The Old Bookbinders Ale House in Oxford

We took our chances turning up here on a late Saturday lunchtime without a booking but the staff were fantastic in finding us a table. The level of service was maintained through our lunch which featured some excellent French dishes. We will be back.

Lovely quirky pub. Gets very busy

Lovely traditional pub with great variety of beers (including cask ones). The deco is cool and it makes it different from other pubs.

Great food (awesome crepes) great beer great staff

Great quirky pub with very interesting decorations from yesteryear. Superb little French bistro style cuisine. Had a great brie tartlette for starters and an excellent fish pie with roasted vegetables, and a lovely coffee to finish off.

Really nice pub with a great atmosphere. Food was good, service was great even though it was very busy. Some good beers on tap too. Quiz was great!

We were hoping to spot a certain famous local here, but we did not succeed. However, we did enjoy a French onion soup that needed a bit of salt, but was otherwise solid. I didn't love the Chevre crepe, but appreciated the effort. The fries were yummy. Order another round! It's an adorable pub, and service is friendly and kind, bathrooms are clean, and I would def sneak in for a drink or fries in the future.

Food and service excellent. Atmosphere great as well.

Brilliant service - friendly, helpful, enthusiastic and prompt. Food was great too and overall it was a real pleasure.

highly recommended, lovely pub and great food.

It's a wonderful life; this is a wonderful pub. It has so much going for it. If I were more local, I'd frequent it

Superb old boozer which served as the location for many an Inspector Morse scene. Busy food service, but the main main area has some real charm.

Great pub with a lovely atmosphere with very tasty food and reasonably priced. The decor was interesting and the lighting ambient and not too bright.

Can't praise this place highly enough, great food,fabulous ale, friendly warm professional welcome from ALL staff and reasonable tariffs. Word of warning Oxford City Council has changed restrictions to ALL RINGO app car parks, one is handy and nearby. choice is five hours at £4.30 or twenty four hours at £15.30, no inbetween, five hours can no longer be extended. For me this means day visits to Oxford and this pub to meet up with a relative from London every six to eight weeks or so will have to be lessened or find another city and sadly another pub.

We attended on a Saturday afternoon in mid-March. As always the quality of food was exceptional. The service homely and friendly. I recommend Le Steak Haché - delicious and on the menu fixe which is a very affordable option especially given the quality. It is worth coming to Jericho just for this very special pub

A great local pub with a French bistro atmosphere, including excellent crepes, with good British real ale too. The set menu has a good selection of dishes and it's good value.

While the food in the end was middling, the service and great pub ambience more than made up for it and combined for a very enjoyable meal. We all started with the French onion soup and it was fine, just a bit bland. The Chevre crepe I had was also just fine, but distinguished a bit by the higher quality goat cheese flavor. Service by the entire staff was excellent and the eclectic decor created a vibrant atmosphere.

Get some of the crêpes, filling, super-delicious and well priced. The IPA is not bad either 🤤

First time here, will definitely come back again. Really nice atmosphere and staff was really kind.

Lovely community pub. Great choice of real ale and AF beers. Friendly atmosphere.

I had not been here for some years but found the set lunch outstanding.Good choice and excellently cooked and presented.And as a non drinker there was the added bonus of Guinness zero.

Be sure to come early or reserve a table since this lovely pub fills up fast on a Friday night! Great atmosphere, good service and a good selection of drinks.

Fantastic place. Lovely food and exceptionally reasonable prices. Nice selection of ales and superb service. Creme Brulee is gorgeous. A hidden gem 💎

Recent discovery. Cosy warm vibe ideal for discerning bohemians. Not yet tried the food but it looks fab.

Excellent and classic pub. French family owned which adds a twist to the atmosphere and the food. Highly recommend.

An institution. Great food staff and location

Delicious French food in a great British pub atmosphere. Dog friendly.

Such a great find, they catered for all food requirements and offered lots of options. Amazing decor and atmosphere and the food was lovely. We spent a good few hours there catching up, all together a great time was had by all.

We had a wonderful meal at The Old Bookbinders, and found the service really friendly! Really nice and tasty food, and great prices too. I would highly recommend.

Poped in for a drink before going on to eat elsewhere. Loved it so much that we booked a table for the following evening. Extremely friendly staff.

