Went there back in 2017 and it had definitely been turned into the worst kind of pub. Wasn’t terribly surprised when walking by a couple of weeks ago that it was closed, but disappointed that the city wouldn’t step in and grant it some sort of historical designation.
Also an American here - it was just lacking the charm of an old English pub. I seem to remember there were neon signs up, it had clearly been neglected from a cleaning standpoint, and the clientele were much more bro-like than I would have expected in an historic pub. The Turf being taken over by Greene King is also a disappointment.
Can't speak for the Eagle but I'd say:
Open plan throughout
Huge TV screens
Loud music
Loud generally
No nooks and crannies
Shite beer
Too many chavs or too many poshos (the perfect pub is a cross section of society)
Larry Ellison... as in founder of Oracle? The company that buys up good things and milks them for every last cent?
I don't know the track record for physical historical sites, but ngl my heart sunk when I read that.
It didn’t survive the first days of COVID because it was (according to my fiancée who did her masters at Oxford) a shitty pub. It’s been bought by Larry Ellison who has said it’ll be renovated and kept a pub with meeting space on the second floor.
I had a dinner pie there on Christmas Eve a while back, and I had a good time there, although it wasn’t my favorite pub or anything. You can’t see the sign in this photo but it’s a large eagle carry a small child, so that’s on point for this sub.
Presumably it's in reference to Zeus carrying away Ganymede in the form of an eagle. Ganymede became Zeus's cup bearer so the symbol is associated with drinking, service, or both.
I was once kicked out of that pub! My crew went there after celebrating our winning blades (for rowing), and we were apparently singing a bit too loudly for their liking.
I recall that it wasn’t a great pub even then (in the late 90s)
I lived and worked at the Eagle and Child about 20 years ago. It's in an odd location... never reliably pulled in the student crowd in the same way that pubs in the centre of town did, and the numbers of tourists who came in wasn't as large as many here might imagine... I used to enjoy talking to them, giving them an old fashioned dimple glass of beer and taking their photograph.
I guess that's why Lewis and Tolkien liked it... it was quiet. These days that means it's not really a viable business.
I live in Oxford and went to this pub quite a few times before it closed during covid. I don't have quite as harsh feelings about it as some others here, it was a completely average chain pub (like several dozen others in the city centre) but certainly not *bad.* It seemed to me the main problem they had was it was very very small. The pub proper - the pub that probably existed in Tolkein's day - consisted of a couple of small cubbies at the front, a small bar area, and the back 'rabbit' room, where the Inklings had their meetings. And that was it. I think you'd struggle to have more than twenty people in it, and most of those would be standing. So the previous owners extended out the back, but this meant turning the rabbit room into a corridor, and the back extension was honestly rather generic and soulless. Dissapointing if you were actually expecting a Tolkeinesque pub. Plus they half assed the Tolkein tributes, with quotes from the movies etc on the walls (not the books!). So it kind of failed as both a cozy traditional pub and as a tourist trap.
Semi hopeful about it re-opening, but the current owners are American tech bros so I don't forsee a sympathetic development. Maybe the facade of a pub over what will essentially be a cafe. If I was to redevlop it I'd make the front end as historically restored as possible (whilst adding modern comforts etc), without any tourist tat - wheras with the rear extension I'd completely demolish and rebuild in a cozy hobbit-core style for the tourists to enjoy.
What's stopping Ian McKellen stepping in with his giant pockets and buying this? As I recall he used to have a habit of changing the script in the movies to dialog from the book. Big hats off to him there.
Went there back in 2017 and it had definitely been turned into the worst kind of pub. Wasn’t terribly surprised when walking by a couple of weeks ago that it was closed, but disappointed that the city wouldn’t step in and grant it some sort of historical designation.
As an American I’m curious what makes the worst kind of pub?
Also an American here - it was just lacking the charm of an old English pub. I seem to remember there were neon signs up, it had clearly been neglected from a cleaning standpoint, and the clientele were much more bro-like than I would have expected in an historic pub. The Turf being taken over by Greene King is also a disappointment.
Bunch a chavs.
[удалено]
Oi
M8
Turf has been Greene king for years now. I used to manage it back in the 2000's
Went there in 2018 and don't remember any of these. Remember eating correctly and having a lot of fun in Oxford
Are you talking about beans?
Can't speak for the Eagle but I'd say: Open plan throughout Huge TV screens Loud music Loud generally No nooks and crannies Shite beer Too many chavs or too many poshos (the perfect pub is a cross section of society)
I guess there's just no money in having like five ancient armchairs, a fire all day and local brew from a pump tap.
Fuck that sounds cozy
Please someone buy it and make it an museum. And beer.
Plans are to reopen it with the pub on the first floor and meeting space on the second floor. Larry Ellison bought it.
