15 of the best dog friendly pubs in Oxford

Dog friendly pubs
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Oxford is famous the world over for its historic university, and the beautiful honey-coloured buildings dominate swathes of the city. As well as academia, there’s a vibrant art and culture heritage, with many museums, links to famous authors like Tolkien and C.S Lewis, and being used as the backdrop for hit TV shows like Inspector Morse and His Dark Materials.

This popular day-trip destination hasn’t always been known as the most pet friendly, but now there are dozens of attractions and eateries you and the pooch can explore together. After punting along the Thames with the pup and walkies around the beautiful backstreets, you can sniff out one of these dog-friendly pubs in Oxford to kick back before heading home.

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The Trout Inn

Few pubs have as beautiful a location as The Trout, whose garden looks across the River Thames and it’s only a stone’s throw from the ruins of the historic nunnery and prime walkies in Port Meadow.

The pub is as gorgeous as its surroundings, and it's perhaps the most tranquil pub in the city. Furry and feathered friends are always welcome, just be aware they have their very own peacock out on patrol!

Turf Tavern

The Turf Tavern popped up around 1381 just beyond Oxford’s original city walls and became infamous for boozing and gambling. Nowadays it’s much more upmarket, blending modern style with spots of historic character that the local students all seem drawn to.

Being a Greene King venue it has one of the widest pub menus available in the city with dishes to suit all tastes and diets. Plus, pups are always welcome inside this historic dog-friendly pub in Oxford.

The Rusty Bicycle

The Rusty Bicycle was the original venue for local chain Dodo Pubs Co, which now host a quintet of popular pubs under the apt motto “eat, drink, and be social”. Like all of their venues, the Rusty Bicycle offers a relaxing respite where locals and tourists alike flock for a chat, a cold pint, and the chance to fill up on the famous burgers and pizzas.

Doggies can join in the fun too and are allowed inside and out where the staff will happily offer up cuddles, biscuits, and water.

The Fishes

The bright and beautiful gastropub The Fishes offers finer dining well beyond the usual pub grub amidst beautiful surroundings.

This surprisingly family and dog-friendly pub in Oxford welcomes humans and hounds alike to join them in the roomy garden or inside the bar, and it’s the perfect spot to relax and have a pint after walkies in the Dip of Happiness or along the streams. There are water bowls and free treats for furry patrons, so they can tuck in too while you sample the specials.

The Perch

Continuing with a fishy theme, our next favourite dog-friendly pub in Oxford is The Perch. This charming watering hole looks like it’s been plucked from a picture book, with its stone and thatch building nestled by the Thames.

Even muddy doggos are welcome inside without bookings where you can enjoy a well-earned drink after walkies in Port Meadow. You can also tuck into some scrummy farmhouse style food, including one of the heartiest ploughman’s lunches I’ve ever seen!

The Angel and Greyhound

Named after the nearby flood meadow, The Angel and Greyhound is the self-proclaimed best dog-friendly pub in Oxford. The staff are friendly and helpful whether you’re on two legs or four and there’s always plenty of free treats and fuss for the furry visitors.

Plus, you’re certain to make friends with gorgeous pub dog Leo. There’s plenty of tasty nibbles on offer for the humans too, including hearty British grub and some quirkier choices like the yummy katsu burger.

The Kings Arms

The Kings Arms is one of several pubs claiming to be the oldest in Oxford, and it’s certainly in one of the most historic locales opposite the Bodleian Library, perfect for “pup-ping” in after sightseeing with the family.

Inside it’s cool and cosy, with the air of a refined country manor despite being in the heart of the city. Unlike many other city-centre boozers, The Kings Arms is a dog-friendly pub in Oxford’s centre where peckish pups can curl up under the table and munch some free snacks while the humans have a pint.

St Aldates Tavern

St Aldates Tavern is down the road from fellow dog-friendly favourite The Bear, and it’s the perfect spot to hide away from the hustle and bustle of the high street.

This surprisingly quiet oasis in the heart of the city is also one of few venues where you can watch the sport, but there’s plenty of evening entertainment to tempt you in amongst the students and locals for some fun.

The Rickety Press

This cute corner pub is another member of the Dodo family, so you can expect the same warm hospitality and chilled vibes as their other venues. The Rickety Press has the same menu as all the Dodo pubs, boasting their beefy burgers and wood-fired pizzas.

There is a brilliant brekkie menu as well, and there are always tasty treats for doggo visitors on the house.

The Old Bookbinders

If you walk back from The Rickety Press towards the canal, you’ll soon come across The Old Bookbinders. This cosy family-run local is tucked away in the backstreets of Jericho, a hidden gem beloved by the locals.

The eclectic decor gives the Bookies a warm, quirky style all its own, and the eccentricities don’t stop there, because you can expect to chow down on french bistro-style meals alongside your real ale. It’s also a very dog-friendly Oxford pub, with their own pub dog and free water and treats for Fido.

The Chester Arms

The Chester Arms is popular with people and pooches as a pit-stop after walkies around the many parks and nature reserves nearby.

There’s water and free treats on offer for the doggos to fuel up on, while humans can tuck into the steak platter everyone raves about, or their roasts which draws crowds queuing round the corner for! Don’t worry, there are plenty of delicious veggie options as well to tuck into too

The Jolly Postboys

The Jolly Postboys opened in 2016 with a dream of being a proper community pub. They’ve certainly succeeded there, and this family and dog-friendly pub has become the go-to local for anyone in the East of the city.

All the homecooked food uses local ingredients where possible, and there are usually a few tidbits for the pooch too. Not to mention, the staff are as cheerful and friendly as the posties the pub’s named after!

The Bear

The Bear might be on the small side, but it has a big character and an even bigger history! It’s one of the oldest and most beloved dog-friendly pubs in Oxford. There’s barely room for two dozen inside this little boozer, but luckily about double that can sit in the garden.

The food is exceptional, including a sumptuous sausage and mash the dog might try to snuffle. Speaking of dogs, make sure to say hello to pub dog Indie!

The Gardeners Arms

The Gardeners Arms is Oxford’s only 100% vegetarian pub, but despite the seemingly hip ethos of being plant-based, this is a very traditional backstreet boozer.

Delightfully quirky and free of any gimmicks or distractions, it boasts friendly staff, hearty food, and great ales. There’s not even background music, making it a favourite haunt for locals looking for a peaceful drink. Best of all, hounds are welcome too.

The Punter

You might recognise this pub as The Waterman, but it had a name change and revamp last year. The Punter is bright and clean with bags of rustic charm and spades of stunning food. And although a proud gastropub, they’re very much still a dog-friendly pub in Oxford.

The menu is exclusively vegetarian and vegan, and you’re positively spoiled for choice on plant-based delights. (The scotch egg is life-changing!)

The garden’s nothing to sniff at either, since it’s right by the riverside and you and the pooch are welcome to sun yourself out there or snuggle up inside.

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