WHAT A PUB! What staff, what atmosphere, what pub quizzes - the compère should be famed for his pazazz. TENS ACROSS THE BOARD

Great local pub in Jericho neighborhood of Oxford. We had the crepe complete, steak frites and mousse au chocolat and all were excellent. Service is friendly and environment is charmingly quirky and unique. Highly recommend.

We visited on a Sunday and our server must have had a late night as she was there but not present and had an attitude. The menu is slightly limited but the specials make it more expansive. I ordered off the 2 course menu but had just the one course and it was well prepared tasty and worth the wait. Atmosphere was ok but it was Sunday lunch so not great.

Such a lovely evening at The Old Bookbinders. I went with my partner to eat as we were in the area - it happened to be their open mic night. The atmosphere was great including the music, the service was friendly and efficient and the food was reasonably priced. We loved the decor and the French Bistro vibe!

Went here for a birthday meal with friends, absolutely wonderful atmosphere. The food was amazing. The staff were lovely and very helpful. The crepe with toffee sauce for desert was a highlight!

Very attentive staff .Lovely ambience Gluten free bottled beer . If you’re gluten free and lactose free it’s very limited.So unfortunately unable to recommend if your both .But GF is fine no other restrictions.

Great for just a drink or food. It tastes and feel like home

Great local and lively boozer, hearty food and a fantastic welcome

We visited the Old Bookbinders before our daughter was born which was 8 years ago! This is a very old review but we are planning to especially stop off for the first time in all those years on our way home within the next week. Hoping its as fantastic as way back then, with amazing food, great atmosphere and the barrel of monkey nuts!!

What a super place - recommended by friends - nicely busy on a Friday lunch time but staff coped admirably - lovely welcome and the food was absolutely delicious . Prawn Pili and fish soup - and pate and steak hache - plus a shared creme brule just to be greedy as portions generous - would return in an instant

Lovely quirky pub with brilliant atmosphere

A real find! Delicious French cooking and good value too.

Absolutely amazing! It entirely warrants the overused phrase 'hidden gem'. Pleasant staff, excellent food, and a warm atmosphere. One really couldn't ask for more. Make sure to book if you'd like to eat as this pub is rightly in demand.

One of the best pubs in Oxford. Really nice warm atmosphere inside, great beers on tap. Very close to the river. Prices are reasonable.

I can't speak highly enough of the place to be honest .friendly staff good beer and nice food at reasonable prices in a comfortable atmosphere. Only reason I don't go more often is the limited parking in the area.

C'est super! Lovely atmosphere, quirky homely decor, friendly and charming staff. Excellent classic French food too, too we had a lovely dinner here. Definitely returning!

The atmosphere, the service, the food... All simply outstanding!

Very good. Great cosy atmosphere. Christmassy. Beef bourguignon not brill. Meat was tasteless and chewy. Not cooked for long enough. Should use shin or bavette. Sauce too thin. Fish soup, snails and fish pie excellent. Oh yes Romanian pinot noir bit average. Good beers. Definitely will go again

A good pub with good atmosphere and excellent range of drinks.

Limited menu but oh what a gem. Our party had a few coeliacs and we where all cared for. If they weren’t sure they check with the chef. Roughly 4 starters and 4 mains with daily specials, and a great pudding menu too. There isn’t a wall or ceiling which doesn’t have something on it, musical instruments, sheet music, nick knacks, matchboxes. Something to look at everywhere. The radiator in the back room looks like it was done by a dodgy plumber. The drinks where great, a good selection of beer and cider, wine and spirits. Its not in central Oxford, more like the ‘burbs, the clientele is an eclectic mixture of students, couples and families. Parking is non existent, so get a taxi or be prepared to walk. We will be back.

Unfortunately poor. As a semi regular here for meals over the years, we had the misfortune of meeting the landlady during our lunch today who was verbally hostile and rude towards one of our meal guests, ruining what should have been a pleasant family birthday meal. Which was a shame as the remainder of the staff were hospitable and welcoming as they usually are. In terms of the food, this was mediocre and overpriced. £12.00 for a very plain rather dry burger with fries - no salad accompaniment- £4 more if you wanted to add cheese and burnt bacon to your overcooked burger, suggests that this is a place now firmly resting on its laurels. A shame as it had been a previous favourite of ours. Oh well, there are fortunately plenty of other good places to eat in this area of Oxford.

