I ran out of time to review The Varsity Club properly last week, so I put it in the Muddy Guide as a holding strategy, but with the weather so balmy I want to tell you about it asap so you can make the most of the brand new spanking roof terrace that only opened last Thursday.

These are the views though I have to say my camera doesn’t do it justice at all, as you can see panoramic views everywhere, with Magdalen Tower and the hills behind in the distance, a bit of Christchurch to the right, Wadham’s jagged spires to the left and bang in front of you, my favourite building of all, The Radcliffe Camera (the lovely round domed building you can see in the far right of the photo above).

The other notable roof terrace in Oxford is The Ashmolean Dining Rooms but the views are nothing on what you see here.

Isn’t it just brill? I’ve been waiting for something a bit more hip and urban to come along in Oxford, and here it is. Rack up the cocktails sister!

My weakness for Sex on the Beach aside (boom boom, for ’tis a joke!), one of the best things about The Varsity Club is its position, as it’s at the top of the High Street (opposite Reiss and above Whistles *sigh*), so right next to the Westgate Centre and Cornmarket for shopping, Modern Art Oxford and The Story Museum for culture, Christchurch college and meadow and close to the lovely Turl/Broad St etc for touristy stuff. It’s starting to do lunches on the roof terrace and also the first floor (below) so it’s a great spot for getting up and out of the melee and having some tapas, deli board, salads, croissants.

I really like the interior of this place – the first floor is lovely and light in the day (the windows look out over the high street) and the styling is cool – lots of exposed brickwork, modern art, minimalist furniture etc.

 

(You can just make out Mr Muddy and his trainers at the back of this pic – he gets very irritated when I’m taking lots of blogging pics and is waiting ‘patiently’ to go up to the opening party).

I can’t tell you how many times I’m asked by people where to go that’s a bit cool, with food and dancing and  *phew* I think finally I’ve found the solution. There’s a killer cocktail menu, DJ booth and all the necessaries for a great night out.

The Varsity Club is free to enter though you can actually hire out various floors separately if you like. Prices start from £350 Mon-Wed depending on your floor, and go up to £1500 for the roof terrace.

Let me know if you make it in there, and don’t forget that roof terrace, whatever you do!

TVC, 9 High St, Oxford OX1 4DB. Tel: 01865 248777. [email protected] tvcoxford.co.uk

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 10am til midnight
Fridays and Saturday 10am til 3am

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