Overview
The Oxford Tavern, one of the Inner West's best pubs, will close its doors this Sunday, April 2, with its current custodians Odd Culture Group stepping away from the Stanmore Road spot.
Known for its Sunday roasts, inclusive dance parties and greenery-filled beer garden, the venue has sat under the guidance of the Odd Culture crew since 2019. Following last drinks on Sunday, when the team will be running the kegs and spirits dry, the hospitality group's lease will expire — with Odd Culture unaware of any incoming or prospective tenants at this stage.
"It's with a heavy heart that we announce our lease is up at the Oxford Tavern," a statement from the group reads. "This pub has always held a special place in our heart — a space for our people to march to the beat of their own drum, and create the wild and wonderful, queer-coloured programming that resonated with the Inner West."
"It was a saving grace for us, and a lot of people in the industry, through two (or three?) lockdowns, with our Tav Delivers stint, and a lot of that drew us even closer to the community. The pub has a rich history and we are grateful to have operated the place as an inclusive Petersham local and a queer institution. We're proud of everything we've put into The Tav. It's been a wild ride, but the time has come to end this chapter."
The announcement comes as Odd Culture shifts its attention elsewhere, with several exciting announcements from the hospo team in the last few months, including a new live music venue on King Street with a 4am license and its first foray into the Melbourne hospitality scene with a wine bar and bottle shop in Fitzroy.
If you want to head in for a last beer or a sample of the recently revamped menu before The Tav closes, the pub will be open midday–midnight Thursday and Friday, midday–3am Saturday and midday–10pm for its last day on Sunday.
The Oxford Tavern is located at 1 New Canterbury Road, Petersham. Its last day of operations under the Odd Culture group will be on Sunday, April 2.
Top image: Kitti Gould