The Oxford Monopoly Pub Challenge Event - 2014
The 2014 Event took place on Saturday 12th July. We started at The Plough at Wolvercote at 11:00am.
There are a few options to get to Wolvercote. Bus from Oxford to the top of the Woodstock Road, then walk down to Wolvercote. Bus from Kidlington to Five Mile Drive then a quick walk from here. Or get someone to drive you there.
Don’t forget to purchase a bus day ticket because there are a few bus journeys to be taken throughout the day.
The route remained almost the same as the first couple of years, but with a couple of changes to the pubs.
The walking and bus directions are Here and the Pubs visited are below.
The 2014 Pub Challenge Photos.
The start of the 2014 Monopoly Challenge is The Plough at Wolvercote.
WOLVERCOTE - The Plough
Arrived : 11:00 – Drink : Hardy Hanson, St.Edmunds
The start, with a few competitors missing, already walking off to the next pub.
Now walk up the road to the Woodstock Road, cut through Davenant Road to the Banbury Road. Get the bus into Summertown, get off outside The Dew Drop.
BANBURY ROAD - The Dew Drop Inn
Arrived : 11:40 – Drink : Old Hooky, Courage Best
Take the bus down the Banbury Road, getting of at Bevington Road, go down Bevington Road, across Woodstock Road on through St. Bernards Road to Walton Street. The Victoria is on the corner.
WALTON STREET - Victoria Arms
Arrived : 12:15 – Drink : Sunbeam
Walk down Walton Street, then right down Cranham Street, turning left down Canal Street. The Old Bookbinders is on the corner of Victor Street
GREAT CLARENDON STREET
Old Bookbinders
Arrived : 12:40 – Drink : Green Stuff, How Green Valley ??
Now walk back up to Walton Street, then left up Little Clarendon Street into St. Giles and in to The Eagle and Child
ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM - Eagle and Child
Brakspear Bitter 3.4% A superb session beer. Amber in colour with a good fruit, hop and malt nose. The initial taste of malt and the well hopped bitterness quickly dissolves into a predominantly bittersweet and fruity finish.
Arrived : 13:05 – Drink : Brakspears, Nicholsons Pale Ale
A fascinating past
The Eagle and Child lays claim to a number of interesting literary connections. J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and fellow writers met here and dubbed themselves ‘The Inklings’.
They nicknamed the pub ‘The Bird and Baby’.
A public house since 1650, the hostelry takes its name from the crest of the Earls of Derby.
During the Civil War, the building was used as the playhouse for Royalist soldiers.
Now cross the road to The Lamb & Flag
THE RANDOLPH HOTEL
Arrived : 13:40 – Drink : Guinness
Always the bridesmaid never the bride…
Cross over St Giles and walk in to Broad Street for The White Horse
Cross over St Giles and walk in to Broad Street for The White Horse
THE PARKS - The Kings Arms
Arrived : 14:20 – Drink : London Stout, Hummingbird
Turn down Holywell Street into The Turf Tavern.
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD - The Turf Tavern
Arrived : 14:40 – Drink : Turf Tavern, Goldern Newt
A 13th century Ale House with a sought after clientele of students, ‘dons’, and International Tourists. The service point & bars are very small and very busy at peak times. Large external drinking courtyards. Hard to find but worth effort.
Then walk down Queens Lane out to the High Street and get the bus up to Headington to visit The Royal Standard
The Britannia is across the road.
KASSAM STADIUM - The Britannia
Get the bus back in to town, getting of at Rectory Road in St. Clements. Walk up Rectory Road, cross Cowley Road into James Street and The St. James Tavern..
COWLEY ROAD - James Street Tavern
Arrived : 16:20 – Drink : Prospect
Continue down James Street into the Iffley Road, turn left to The Fir Tree which is on the corner of Bullingdon Road.
PEARTREE - The Fir Tree
Walk or get the bus down to The Plain and The Cape of Good Hope.
IFFLEY ROAD - Cape of Good Hope
Arrived : 17:15 – Drink : Doombar, Hogsback
Now walk or get the bus to the top of the High Street visiting The Mitre
MARKET STREET - The Mitre
HIGH STREET - The Chequers
Arrived : 18:15 – Drink – Monty Python Holy Ale
Go down Alfred Street to The Bear which is on the corner of Blue Boar Street.
ST ALDATES - The Bear
Arrived : 18:45 – Drink : HSB
Continue along Blue Boar Street on to St. Aldates. Walk down St. Aldates to The Head of The River which is just before Folly Bridge.
Walk back up St. Aldates, turning left down Pembroke Street to The Blenheim.
THE CLARENDON CENTRE
The Royal Blenheim
Arrived : 19:40 – Drink : Black Dog, Village Idiot
Walk up St. Ebbes, turning right up Queen Street, left in to the Cornmarket and The Crown.
CORNMARKET - The Crown
Arrived : 20:00 – Drink : Amarillo Pale Ale
Continue along Cornmarket, left down St. Michaels Street for The Three Goats Heads.
Be careful of the steps, they are quite steep, apparently some one fell down them this year.
St. Michael at the Northgate
Three Goats Heads
Arrived : 20:45 – Drink : Sovereign
Continue down St. Michael Street, right into New Inn Hall Street, crossing George Street, then right into The White Rabbit
GLOUCESTER GREEN - The White Rabbit
Arrived : 21:10 – Drink : Village Idiot
Walk back to George Street, down pass Gloucester Green bus station across the car park to The Dukes Cut.
ST THOMAS STREET - The Duke's Cut
Arrived : 21:10 – Drink : ??
This was the last pub visited for most people, mainly because trains to Banbury stop early in the evening.
Continue down Park End Street, left into Oxpens to The Honey Pot.
OXPENS ROAD - The Honey Pot
Arrived : ??? – Drink : ??
Apparently Cliff visited this pub “on the way home”, so he informed me. The rest of us were asleep on the bus, going home
Stagger back up to the station, then under railway bridge on to Botley Road, turn left down Mill Street and to The Kite and the end of the Monopoly Challenge for 2014.
OXFORD STATION - The Kite
Arrived : Didn’t – Drink : None
So didn’t get here this year. But another good year was had. May do something different for next year, 2015.