REVELLERS shared memories and partied like it was the 1980s at a reunion for staff from an Oxford brasserie.

About 300 former staff from Browns Restaurant and Bar, in Woodstock Road, met to relive the past and catch up with old friends at Camera, in St Ebbe’s.

The party was open to all staff members at Browns and the nearby Duke of Cambridge pub, in Little Clarendon Street, from the 1980s and 90s.

Organiser Ross Buchanan, who worked as a barman at Browns between 1984 and 1986 and a manager at the Duke of Cambridge from 1990 until 1994, said the event, on Saturday, carried on until 3.30am.

Father-of-two Mr Buchanan, 43, now runs a lighting company in Botley.

He said: “Everyone enjoyed themselves it was just like the old days.

“So many people said we should have a reunion but I thought only about 60 or so people would bother.

“But we had around 300 and if we had given more notice, there could have been 500 people.

“Browns in the 1980s was such a blast. It was the hippest restaurant and Duke of Cambridge the hippest bar.

“The staff at both partied harder than the customers.”

John Mitchinson, 46, from Great Tew, worked as a barman at Browns between 1983 and 1986, while an Oxford University student.

The father-of-four, who is now director of research for TV comedy show QI, starring Stephen Fry, met his first wife at Browns when she was working as a waitress.

He said: “People forget it was pretty much the first and only brasserie around and was unbelievably busy.

“There was very good camaraderie and a lot of us still keep in touch.

“It was an amazing turnout. I have very happy memories and that’s why so many people turned up.”

Nick Maddison, 54, was manager of Browns for five years in the 1980s and now owns a brasserie in Chelsea, London.

He said: “Everyone who worked there was like a family and everyone became great friends.

“It was amazing to see faces I hadn’t seen in years.

“It was interesting to see what everyone has done with their lives and how they have changed.”

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk