragon (Unverified), 19/03/10

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Royal Blenheim is like heaven on earth! It is a good old-fashioned pub - tastefully decorated and traditional but not one of those kind of "proper pubs" where the unwritten rule is that you have to be a bloke (and preferrably a CAMRA member) to enjoy it... The ale is absolutely beautiful here and, despite it being a White Horse brewery tap, they always have an impressive selection of guest ales available. They also have live sports and, what is best, they also have the commentary on. So, it is a real ale pub and also a sports pub but at least my non-real ale drinking non-sports enthusiast friends have also enjoyed it. It's definitely worth a visit.

dralbion (Unverified), 25/08/09

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It is rare to find a gem of a pub hidden away in the city centre, especially when you have lived in Oxford for a while. However, this White Horse pub is just that, with 4 White Horse real ales regularly on tap, and also 5/6 guest ones too. It also manages to be a pub where normal people who like good beer go, which means that if you go in there on your own to just have a tasty drop you will be greeted like an old friend, but also if you bring a big group along there is space and the right atmosphere to accommodate everyone. The food is pretty good too and well priced so all in all this pub is well worth a visit, or maybe a few visits actually!

Chris (Unverified), 07/07/09

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The best real ale in central Oxford and great value with a pint costing from £2.50! A must for any lover of real beer!

Stevo (Unverified), 08/04/09

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Popped into the latest incarnation of the RB last night for a drink with a friend, and was very impressed. As the brewery tap of the White Horse Brewery I had high hopes, and wasn't disappointed in any way. As far as I can see the regular beers are White Horse Bitter, Village Idiot and Wayland's Smithy, with Everard's Tiger a condition of the lease (owned by Everard's, leased to WHB). There's a good selection of real ales from elsewhere - a couple of Ossett brewery offerings stick in the mind - and four or five Belgian beers including Kwak, Duvel and a Westmalle beer, I think the Triple. At a graveyard time on a graveyard night, eight of the ten handpumps (different beer on each) were on, and another was being pulled through. It's the only place outside the beer festival I've ever seen a choice of both mild and porter, and the beer was really superb - both a great choice and in perfect condition.

Food, I believe, is only cooked until 7. It's basic - ham egg 'n' chips level - but the manager's wife is veggie and my friend enthused over his five bean chilli, so the veggie options seem pretty good. I went for the egg & chips which was piping hot, no hanging around under a heatlamp here, and at two meals for a tenner must be some of the best value stomach fillers (haute cuisine it ain't!) in Oxford, especially near the centre.

Well worth slipping into!

AG (Unverified), 27/11/08

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