Great selection of ales and ciders. This is a lovely old world hostelry. Highly recommended

I’m obsessed with this place. It was the perfect ending to my Oxford and London trip before heading back to the States. The staff were so friendly and it was such a magical and warm place to find refuge and peace in the midst of a rainy day. I love this place and it was one of the highlights of my trip.

Stopped in here to grab a drink and get out of the rain. Cozy place with friendly staff. The bartender was great and shared lots of history of the surrounding area. Ask him for great pub recommendations in Oxford. Definitely recommend a stop here if you’re in Oxford

Bloody great. Nice food, better atmosphere

Attractive corner pub that serves French food. Slightly misleading name and mixed vibe - not an ale House as beers don't seem to be the main focus, French-style uniformed serving staff were super friendly and helpful, and the decor was warm and attractive in the bar and restaurant, but strangely 1980s style in the loos. The food was good but unexceptional ie the kind of thing you'd easily cook at home, and the white wine we ordered was good quality for the price and served at just the right temperature in lovely clean glasses. Overall, a nice enough meal in a nice enough place.

You could easily miss out on this restaurant, tucked away as it is in the depths of Jericho just along from St. Barnabas' Church in Oxford. That would be a shame. This is a wonderful location, dog friendly and with amazing French cuisine. It is not merely a place to come and eat and drink. This is a place in which to linger and enjoy all that is on offer. We stayed for a good couple of hours and watched the world go by as we are and drank. Definitely coming back.

Great pub, lively atmosphere great staff, pizza was nice 👍🏽

EDITED to reflect correspondence with the owner - they acknowledged several errors and were eager to make things right, including new training and restaurant policies. Great ambience, nice menu and staff; however a complete lack of awareness around food allergies. I notified the waiter about a severe tree nut allergy and ordered something from the menu that had no noted items but was startled to discover walnuts in a chutney on a burger. Staff apologized, but there was no acknowledgement that this was a life threatening mistake that resulted in a trip to the hospital, directly from the restaurant, for emergency treatment. No one from the kitchen or management checked on us, or seemed worried about our quick departure. I was fortunate to get to the hospital in time and wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone.

Backstreet boozer with a Gallic slant which is an eclectic and vital part of any Jericho crawl. Friendly staff, quirky interior, and well-kept ales tick most of the boxes and the tables outside are most-sought on a clement day.

We were there for dinner. It was fantastic in every way.

Great atmosphere interesting decor and good food were all part of the experience here. It’s smallish so be sure to book.

I had a drink here with a beautiful woman, Elena, just after a walk around Port Meadow, where we were watching the wild horses. The pub was quiet when we arrived and time flied for me! It was a date I will always keep in my heart, as well as the place itself!:-)

Lovely cosy restaurant with great food and ambience. Was perfect for dinner after open day at the Uni.

Very charming place, very pleasant atmosphere; It's not very easy to get to this pub but it was worth it.

Amazing ambiant, food, service and drinks! Very friendly staff with delicious authentic french food.

We had dinner here on our last night in Oxford, and we had a nice evening. This place is located a bit of the beaten path, but it is absolutely worth the walk. It is really cozy, and the staff is friendly. We had coq au vin and garlic bread, and it was tasty and delicious. Unfortunately one of us was a bit under the weather, so we didn't stay for long, but we would love to come back another time.

Possibly Oxford's best pub (against stiff competition!). Cosy, eclectic, tucked away in a quiet part of Jericho. Lovely wines, excellent beers and cider, and with its usual fantastic French bistro food. The savoury crêpe are always perfect. I've been coming to this pub for years and I'll keep coming back every time I'm in Oxford.

What a place! Lovely pub serving some amazing French bistro style food. Been waiting to try here for a while and it really impressed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Old Bookbinders is a hidden gem! The crepes are an exquisite culinary delight, bursting with flavors that are simply unparalleled. The staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive, making every visit a joy. This pub effortlessly blends vintage charm and contemporary comfort, creating a cozy haven where great food and wonderful memories come together. An absolute must-visit for crepe lovers and anyone seeking exceptional hospitality.

