
Updated 9th July 2020
The big news is in – the government have announced that hospitality businesses, including cafes, pubs and restaurants, can reopen from 4th July. Many venues will see this as good news, some will still have concerns that will be echoed by diners.
Whether you choose to return to dining in restaurants, pubs and cafes from 4th July or not, hopefully, this list of venues reopen for business will help. We’ll also be sharing, particularly on our social media, details of measures being taken by local venues to protect themselves and their customers.
A couple of side notes before I get into it:
- If you don’t feel ready to dine out, then do not feel under any pressure to do so. This list is to aid businesses that are open/opening, and any of our readers who wish to hear of them. We will continue to update our list of businesses offering deliveries and takeaways.
- Please do remember to support local when you can. Many independent businesses have been brilliant at providing food to the community during an incredibly difficult time – let’s not forget them with more venues reopening. They need you now, more than ever.
So, check back regularly, as we’ll update this list with more venues as and when we hear of them. Plus, see our ‘Open!’ highlight on Bitten Oxford’s Instagram for the latest updates as they come in.
USEFUL LINKS:
UK Gov guidelines for safety for the visitor economy: gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/the-visitor-economy
Oxford City Council guidance for visitors and shoppers: oxford.gov.uk/reopening
Oxford pubs, cafes & restaurants open from 4th July onwards:
- The Anchor, Jericho
“We are reopening on Saturday 4th July! Please book your tables now by phone or email. Expect things to be a bit different as we’ve made the place COVID safe. We have a few less tables inside but tons of new outside space and we’ve set up order from your phone to reduce contact.” New opening hours: Wednesday – Saturday 12pm – 10pm, Sunday 12pm – 5pm. - Aziz, Iffley
“All subject to being COVID secure, more updates will follow in due course” - Bannisters Cafe, Iffley Road
Reopened 4th July, also offering takeaways - Big Society
Back open from 12pm on Saturday 4th July… open for a limited amount of customers to dine in, but also operating click and collect/delivery through Deliveroo. - Branca, Jericho
Reopening on 4th July, offering two dining options: restaurant service Friday to Sunday with the full Branca menu; also opening up large seating areas for the Branca Deli and Cafe (including the garden). That will be open for sit down eating (food ordered from the Deli counter) from 8am to 8pm daily… adding lots more options – including pizza slices made in their kitchens. - Brewdog
Open and back to serving up Wings Wednesday (and beer, obvs) - The Butchers Arms, Headington
Opening on Friday 10th at 5pm for drinks only, with the kitchen looking to get back up and running in August. - Cherwell Boathouse
Reopened 4th July and punt station already up and running. - Dodo Pubs (The Rusty Bicycle, The Rickety Press & The Up In Arms)
All opening at 12pm on Saturday 4th July. You can read their safety preparations on their website. - The Folly
Reopening Saturday 4th July – “we will strictly follow all advice to ensure we are a safe venue where you can relax and enjoy a wonderful meal in beautiful surroundings… Our river terrace will be open and we will offer unique private dining options aboard our classic riverboats and in our marquee – perfect for that special occasion. Reservations are now open and you can select outdoor seating during the online booking process if that is your preference. If you would like to book a private dining space please email restaurant@the-folly.co.uk.” - Flo’s, Florence Park
Flo’s Community Cafe – open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6ppm, Sunday 10am-4pm, serving home-cooked meals, cakes, coffees and light bites. Take away, sit in their garden or sit inside (bookings required for this). Preorder your meal online or just pop by.
