Oxford Darling
I started the Boujee journey when I moved to Oxford to train as an actor in drama school. Being a nervous 18 year old moving to a new place was daunting, and it wasn’t helped by the cult like behaviours that I was subjected to in The Oxford School of Drama. So between the strange vocal practices (one exercise was called “happy baby”), having to act like various animals and only being allowed to wear black, I searched for comfort through food creativity, entertaining, and hungover brunches.
I didn’t eat out a great deal during my time in Oxford, which was a shame, as the city has some really lovely food spots in the centre, s well as a wealth of rustic country pubs around it. Some of the places I recommend in Oxfordshire are…
Arbequina - On Cowley Road, fantastic tapas.
The Handle Bar - St. Michael’s St, near the Ashmolean, again, wonderful tapas.
The Dashwood Arms - Heyford Rd, Kirtlington, go for the Sunday roast, you get a brisket filled Yorkshire pud.
The Woodstock Arms - 6-8 Market St, Woodstock, the food isn’t anything to write home about, but the atmosphere is perfect for a cosy drink.
Gees - Banbury Rd, the food is good, but the real star is the beautiful conservatory where you can enjoy brunch
Branca - Walton St, if you want a buzzy lunchtime atmosphere with some delicious Italian food, this is it
Drinking and Nightlife was rather tricky during my time living in Oxford. The dreaded pandemic harmed a lot of my socialising opportunities, but we still managed to have fun when it was appropriate. It was a sort of blessing that our small class got put in a bubble, it made us a lot closer as we could only hang out with each other. This doesn’t mean that when we were allowed in clubs we didn’t go absolutely feral. Here is a short list of some of our favourite places. Oxford is lovely, but god you struggle on a night out…
Hanks - Queen Street, this busy bar turned in to more of a club the later it got. Its fun, loud and slightly more sophisticated than ATIK…
Cafe Baba - Cowley Rd, the drinks are cheap, the music is good and you just have to do a few salsa moves whilst you’re there.
The Kings Arms - Holywell St, not really a late night spot, but its a lovely spacious pub with a good vibe.
Turf Tavern - Holywell St, its a Greene King, meaning you know what you’re going to get, but its very pretty, busy and has a great beer garden.
“Club Conservatory” - the most exclusive club in Oxford. Scandals, tears, sex, arguments… all happened here.