A traditional pub offering good ales, food and a handful of monkey nuts (on the house).

Exceptional service and delectable cuisine! The restaurant's staff was attentive and made us feel welcome throughout our visit. The food was an absolute delight - each dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. We had a wonderful dining experience and will definitely be coming back for more!!

Delighted to have found the Bookbinders. Well worth the walk from the centre for a lovely meal and well kept beer.

What an absolute gem of a find great French food if you are looking for something a bit different, good options of drinks reasonable prices and the service was brilliant will absolutely be back

Loved the experience, food was divine!!

Nice well kept drinks but rude staff sadly. Went in for a pint of Diet Coke before a rehearsal and was told to move from an empty table even though there were several free around me and no booking

Absolutely amazing place, not to be missed.

A classic town pub, quite cramped inside with some limited seating in the quiet street, not far from the canal which you can cross to the north and then a pleasant 10min stroll south to the station. A reasonable range of beers, not cheap at £8.20 for just a pint of beer and soda & lime with quite slow service.

Fabulous find in the corner of Oxford!!! Lovely crepes!!!!!

Fantastic hidden gem in the middle of a residential area of Oxford. From the outside it just looks like a classic British pub, inside is bursting full of character and the French food and wine makes a really incredible difference from the standard pub. The food, wine and beers of really high quality and the staff were also very friendly, welcoming and efficient. We had three courses in 1hr 45mins on a relatively busy Saturday afternoon. We were recommended this place and we’re not disappointed!!

Really nice service on a lovely evening. Food wasn't as good unfortunately - everything was under-seasoned, and a bit bland (especially the leek and mushroom starter). The fish in the 'fish in butter sauce' dish was more mushy, than flaky. Based on this, decided against ordering dessert. Luckily, the wine was very nice! Lovely to see the pub dog roaming about as well.

Excellent food, service first class. I always recommend Old Bookbinders as best french food in a pub you are ever likely to get. With a great choice of ales

Our favourite pub in Oxford. Great food, beer, wine list and staff and connected into it's local community. Everything a pub out to be.

We've had lunch, dinner, a pub quiz and a teatime pint here over the last couple of weeks. Love it.

The bookies is our local. It’s a great pub with an excellent selection of beer. The food is French style, Breton. Pancakes / crepes. I love the food. It’s a family run affair. I think parents are French. A quiz night runs during the week.

The only grouse I have with the Bookbinders is that it was so dark I could not see what I was eating a bit of putting.

It's quite along time since I visited Jericho and what a lovely surprise I had when meeting friends for dinner in The Old Bookbinders - really lovely meal and atmosphere.

Absolute gem of a pub! Thankfully found through my Lonely planet guide. Great beer, food and service. Hope to be back soon!

Still wonderful. Love how they've opened it out. Beer range has become quite bland but the terrific atmosphere more than makes up for that. Mixed crowd, which is great, nobody is unwelcome. Food is very good she they have loads of events and reasons to visit. The fabric of the building is rather wonderful too, oozes character and warmth.

I regret not taking pictures of the delicious food. We were so hungry we got right to it.

Nice place. Good service. Good cuisine. Highly recommended.

Beautiful little gem of a pub. Classic pub grub served with a smile. Dogs are welcome

Lovely food, lovely staff, lovely atmosphere.

One of favourite pub in Oxford! Polite staff, tasty food and wide range of drinks :) Strongly recommended to visit!

Excellent evening celebrating my daughters' birthday . Lovely food , drink and the service was superb . All the staff very helpful and no rush . It was excellent value when the bill came as well .Thoroughly recommend . Thank you all .

Great boozer and friendly staff...

Very friendly pub, nice vibe, well kept ales and lovely french food. Menu limited, but delicious and not expensive. Didn't have a pud, but others did and they looked fabulous. Terrific service, staff engaged and knowledgeable. Limited parking in the area, which is a downside, but worth a walk from elsewhere. Check opening and kitchen hours.

Friendly boho with more than decent food and a hearty selection of ales.

Really great vibe. The quiz night is amazing and the French menu is a nice surprise

Great food and service, shame about the beer selection