Bill's Has A Bike

What a great little adverting machine to have in what must be the bike capital of the United Kingdom.  Bill's the restaurant in St Michael's Street, which I have been told is very good and popular since opening last year, have this bike put the front of the store.  I am hoping that they use this bike for deliveries or shopping and not just advertising.

Brown's In Oxford Open As Usual

Having been away on holidays for the last 6 weeks, I am happy to say that like Brown's  restaurant on Woodstock Rd, we are open for business as usual.  Loads of things have happened in the six weeks while I have been away, and I am going to get out on the bike and snap photo's for the blog.  Hope all have been well while I have been away.

Bill's Cafe Oxford

New cafe/restaurant has opened in central Oxford, Bill's. With bikes being the most popular mode of transport around Oxford over recent years putting promotion seat covers on all the bikes parked around the city as become very popular.  Bill's Restaurant which opened today, have jumped on the idea and today every bike in Oxford had a nice bright green Bill's seat cover. My bike unfortunately did not get a seat cover today :(

Côte Brasserie Opening Soon On George Street

For a number of months the Brasserie next to the Four Candles on George Street has been closed and boarded up.  I have been wondering what was going to move into this space since the Brasserie closed, and this afternoon I noticed a number of signs on the windows saying Cote Brasserie opening soon.  They are also advertising for staff, so if you are interested in working on George Street, this might be the place for you.
It is strange that Cafe Uno that used to be in this space closed unexpectedly, the French Brasserie that followed closed about six months ago, and now we are going to have another Brasserie going in, lets hope that they get the business mix right.

Atomic Burger Cowley

Always wanted to visit and try out this infamous burger bar on the Cowley Road, at the start of the week a couple of friends asked if I wanted to join them tonight.  Unfortunately this morning I heard that the meal this evening was off, however I had been looking forward to visiting so much, I went anyway and I was glad I did.  A very nice atmosphere, sat outside as the weather was nice, and I had a very enjoyable Audrey Hepburn Burger.

Burger War About To Start In Oxford

I couple of weeks ago I posted a photo of a new burger restaurant Byron see here, and that it was going to be only a couple of doors down from Gourmet Burger Kitchen, well look what is happening to the GBK, it also is under refurbishment. However from the looks of the amount of work still needed at the Byron site, I would say that the GBK will be reopened shortly.

Byron's Backside

About ten days ago I photographed a building from George Street, where there is going to be a new restaurant, Bryons. There was not date for the opening of this hamburger restaurant on any of the notices at the front so I decided to walk around the back to see what was going on, and boy did I get a surprise. Look the whole back of the building is under construction, so I am not sure when this new eatery will be opening, but I would be right in saying, not this month.

Byron Hamburgers Will Soon Be In Oxford

Bryon, a mainly London based hamburger chain will soon be opening in George Street, Oxford. It is going to be just a couple of doors down from the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, which is going to be interesting. I think this location on George Street will be good to Byron's as it is a large unit and I think this chain is going to be a popular addition to the other restaurants in this part of town.

Greek Taverna Closes

Another restaurant on Banbury Road in Summertown closes, last month I posted a photo of the closed La Dolce Vita restaurant and today on the other side of the road I noticed the Greek Taverna had closed. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I had a good friend visiting from Canada and we had a nice meal in this restaurant, it was only our party and another couple in the restaurant the whole evening. Where are all our independent businesses going? It is the cost of the business rates that are pushing businesses to the wall?

Atomic Pizza Cowley Road

I have been to the legendary burger bar on the Cowley Road, The Atomic Burger Bar, which has been part of the Cowley Road infamous eateries for a number of years now. I have only just come across today another part of the Atomic brand, Atomic Pizza further along the Cowley Road. Unfortunately the both establishments are closed for the Christmas period, so in the new year I will have to make point of having my first Atomic Pizza. Anyone eaten here?

La Dolce Vita Restaurant Closes

I was walking in Summertown this morning when I spotted in the window of La Dolce Vita's Italian restaurant a note to say thank you to the customers of this family run restaurant which closed 10days ago. I have posted the note here. It is a thank you to the past customers and those who have been to the restaurant over the 23years that it has been operating. It is a shame when local business close, as our slowly our high street will become the same as every other in the UK with all the nationals moving in.

