Named after the year in which Robert D'Oilly built Oxford's original motte-and-bailey castle, this lovely café attached to Oxford Castle Unlocked is worth visiting even if you aren't going inside the castle. The décor is modern and clean-cut while the layout is spacious and pleasantly lit by the large windows that allow visitors to survey the courtyard. Since it was not long after breakfast, I kept my order simple and chose a cup of English breakfast tea and the Passion cake. The server was friendly and clearly cared about his customers' experience. After placing a rather slim slice of cake on my plate, he asked me if I would like a bigger slice instead. I declined and without hesitation, he gave me a discount on the bill which was gratefully received! Feeling pleased with his excellent service, I settled down on a squishy sofa and tucked in. The tea was your standard, decent cuppa, served 'properly' in a cup with a saucer, accompanied by a cute jug of milk. The Passion cake has been adeptly named as I loved it! The sponge was well-flavoured, moist and filled with small pieces of dried tropical fruits and nuts - I definitely tasted some pineapple! The cream cheese icing had the perfect amount of passion fruit flavouring and a sprinkling of chopped nuts topped it off beautifully. I recommend that lovers of cake flock to Café 1071 to try their cakes, sample their great customer service, and enjoy the majestic view.
This funky modernist café next to Oxford Prison museum encouraged great expectations. However, despite not being overly-busy they had run out of jacket potatoes (one of their minimalist menu staples) by 12.45pm on Saturday, along with their supply of till change. There was a meagre and somewhat limp salad garnish that had evidently passed its 'salad days' with my panini alternative, and no butter, salt, pepper or serviettes (or even a bin for rubbish under the self-service condiment table).
The staff were slow, seemed unsure of how to operate their equipment and gave the distinct impression of not wanting to be there at all Not a friendly, customer-caring café experience I'll be in a hurry to repeat, and certainly not a café anyone would seek out unless waiting for their Prison tour to begin.