The claim
Reached through twisting alleys beneath New College's walls, the Turf is Oxford's best-loved hidden pub: a cluster of low-ceilinged rooms and courtyards backing onto a stretch of the medieval city wall. Its claimed 1381 origin is unproven, but generations of students, authors and future prime ministers have squeezed in for a pint.
What the records show
The 1381 date used by the operator is not supported by published records; the historian H. E. Salter, working through Oxford’s deeds in 1926, found it first recorded as a public house around the end of the eighteenth century, under the name the Spotted Cow. That is the earliest record here, and it is six centuries after the date on the sign.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1381 | Claimed founding | The pub |
| 1790 | First record of a drinking house here | H. E. Salter, 1926, who names only the century's end |
What to look for inside
- Backs onto a surviving stretch of Oxford's city wall
- Linked (disputedly) with Bob Hawke's yard-of-ale record
- Featured in Inspector Morse
- Recorded as the Spotted Cow in the late 18th century
Visiting
Turf Tavern is in Oxford, England, at 7 Bath Place, Oxford OX1 3SU. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Tavern
- www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/oxfordshire/turf-tavern
- oxfordhistory.org.uk/city_wall/05_holywell.html
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/268400
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Oct 2026
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