February 22, 2012
A down to earth community pub with a small but choice selection of interesting beers. Far from the Madding Crowd is quite different to any of the other pubs we visited in Oxford. For a start, it’s in a relatively modern looking building that resembles a renovated factory. It’s also decidedly more town than gown – there were no tourists (apart from us) and it feels very much like a local community place with its rather Spartan décor and adverts for quiz and curry night on Sundays. It has only five hand pumps and one gravity cider box but every one of them was interesting and well chosen. I really liked it. (Visited 7 January 2012).

September 27, 2011
A nice change from the usual Oxford pub. Rarely any tourists, modern setting, and a good selection of well kept and constantly rotating ales. The food is the usual pub grub. I generally end up here when I’m in the area and feel like sitting down with a pint and a book. Can get a little busy on the usual nights but generally calm and relaxed.

April 5, 2011
Always a great selection of well kept ales with often some real gems.I like the modern interior, after all why try and pretend to be an old inn when you are not. For serious ale lovers this place is a must when in Oxford

January 12, 2011
Big hall like interior, not that interesting. What makes this place worth a visit is the cask selection. 6 casks from quite interesting brewerys such as Elgood’s, Clark’s, Elland, Sadler’s... Quite loud Saturday night 9 pm. Lots of students. Good and knowledgeable service.

September 7, 2010
Nice place to hang out with a book and have several pints without breaking the bank. Beers constantly change as it is a free house and they care for their beer well.

June 2, 2010
Decently sized, traditional pub in Oxford. Selection was a tad small, but a nice place to stop by for a quick pint in the city centre.

August 27, 2009 [ Updated January 17, 2010 ]
Spent a very comfortable couple of hours here on a Saturday afternoon. Food was good but not to expensive and had a good beer selection. The only thing that surpised me it was not that busy at all.

August 16, 2008
Hip pub an Oxford. I never cottoned to this place, as it exudes a curious, and unfounded, arrogance. Maybe it’s just the clientele. It’s a competent pub, I suppose, but the scene is kind of lame and it has very little charm.

August 10, 2008
Visited on a busy Tuesday evening in September 2007. Open and bright in a big main room full of dark wood and green walls, a nice typical manly pub. An intriguing selection of 8 casks and guest ales, all looking tasty and well-tapped by the locals. Service was ok but busy (and not chatty). Overall, a definite stop for anyone even remotely nearby, I only wish I had come here sooner to try everything and soak up the atmosphere (as opposed to soak up the rain, which we were doing outside).

April 21, 2008
A medium sized, oblong room stripped down to basic with wood panelled, dark interior. Could be called a backstreet boozer located straight down from St. Mary Magdalen in St. Giles. The Friar’s Entry is not shown on every tourist map so it could be a bit tricky to find. The pub is a Freehouse with six ales on cask, often from small local breweries. I had ales from Vale, Ballards, Oldershaw and Hopshackle during my visit. The pub has got an annual beer festival in the springtime (late March). Comfortable and relaxing place with music for the sixties in the background. The service was alright and the toilets clean and tidy (visited 16.03.2008).