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| The Duke of Cambridge |
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The Duke of Cambridge has been Oxford's leading cocktail bar for 30 years!
A vivacious and popular cocktail bar hidden but well-placed on Jericho’s Little Clarendon Street, The Duke was rated as one of the top 5 cocktail bars in the UK by the Guardian. After being taken over and refurbished in 1998 by Julian Rosser, it was duly transformed. It is trendy and sophisticated - the perfect place to sip deliciously unique cocktails in clean, comfortable and elegant surroundings.
The diverse drinks menu sets high standards as Oxford is notorious for its bars and student population. There are, of course, tasty nibbles available to fill the gap after a few cocktails such as chilli crackers, corn chips with salsa and guacamole and toasted pitta bread with humous. But make no mistake, ultimately, the Duke is infamously known for its wonderful assortment of cocktails, as Julian explained.
“The Duke was one of the first cocktail bars in the country, and has maintained this pioneering reputation ever since.
“We’re quite tucked away, but I like that. If we were on the High Street, we would have to have doormen with bright jackets, but that’s not us. We’re not a venue for people looking to drink as much as they can before going clubbing, that’s not what we’re about at all.”
Entering the bar, you can’t help but catch the sparkle from the chandeliers and reflection from the dark walnut floor, and Julian is obviously proud of The Duke. “We spend an awful lot of time making sure the place is clean, and we don’t cut corners.”
Its superb finish matches the quality cocktails, which, although not cheap, do give great value for money. Only generous measures of premium spirits and the freshest ingredients are used, and you won’t find alcho-pops or Red Bull at The Duke. Cocktail-making is fairly understated at The Duke.
“We’re not the kind of bar which will try and wow the customers with a show. The finished cocktail is our show, not the making of it. I don’t want to go to a bar and watch them throw bottles around; I’m there to have a nice drink, presented well in a glass full of ice.”
For a refreshing cocktail on a sizzling day this summer, the Duke of Cambridge is definitely the place to go. The Strawberry Daiquiri and Mojito are the Duke’s best-sellers, and I cannot think of a better cocktail to enjoy on a hot day.
Sunday to Thursday, the renowned Duke happy hour starts at 5pm until 9pm, which on Fridays and Saturdays lasts until 7.30pm when they’re open until 1:00am - an hour later than during the week. They are also open until 1:00am on Thursday.
The House, on Blue Boar Street, is also owned by Julian, and even just one year old, students have really taken to it as it has proved to be equally as popular as the Duke. With a slightly more modern ambience to the cocktail bar there is also a games room upstairs and a heated terrace open all year. |
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