• Added: 26th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX2 6AD
01865 559029

Oaktree said
"You were served by Albus Dumbledore"
This Co-op swift shop does what it says on the tin Basically a convenience store open at convenient times, to serve the people of Jericho. And somewhere you can nip out to when you realise that the Jericho restaurant you've gone to is actually 'bring your own'.

I have two main memories of shopping here. One is of the competent way the staff dealt with an abusive customer. Well, not a customer, just someone who came in and shouted incoherently.

The other is of a friend receiving a receipt from one of the self-service tills. Usually they say "You were served by U-scan 1234" or something like that. But on this wonderful occasion, his receipt bore the legend "you were served by Albus Dumbledore". Magic!

• Added: 26th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX1 1PA
01865 722179

Oaktree said
Rammed during term time
You have to be very careful about timing your visit to this branch of Sainsbury's. Set in the Westgate Centre in the heart of Oxford, it's absolutely rammed during term time - though to be fair they usually have the staff on hand to keep your queueing down to under 10 minutes.

It does have the advantage of having the massive Westgate Centre car park literally on its doorstep, but unless I lived in the town centre, or was going to shop in town for something else I wouldn't take a special trip to this particular branch, as there are larger Sainsburys supermarkets on the ringroad and on the way to Kidlington.

Having said that, it was my 'local' supermarket for a year, and a very good one too.

• Added: 26th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX3 9JT
01865 768210

Oaktree said
Biggest supermarket inside the ringroad
The Headington Somerfield is probably the biggest supermarket inside the ring road, with much sought-after parking in mostly-resident-permitted Headington. It's close to the JR hospital, and convenient if you happen to be in the area.

Inside, there's the usual vast selection of foodstuffs and otherstuffs that you'd usually find in a supermarket. Things to watch out for (in a good way) are the reduced proce stickered products - often salads that have to be sold that day - which are of good quality.

I've mostly bought sandwiches there - apart from the day when I splashed out on a new toaster following an unfortunate melting incident with our landlord's toaster.

• Added: 26th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX2 7HN
01865 552610

Oaktree said
Rebranded to do "nice" fresh food
After a few years as a bog-standard Somerfield, this shop was rebranded with black marble effect all over the place, presumably to give the place an greater air of class in the light of the large M&S food hall that opened up practically opposite!

It's repositioned itself with prominent displays of fresh fruit and vegetables and an altogether less sticky-floored shopping experience than was previously the case.

I haven't shopped much there since it rebranded (due to moving) but did enjoy the new potatoes I bought from Somerfield a couple of months ago while passing through Summertown. Parking is limited (especially with the current roadworks situation) but there's a decent cycle rack outside the store.

• Added: 26th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX3 9ED
01865 761800

Oaktree said
Buy lunch, go to the park
One of the main things this Co-op has going for it is location. It's opposite a pleasant park with picnic tables. If you work in Headington, what better way to spend an occasional summer lunchtime on a sunny day than going to the Co-op, grabbing a drink, some sandwiches and a newspaper, and wandering across to the park to chill out and enjoy the open space after being cooped up at work during the morning.

It has some parking too - a total luxury in Headington! Though do watch out for the traffic that builds along London Road during the rush hour and at school run time.

• Added: 26th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX3 9AW
01865 762134

Oaktree said
Pick up some special offers
I have to admit that I don't shop in Iceland much - how often do you need to completely restock your freezer?! When I do shop there, it's for the special offers, prominently displayed in the front window.

They often have 99p deals on, or deals where you buy a whole load of specified frozen food for a specified knockdown price. OK, so you get a few items you may not have bought otherwise, but it's nice to try some variety.

On a slightly darker note, I fear I may have become addicted to their amazing rocket lollies. :-)

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Oxford OX1 2HS

Oaktree said
Five stars isn't enough
Where does one start with a place like G&D's? With bagels, the best ice cream in Oxford, the ever-changing flavours, the cow decor and more newspapers than you could ever read in a day, this place has it all.

The Little Clarendon Street branch is the smallest of the three (the others are on St Aldate's and Cowley Road) but it's where the ice cream is made. And if you get enough people together to petition for a flavour, they'll make it for you!

Though they did shock me one evening. A Kiwi member of staff got up and announced they were going to have a mooning competition and the best mooner would win ice cream. The ice cream is good, but not worth that! Anyway, it turned out to be a mooing competition (in keeping with the cow decor) so all ended well.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX1 3EX

Oaktree said
Doubles as a study area during term time
The first thing that strikes you when you walk upstairs during term time is that everyone has a laptop! There aren't enough power points to go round, but as long as your battery is OK you can have a work space for a few hours for the price of a coffee. Not bad!

There is wireless access available, but you have to pay for it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because you tend to get more work done on your laptop without a connection than you do when the internet is sitting on your desk demanding attention, like a hungry goose.

Apart from being the Bodleian 2 during term time, this Starbucks is much like any other in the chain.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Oxford OX2 0NA

Oaktree said
Best place to eat out in the Botley area
When I lived in Botley, one of the highlights was an occasional walk down the road to the Fishes. While it's possible to sit there all evening relaxing with friends over a drink or two, the thing that sets this place apart is the quality of the food. It really is excellent!

Although I always walked there (and if you're on the bus you'll have to walk the last bit), car owners needn't feel left out, though the road is narrow and windy in places! There's also the opportunity of a post-lunch stroll into town taking the scenic route of the nearby (well-signposted) footpath.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Oxford OX2 8PN
01865 302071

Oaktree said
Follow in the footsteps of Inspector Morse
Some of the pub scenes in the well-loved Inspector Morse series were filmed here - and when you look outside you can see why! The river is just there - and just right.

Although it's a bit off the beaten track (you have to take the Wolvercote bus then walk for a bit if you don't have any other means of transport), it's well worth the trip just for the atmosphere. The food is pricey but fine.

One word of caution though - be careful when arranging to meet friends here, as there's always the danger that one of them will go to the similarly-named Perch, which is also on the river but quite a long way away. Don't get your fishes muddled!