The Bristol community pub with great local beer and a long waiting list for the open mic

When I told a friend I’d recently popped into The Oxford for a pint, there was an approving nod followed by a ‘yep, great boozer that’.

There are four pubs in this corner of Totterdown, each one appealing to a different crowd. The Oxford is the closest to the Wells Road and so more prominent than the others and more likely to attract passing trade.

Run by Jon and Ang Evans for the past 14 years, this large corner pub has a central bar separating the two main rooms, one of them with a proper stage for live music. During their time at The Oxford, Jon and Ang have hosted a long established open mic session that has won many awards.

The open mic night has been running on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons for 13 years and it’s so popular that there’s a waiting list to get a slot on stage.

The couple also run a quiz night every Wednesday where winners can lift the prestigious ‘Wood Cup’ (a huge chunk of timber with a small metal trophy attached to the top) and the pub has live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We also put on lots of small festivals through the summer where I get out my apron and put my famous jerk chicken on the bbq,” says Jon, who has also gained a strong reputation for the range and quality of his beer.

“We are well known for having a good selection of cask ales on offer. Our main brewery is Bristol Beer Factory but we always have a Butcombe Gold on for the traditionalists.”

Amid the Thursday evening bustle when I visited The Oxford, I could spot at least four Bristol Beer Factory ales on tap.

I was more than happy with my pint of Jets, an American pale ale, but would have happily ordered the Fortitude, Notorious or Trail Breaker.

Just after 6pm, the pub was doing a brisk trade. There were the usual late afternoon thirsty builders and scaffolders and a fair number of locals stopping off for a quick one on their way home.

As well as the cask real ales, there is Orchard Pig Reveller and Thatchers Gold for cider fans and Estrella, Pravha and Camden Pale among the keg lagers and beers. There’s also a range of award-winning wines by the glass and bottle.

Colourful murals of reggae icon Bob Marley and Motorhead singer Lemmy stare down from walls plastered with old beer pump clips collected over the past 14 years. They are testament to just how much ale is poured from the five handpumps on the bar.

A proper, straightforward community pub that sticks to the basics and does them better than most. Just like my friend said, it’s simply a great local boozer and we need to support and use these places more than ever or they’ll be gone forever.

The Oxford, 22 Oxford Street, Totterdown, Bristol, BS3 4RL.