Flo’s Refill shop – open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 12:30-6pm. Shop plastic-free and refill your own containers of dry goods (pasta, nuts, rice, fruit, pulses etc), oil, vinegar, cleaning detergents and shampoos. All funds support Flo’s community work. - Gails Bakery, Summertown & Jericho
Their Newsletter says all sites are open for outdoor seating only from 4th July, with click & collect still available - The Gardeners Arms
“It’s official. We shall be open and serving from July 4th! More details to follow” - Giggling Squid
Reduced and only be accepting guests with reservations, to control capacity track all guests via booking details should the government require it. Staff wearing face masks or shields as per government guidelines, plus high-frequency cleaning schedules as well as staff hand-sanitising after every guest interaction. Hand sanitiser also available for guest use. - The Handlebar Cafe & Kitchen, St Michael’s Street
Open at reduced capacity upstairs from 4 July, as well as offering space for ‘bubble get-togethers’, the new take on private functions. New tapas, wine, beer and cocktail evenings from 5:30-9:30 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the bar open until 11:00. - The Holly Bush, Osney
Reopens 11am Saturday 4th July. The pub has changed a bit, social distancing is in place. Tables moved, removed and reduced. Sanitiser stations are going up, entrance and exit is a one-way system and there is no bar service - The Ivy Oxford Brasserie
Opened 4th July, you can read their health & safety update on their website - Jacobs Inn, Wolvercote
“Taking online bookings now for Saturday 4th July onwards” - Jericho Cafe, Walton Street
“Newly spaced tables, masks, screens and socially distanced queuing system in place! We will do our utmost to provide a safe and welcoming environment all can enjoy” - The Jolly Postboys
“Our Offshop has been pouring Oxford’s finest beer since first week of lockdown! so we’ll be continuing with that…in the meantime, we’re busy making all our pubs Covid Secure and will be welcoming you with open (socially distanced ) arms on Wed the 8th. We’re going all local on the taps with an Oxfordshire tap takeover to recognise and support all the independent breweries in and around our fair city”
They’re also inviting street food traders in until their kitchens reopen, including I’m Japanese and The Pizza Boys this week, check their Facebook page for more details of who and when. - Le Kesh, Cowley Road
“Re-opening our doors on the 4th of July! The first phase will have us opening Thursdays to Sundays first from 5pm whilst operating our takeaway and delivery service too. We are also focusing on service in our back garden with limited availability inside as well as keeping a minimum of 2m between tables. Our main objective at first is to ensure the safety of our staff and visiting customers, we recommend also to those visiting us to call us and book a table particularly for the garden as the space is limited!” - Magdalen Arms
The popular gastropub is reopening on Saturday 4th for table reservations, hours are: SAT 12pm to 10pm, SUN 12pm to 8pm, KITCHEN HOURS 12pm to 3pm. Bookings being taken over the phone from 10am – 2pm daily on 01865 243159. - The Mogford Group (Quod, The Old Parsonage and Gee’s)
Quod opening Saturday 4th July, Gee’s will be back on Saturday 11th July, the Old Parsonage on August 1st. - The Mole Inn, Toot Baldon
Open 4th – 5th July; 10th, 11th, 12th July; 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th July; 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th July. Then hoping to resume normal opening hours. Book on their website or email info@themoleinn.com, or call 01865340001. - The Oxford Artisan Distillery
Open for two tours each Saturday, at 11am and 1pm, with limited spaces. Also, their new open-air garden bar (!) opens on Friday 10th July. Entry will be by table booking only and they are now taking bookings. More details here: https://www.theoxfordartisandistillery.com/covid - The Perch
Open daily from midday to 10pm and taking bookings, you can read their safety details here. - The Plough at 38
Open as usual from 4th July, 11am to 12am and with café seating outside. - Pompette, Summertown
Re-opened Saturday 4th July and continuing with Pompette at Home (their takeaway offering) as well. New opening hours: Lunch 12pm-3pm Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday, Dinner 6pm-10pm Tuesday to Saturday, closed on Mondays all day. Online booking system back up and running. - Skogen Kitchen
Our favourite Swedish cafe on King Edward Street reopens for diners this Saturday, with takeaway options still available. - Tap Social Taproom:
“reopening Thursday 9th July… (no) indoor seating for now… plenty of tables and seating available outside, set up socially distanced in the fresh air…. operating a one-way queuing system for the bar, and will have screens to protect both you and our team while you order your drinks… Track and Trace system in place to collect your contact details if necessary… Once tables and safe standing space are full, we’ll be pausing bar service until space frees up… Hours to begin with will be Thursdays 5-10pm, Fridays 4-11pm and Saturdays 2-11pm… pick up beer to take away and enjoy later too… we cannot have anyone inside the venue except to queue for the bar – so keep the weather in mind and bring your brolly along! Although our patio will not be set up this Saturday 4th July, our off-licence will be open from 12-3pm for takeaways and Click and Collect.” - Tap Social White House Horsebox
Enjoy your drinks in the front of the White House garden from Saturday 4th July… space available for you to stick around after ordering from our horsebox – Please follow social distancing at all times; limit group sizes to 6 or fewer and keep your distance wherever possible – Make use of hand sanitising stations on site – Queue responsibly; keep your distance, don’t block the pavement, and queue away from tables and people using the garden – Do not congregate on the pavement or on the street outside of the White House walls – Please keep noise to a minimum and use the bins provided… we do not have toilet facilities on site (yet)… coffee service hours: Monday-Friday 9am-12pm, Saturday 9am-4pm Sunday 10am-4pm… bar service hours: Monday-Wednesday 4-6pm, Thursday & Friday 4-8pm, Saturday 12-8pm and Sunday 12-6pm. - Taste Tibet
Pitching up their tent outside Silvie every Thursday and Friday evening during July (at least) for takeaways or for people to enjoy in Silvie’s front and back gardens with Tap Social draft on tap. Still delivering takeaways in and around Oxford on Saturdays – orders through their website: www.tastetibet.com/shop - Thaikhun, George Street
Back open from the 4th July, taking bookings only for a maximum of 6 guests, further details of what they are doing can be found here – thaikhun.co.uk/COVID-19 - The Varsity Club
Reopening Saturday 4th July – operating on a reservation-first system and accepting food and drinks bookings for groups of up to 6. A small number of tables are allocated to walk-in customers on a first-come, first-serve basis. - The White Hart, Wytham
Opening July 5th onwards and taking reservation. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available, as well as their new ‘dining pods’, scroll down to see those! - The White Rabbit Pub
“We understand the risks of opening up again in the Corona virus era and we have a FULL raft of measures to make sure our customers can enjoy themselves with complete peace of mind. This includes expanding our outdoor space, table service, table reservations and exciting new technology (details to follow in coming days). Our priority is keeping our customers and staff safe so that we can all enjoy a well -deserved pizza and a pint.” - Za’atar Bake
Open for dine-in and takeaways.
