Contemporary and funky, The Cricketers is a cool East Oxford place to hang out.

The Venue
The Cricketers sits on the corner of Circus Street and is a red brick building owned and run by young couple Lee and Rachel Johnson who, together with their new baby and Daisy the pub dog, are a welcoming team. There’s seating out the front and inside it’s been very tastefully designed. There are old sofas in the front part plus a brown fabric banquette with swirly patterned cushions.

There are cream walls with a garland/wreath of black feathers encircling a wall light. There’s a red baize covered pool table at the other end and burgundy coloured stools at the all wood bar which is in the middle. There’s a semi-covered, decked smoking area out the back too with a couple of stools and tables and ledges to rest your drink on. Strings of lights sit under the bar and disco balls hang from the ceiling and there are DJ decks set up to play predominantly funk, soul and jazz.

The People
The pub attracts a typical East Oxford crowd and ages range from 18 (less if you include the baby) to those who remember the samples the DJ spins from the first time round. It's a pretty relaxed atmosphere here and you're welcome to sit and while away a few hours with a pint.

The Food and Drink
Old Speckled Hen, Greene King, Leffe, Guinness, Budweiser, Strongbow are all on draught while there’s Stella, Beck’s, Corona, Bulmer’s and Peroni in bottles. There are ten different shooters all for £2 each, including Slippery Nipple, Rusty Spike and Zipper, and classic cocktails too such as Cuba Libre (vodka and coke to you and me). A jug of cocktails costs £12. There are a good range of single malt whiskies such as Talisker, Isle of Jura, Laphroaig, Macallan and Dalwinney. There’s no food.

The Last Word
If this pub was a style of music it would be cool jazz. Nice.

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