Maroon is real oddity — a cocktail bar with extortionate prices serving expensive French food in a residential spot in Oxford.

The Venue
Previously The Chequers (which was, admittedly, nothing to write home about), Maroon opened fairly recently and is one of the most curious bars in Oxford. It’s basically a high-end cocktail bar serving expensive French food in a residential part of town where passing trade is almost non existent.

The odd experience begins when you see that they're still advertising their Christmas menu outside…in May. Inside three waitresses stand behind the bar ready to take your order and there are only two people in the bar. No expense has been spared on this place though and it’s all very slick and stylised. The bar is chrome topped with wooden panelling below and there are tall tables opposite with tall cream and black stools.

There are spotlights in the low, off-white ceiling and blinds on the windows and the floor looks like it’s made of slate. Towards the end of the room is the seating area with tables and chairs and high-backed banquette covered with black fabric. And beyond that is a nice little decked patio.

The People
It can attract parties of students on a pub crawl or for a party but, apart from that, it’s very quiet. There is one regular, an old local chap who comes in every day for a pint of lager and to chat up the barmaid. He’s usually home in time for Countdown though.

The Food and Drink
Cocktails cost an absolutely ridiculous sum considering the area and are £7.50 each — which is more expensive than Raoul’s, generally considered to be the best cocktail bar in town. The ‘classics’, such as martinis, long drinks such as Mint Julep and Champagne cocktails cost even more at £8.50 and a martini made with Uluvka vodka is £22.50(!).

Then there’s the cocktail made with “Patran” (a spelling mistake) Xo Cafe, which is a coffee tequila mixed with chocolate liqueur and expresso. On draught there’s Leffe, Hoegaarden, Stella, San Miguel and Fosters and in bottles there’s Budweiser, Sol and Peroni and Kopparberg. The food is pure old school French fare with prices to match. There’s a classic a canard a l’orange for £16.50 and a tuna supreme with mushrooms and Noilly (presumably Noilly Prat) sauce £14.50.

All the dishes are written in French and, as with the cocktail list, a bit of proofreading may have helped. For example we have an agneau de Nimes translated as “a rock of lamb with young coco and honey curry sauce” (not sure that people in Nimes would recognise that as a local dish). They also excel in the method of cooking meat on a hot stone in front of you.

The Last Word
At this rate if this place is open past Christmas it will be a miracle — at least they won’t have to take down that menu.

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