Magdalen Arms

After a period in the doldrums, this rough old boozer in a less-than-fashionable part of Oxford has been sympathetically refurbished in the best gastropub tradition of bare boards & wood tables, with cheerful service to boot. It’s the kind of place you’re glad to stumble on, & the attention to detail is impressive – their home-baked bread, for example, is irresistible. Under the guidance of chef Tony Abarno (ex-Anchor & Hope, London) the Magdalen Arms has developed as a serious destination for all those who love ‘real food’. With seasonal produce shoring up the cooking, you might be tempted by superb, ultra-fresh brown crabmeat with sourdough toast, then a generous, meltingly tender oxtail pie, with buttermilk pudding to finish.