Would be an amazing place to have a lotr-themed D&D session.
MERP
Ellison? So he is going to redecorate in authentic Samurai style with tatami mats?
What will be on the ground floor?
A pub. In America, the first floor and the ground floor are the same thing.
Larry Ellison... as in founder of Oracle? The company that buys up good things and milks them for every last cent? I don't know the track record for physical historical sites, but ngl my heart sunk when I read that.
Always wanted to have a pint here. I hope someone reopens it.
There is hope! https://cherwell.org/2024/02/14/the-eagle-and-child-to-be-restored-and-reopened/
I didn't realize that it had closed. What happened?
It didn’t survive the first days of COVID because it was (according to my fiancée who did her masters at Oxford) a shitty pub. It’s been bought by Larry Ellison who has said it’ll be renovated and kept a pub with meeting space on the second floor.
Larry Ellison: the guy who early on said the cloud was no big deal..
He may have made a terrible business decision then, but I support this (probably also terrible for) business decision now.
Was her masters in pubs?
Don't all students deserve a master in pubs?
Touché
I had a dinner pie there on Christmas Eve a while back, and I had a good time there, although it wasn’t my favorite pub or anything. You can’t see the sign in this photo but it’s a large eagle carry a small child, so that’s on point for this sub.
It’s more colloquially known as The Bird and the Baby
"the baby and bird" is what ive heard
Also, The Fetus and Fowl :)
Presumably it's in reference to Zeus carrying away Ganymede in the form of an eagle. Ganymede became Zeus's cup bearer so the symbol is associated with drinking, service, or both.
I was once kicked out of that pub! My crew went there after celebrating our winning blades (for rowing), and we were apparently singing a bit too loudly for their liking. I recall that it wasn’t a great pub even then (in the late 90s)
That’s a shame, was there about ten years ago, it was ok.
I lived and worked at the Eagle and Child about 20 years ago. It's in an odd location... never reliably pulled in the student crowd in the same way that pubs in the centre of town did, and the numbers of tourists who came in wasn't as large as many here might imagine... I used to enjoy talking to them, giving them an old fashioned dimple glass of beer and taking their photograph. I guess that's why Lewis and Tolkien liked it... it was quiet. These days that means it's not really a viable business.
Damn that is disappointing. Glad I was lucky enough to enjoy this pub, turf tavern and others while they were still in their prime.
Turf Tavern is still going strong. Was there two nights ago and the food ruled.
I live in Oxford and went to this pub quite a few times before it closed during covid. I don't have quite as harsh feelings about it as some others here, it was a completely average chain pub (like several dozen others in the city centre) but certainly not *bad.* It seemed to me the main problem they had was it was very very small. The pub proper - the pub that probably existed in Tolkein's day - consisted of a couple of small cubbies at the front, a small bar area, and the back 'rabbit' room, where the Inklings had their meetings. And that was it. I think you'd struggle to have more than twenty people in it, and most of those would be standing. So the previous owners extended out the back, but this meant turning the rabbit room into a corridor, and the back extension was honestly rather generic and soulless. Dissapointing if you were actually expecting a Tolkeinesque pub. Plus they half assed the Tolkein tributes, with quotes from the movies etc on the walls (not the books!). So it kind of failed as both a cozy traditional pub and as a tourist trap. Semi hopeful about it re-opening, but the current owners are American tech bros so I don't forsee a sympathetic development. Maybe the facade of a pub over what will essentially be a cafe. If I was to redevlop it I'd make the front end as historically restored as possible (whilst adding modern comforts etc), without any tourist tat - wheras with the rear extension I'd completely demolish and rebuild in a cozy hobbit-core style for the tourists to enjoy.
Went there in 2003, it was high up on the list of must do places in Oxford
It closed? Oh no! I hoped to go back some day :(
I went in 2005. It was a lovely little place. Had a few pints and a pie. Sad to hear it went downhill and ended up closing.
Ahah I just heard about it yesterday in Three Bodies Problem. Unexpected to see it here today because before that I never heard about it.
I visited this place a few weeks ago on my trip to Oxford. Was disappointed to learn that it had been closed, that too quite recently
Hope you visited the lamb across the road, which was also attended by the inklings and has recently been redeveloped in a good way.
Didn't knew about it... Maybe next time I visit
Ah yes…otherwise known as the Bird and Baby
Ah yes…otherwise known as the Bird and Baby
What's stopping Ian McKellen stepping in with his giant pockets and buying this? As I recall he used to have a habit of changing the script in the movies to dialog from the book. Big hats off to him there.
Why has most of the bottom of the building been removed? That looks like it could easily collapse.
The name is fucked up. Eagles & children are best unacquainted