A cosy hostelry off Cornmarket is the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.

The Crown can be found in a passageway close to Carfax off the busy shopping street.

It used to be a hidden gem but now there are lots of signs directing drinkers down the passageway to the bar.

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The pub, run by Nicholson's, has an interesting history.

Its website said: “The Crown has had a succession of famous landlords.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) “In the year of the Gunpowder Plot it was kept by John Davenant and it was during this time Shakespeare paid his frequent visits to Oxford.

“The poet used to stop in the university town on his journeys between Stratford and London, and The Crown was his headquarters.”

Ross McCarthy, general manager of The Crown for the past three years, said he was delighted it has been chosen as the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.

He added: "Everything we do here is trying to emulate the traditional British pub experience, with real ales, gin and tonics and traditional pub food including fish and chips, sausage and mash and a good selection of pies.

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"In the summer, people can sit outside and watch sport, and then in the winter we can transition to a cosy pub indoors with soft lighting and Christmas decorations."

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Mr McCarthy said customers included tourists, students and locals.

"We welcome everyone and our A-boards in Cornmarket direct people to our door.

"You will get a good welcome if you come in here by yourself or with friends and family."

There is already a festive atmosphere at The Crown, fuelled by generous servings of mulled wine from a barrel.

The pub is warm inside, with subtle lighting, and there are lots of nooks and alcoves where you can enjoy a meal and a pint.

The pies on the menu are a popular choice for customers.

The website says: "When you’re hungry for a catchup and ready to meet, here’s a few options you’ll be tempted to eat.

"Taste our new Pulled Duck Croquettes and Garlic Mushrooms on Sourdough or skip straight to the main event: our hand-crafted specialty pies, including our brand-new Chicken and Truffled Oyster Mushroom Pie and our British Steak & Nicholson's Pale Ale Pie."

Real ales include Plum Porter by Titanic, and Theakston's Old Peculier.

The pub is open seven days, from noon until 11pm, although it shuts on Sunday at 10pm.

Food is served from noon until 9pm, and at weekends from noon until 9.30pm.

"We're in a great position here off Cornmarket - bang in the middle of all the colleges," added Mr McCarthy.

"We try to stock some darker beers at this time of year but we always have a good range."

Dave Richardson, of real ale group Oxford CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said: "This is a fine old building that was once the stables and outhouses of a much larger coaching inn that fronted onto Cornmarket Street, and it's generally a haven of relative tranquillity in the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

"I'm not so sure about Shakespeare being 'more than friendly' with the owner's wife, as claimed on the wall outside, but it adds intrigue."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.