New O'Neill's Has Opened Less The Live Music

I posted back in August that the very popular George Street pub O'Neill's had closed for refurbishment and was due to open on the 22nd of September. Well I am please to report that the refurbishment has be completed and it did reopen as advertised yesterday on the 22nd. During the refurbishment they have unfortunately in my opinion, removed a bit of the soul of this old place, it is now more of a restaurant than a pub, and from what I can see is no place for the live music. O'Neill's always had a great line up of cover bands playing on Thursdays, Friday and Saturday but I guess this will be no more.

O'Neill's Irish Pub Closed

O'Neill's on George Street has closed, but only temporality as there is going to be a large revamp of this pub. From what the signage outside is saying this refit should be finished on the 22nd of September when O'Neill's is planning to reopen. However from what I have heard on the street, it is going to be like the old O'Neill's as the live music and partying element of this pub is going and it will be more of a dining/restaurant pub, which is a shame because they would get a fe good bands playing on the weekend in O'Neill's. Anyway we will have to wait and see what the new place will be like on the 22nd of September.

Good News, I have found the same camera that I broke on eBay and have won it, so I should be back with clearer photo's soon, I was going to say better, but I am not sure about that..

Warm Evening With Half Price Tapas

WOW what a great way to spend an afternoon/evening, with it staying light till about 9pm now in Oxford you can enjoy one of the many offers from the great restaurants/bars in Oxford. Like this one on the Cowley Road, if you arrive early you can enjoy half price tapas everyday of the week, at the Moroccan themed Kazbar. The other sign on the window this evening was an advertisement for cocktail bar staff, so if you are looking for that line of work, your skills are needed on the Cowley Road. It is it going to be bright, and you are sitting in the window you might need your sunglasses.

Big Bang Oxford

I have only been to this restaurant once, but I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to eat a great locally produced meal at a reasonable price. It is a small funky place on Walton Street, Jericho specialising in uniquely flavoured sausages. I am not sure who the diner in the street is, but I would love to visit one morning for breakfast, they also have Jazz evenings one night a week, which is popular I have been told.

Busy Oxford Kebab Kid

Kebab Kid just off Gloucester Green is always open and more than not always busy. Not a big Kebab fan myself but found myself at this all night take away in the early hours and managed to be served very quickly with a nice Chicken Burger Chips, lucky I had a friend with me who paid for me as I did not have the funds to complete the transaction, very embarrassing.

Ha Ha Bar Oxford Demolition

Work has started to gut the inside of the Ha Ha Bar in the city centre. I have just seen a notice on the window to say that WD Weatherspoon's have made application to turn this space into a WD Weatherspoon's named The Swan and Castle? The application is requesting an opening time of 9am and people can make comments to the licensing officer by the start of December.

It has been nearly a year since my post the day after the close of the Ha Ha Bar in January.

Tootsies Under Administration

Was around the Castle Development in the City Centre this afternoon and notice that Tooties Burger Grill had not lights on. On further investigation I could see that the whole place was empty and a notice on the front doors saying the company was in Administration. Looking in it was very strange, as it looked like the place could reopen at any minute, with all the tables set, tables out the front. This is the second business to close in this new development, the first was HaHa Bar.

The Fishes

What a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, enjoying a drink at The Fishes which has a great outdoor area at the back of the pub.  I cycle to The Fishes as it is not that far from the city centre if you walk the back ways, it is only 15 minute cycle away to North Hinksey.  When I was visiting this afternoon I was reading about all the awards the pubs has received for the food that they are now serving, so I would suggest this would be a nice place to celebrate a special occasion.

Anyway, if you are in Oxford and would like to try a pub that is not that far from town with a difference, give it s try and let me know.

Red Star Noodle Bar Cowley Road

Photo of a few of the shops along the Cowley Road, which is a very busy trading street in Oxford both day and night.  Note of warning for those planning on having a meal towards the end of the night at the Red Star, they close at the closing time advertised, weather or finished or not.  Nice menu.

Sorry about the lack of posts I have been to France for a few days, should have updated the site, but had a busy few days leading up to my trip away.  Back now with bells on and a new twitter account, mmmm.