New Year, new venue for my brunch column and this time it was the Slug and Lettuce in the Castle Quarter in central Oxford which has been open since mid 2014.

In my quest to try out a cross-section of venues across the county, I have visited plenty of smaller and independent venues so a well-known chain offering a classic English breakfast, among other options, was next on my hit list.

At first glance the brunch menu, served until noon, seemed fine, with something for everyone.

There was all the usual fare you would expect, including Eggs Royale and Eggs Benedict, but I decided to go for the full English, which comes with an Americano for £7.45.

The dish was okay; not the worst I’ve had but there wasn’t the sense that it had been crafted with love and care. Instead it felt that it had just been cooked, dropped on a dish and served.

Having eaten elsewhere for similar prices, and had a brunch that does feel like it’s had that extra attention, I felt underwhelmed and expected more.

Simple things like the toast arriving hard, and the beans looking like they had been out on the side for a while instantly put me off. For me, the best yardstick with which it can be compared, is with its competitor around the corner – The Swan and Castle.

There, for under a fiver you can have a full English and a coffee. The same thing at the Slug and Lettuce costs £7.45.

For this hike in price, there needs to be more craft and attention, which for me there wasn’t, begging the question why you wouldn’t just venture 30 seconds further on and save yourself money?

My verdict – okay, but plenty of room for improvement.

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