Restaurants

Big Society

95 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1HR, GB

Rating: 4.3 ★ (1046 ratings)

Details

Urban decor and the scent of US-style fast food greet you at Big Society, a hip hangout on Cowley Road. This isn't just any bar; it's an experience, formerly the Elm Tree pub and now a vibrant space with a welcoming ethos. They're known for seriously tasty American comfort food, from burgers and hot dogs to fried chicken and wings, with some reviewers claiming their fried chicken, soaked overnight in milk and a secret rub mix, is the best they've ever tasted. The menu also features pizzas and salads, alongside an extensive cocktail list and a regularly changing selection of craft beers from around the globe. It's a popular spot, so booking in advance, especially during their daily deal nights, is a good idea.

Beyond the food and drink, Big Society offers a playful escape with Ping-Pong and foosball tables, creating a cheerful common room-style atmosphere. It's a place designed for social gatherings, whether you're looking for a relaxed daytime hangout, a lively evening, or even a "hot desk" to work from with unlimited tea and coffee. As the weekend rolls in, local DJs take over, keeping the energy high until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. They also host regular events like pub quizzes on Tuesdays and various food and drink specials throughout the week, such as 2-for-1 pizzas on Tuesdays and Wing Wednesdays. Located in the heart of East Oxford, it’s a dynamic spot that aims to be a bit different from your regular pub.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM; Tuesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM; Wednesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM; Thursday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM; Friday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Sunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

Contact

+44 1865 792755

Comments

Josephine Hargreaves

14 Mar 2026

4.0 ★

Tried the fried pickles which were so so good! Will definitely get again! The sauces were so tasty, the buffalo was so good and the sweet chilli was nice and spicy! The gravy was okay quite like kfc gravy, and the chicken was very crispy and super tender but a little too buttery tasting for my liking, still good but you only needed one tender each. Cocktail was nice too. Great beer garden lots of space.

Elizabeth Brophy

9 Mar 2026

2.0 ★

I loves coming here for it's unique menu and cocktails. Having tried it now post-take over; the cocktails are still great (if basic) and the staff is as lovely as always. The menu is huge (never a good sign), it's no longer has the best fries to price ratio, and while I usually like the cosy cluttered approach, here is feels like it's been Instagram-ed. It's a shame, because Big Soc was a unique place, but now it's basic.
I suspect part of the aim is to drive away old customers for younger ones though.

Reviewer A

31 Jan 2026

2.0 ★

As others have said - What has happened!? What used to be incredible, mouth-watering buttermilk chicken has been replaced by the tiniest, driest portions of chicken ‘strips’ with an over-inflated menu that doesn’t really offer anything close to what previously made The Big Society great. Pizzas have pools of oil and what tasted like peppers from a jar, over reliance on BBQ sauce to bring taste to dishes and significant price hikes. We left disappointed and with sadness as to what has become of our once highly rated Big Society.

Kique Borja

24 Jan 2026

1.0 ★

They made me pay £8 for the worst calamari I’ve ever had in my life. It was only there was only five pieces. And it was like under the dome it tasted horrible

emma parker

11 Jan 2026

5.0 ★

Well as you can tell from my rating, you can see we thoroughly enjoyed our visit here... nice small simple menu with a few varied choices on there and good to see plenty of vegetarian options or atleast the option to swap out for hallomi... friendly smiling staff which is always a breath of fresh air... lovley sized place with a very cute outside area half sheltered half not with large screens all over the place to catch the sports ( if that's your thing) in side to the left of the bar is a ping pong table, fuse ball table, pinball machine and arcade games the prices are highly competitive for the portion sizes they are not for the light hearted so go there hungry... I would highly recommend if your not a massive fan of spice but can dabble in bits ask for the sauce on the side its a beautiful mix having the buffalo sauce with the blue cheese and the chicken burger is by far one of the best I've tasted so moist and plenty of flavour 😋 100% will be returning on our next trip to Oxford... thanks to the staff for your service 👍