Openings further afield
- The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
“We plan to reopen the dining room for Lunch and Dinner from Saturday 4th July… Initially, we will be operating with a reduced number of tables in adherence with present social distancing requirements and priority reservations will be offered to Guests who are staying with us…. We plan to reopen the Bar and Front Terrace for dining from Saturday 4th July. This will be limited to reduced capacities and table availability in line with the latest social distancing guidelines… Only table service will be offered, with no standing space. Priority will be given to diners. We ask that you call in advance to avoid disappointment… Our Private Dining Room is temporarily closed. We will be reviewing government guidelines on maximum numbers and the decision to reopen for private bookings will be reviewed based on this guidance.”. Read more on their website - The Miller of Mansfield, Goring
“We’ll be back 🥂 can’t wait to see you all. Thanks for your patience while we finalise our plans.” - The Holly Bush, Witney
“Opening our doors on 4th July in accordance with Government guidelines. Team members will be re-trained, rigorous cleaning will be implemented and tables will be positioned at 1+ metres apart. Please see our full Covid-19 statement, here.” - The Baskerville, Henley
“From Saturday 4th July until Thursday 9th July we will be open for drinks only in our beautiful beer garden (inside if the weather is not on our side!). Please be aware this will be seating only, and initially, we will not be able to take bookings. As of Friday 10th July food service from midday to 10pm (except Sunday midday till 4pm). Between 2.30pm and 6pm bites, small plates and snacks only. Takeaway (collection only) see menu below – 12pm – 2pm and 5pm to 7pm (please email 24 hours in advance).” - The Thatch, Thame
Fewer tables and encouraging all diners to book ahead. No orders at the bar, just table service and ‘order by mobile’, and all payments are to be cashless. Open every day of the week. More details can be found on their “Your Visit” page, including guidelines on group bookings, safety and signage. - Sartorelli’s Pizza at Church Hanbrewery in New Yatt
Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Collection and local delivery from £5 - The White Hart, Fyfield
Open and taking bookings: https://www.whitehart-fyfield.com/book-now
Oxford pubs, cafes & restaurants open later or dates tbc:
- The White Horse, Broad Street
Anticipated opening will be mid-August, due to size and lack of external space - Oli’s Thai
Remaining a takeaway until the end of August, they will then re-evaluate. - Arbequina
Continuing takeaway through July aiming to open at the start of August as a restaurant again. This is dependant on whether measures still needed or not. - My Cookie Dough, Westgate Oxford
“Opening in mid-July. More information to follow” - George Street Social
Details to follow - No.1 Ship Street
Re-opening 06.08.2020 - Dirty Bones, Westgate Oxford
Reopening date to follow, but adding Daddy Mac to Deliveroo orders from 4th July. - The Jam Factory
Reopening on 31st July with a couple of pop up events before then (dates TBC). - Pho, Westgate Oxford
No mention of an opening date for Oxford, for dine-in or takeaways - Common Ground Coffee
Open for takeaway Tuesday-Sunday 09:30-16:30, planning to reopen fully soon - Atomic Burger
Opening date TBC, but offering takeaways & delivery - The Kings Arms
Reopening 20th July - The Angel & Greyhound
Reopening 20th July
Safety measures
Many venues are awaiting full government guidance, however special consideration is being taken by many, including the following that may be of interest:
- The White Hart in Wytham have had ten dining pods built for their garden to aid distancing, and Bicester Bean Coffee Shop & Cafe have followed suite, ordering four.

We will keep updating this list of pubs, cafes and restaurants open, but do let us know if we’ve missed anyone out, there will be lots to add over the coming weeks!
Not ready to dine in-venue yet? Check our list of local businesses offering food & drink deliveries and takeaways
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