Restaurants

The Cowley Retreat

172 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UE

Rating: 4.1 ★ (695 ratings)

Details

The Cowley Retreat, a vibrant and popular pub situated on Oxford's lively Cowley Road, offers a welcoming atmosphere with its laid-back and trendy contemporary decor. Its recently refurbished interior blends vintage and modern elements, featuring comfortable seating and ambient lighting, giving it a unique character. A spacious outdoor seating area provides a pleasant spot to relax, making it a social hub within the bustling East Oxford community.

This establishment presents a well-rounded food menu, balancing classic pub favourites with lighter options and sharing platters, consistent with a British gastropub style. Guests can choose from dishes such as half chicken prepared either BBQ or Peri Peri, various burgers including beef, chicken, falafel, and halloumi, alongside unique canoe-shaped pizzas. The extensive drinks selection is equally impressive, featuring a wide range of craft beers, real ales sourced from local micro-breweries, and a fine array of fresh fruit and premium-spirit cocktails, often available on special offers.

A favourite amongst students, locals, and visitors, The Cowley Retreat is ideally suited for various occasions. It serves as an excellent spot for catching up with friends, enjoying a casual date, or simply meeting new people in a relaxed setting. The venue is also child and dog-friendly, enhancing its appeal for a broader audience, and hosts regular events such as quiz nights and live music, contributing to a lively and versatile pub experience.

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Contact

+44 333 772 7301 | http://www.thecowleyretreat.com/

Comments

Aniko Urbizu

19 Jul 2026

1.0 ★

One of the worst pubs in cowley, booked a table for the final match for the world cup, and got many people annoying us by sitting on our table/not letting us watch the match by standing on the way, we even got people swearing at us. Honestly, I believe the security was hired to watch the match, because they were doing nothing but smoking and watching the match. We talked at least 3 times to them to see if they could fix the problem, but didn’t seem to care enough to do anything. We also tried talking to 2 staff members, and again, they didn’t care. Half of the table had to leave mid match because it was already getting way too bad and no one was doing anything. It was quite sad since i was really excited for this. Also, before the match, we ordered some drinks, and got dirty glasses. I asked to get the glasses changed but didn’t seem to be worth the effort, since the ones they gave me that were supposed to be better, weren’t either clean. I guess it got to this point because of the match, but they should’ve hired better security or at least do something about it. I don’t recommend coming to this pub no matter what, there are better options than this one.

Emily Mills

24 May 2026

5.0 ★

From isaiah bcse I had no service, max is the best bartender and very helpful drinks were impeccable no qualms at all!!!

Chukka

7 Aug 2025

5.0 ★

Came for a few drinks, they were nice and presented well as you can see.
Nice seating area outside with booths and heating lamps.
A decent atmosphere, with a mixture of students and mature folk.
I would come here again.

Stella H

22 Jan 2023

5.0 ★

Best espresso martinis I’ve ever had thanks to the lady behind the bar, nice atmosphere outside with the outdoor heaters too. Student friendly with happy hour and 2 for £10 on cocktails - will be sure to visit again!

Lorna

2 Jul 2022

2.0 ★

Lovely drinks & affordable.

However, I am very disappointed in the disabled toilet currently being used as a storage area.

Not very inclusive for the disabled community, as you wouldn’t be able to use the toilet safety as you can’t reach grab rails and also the amount of clutter doesn’t make it an accessible toilet.

Restaurants

The Cowley Retreat

172 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UE

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