Reviews by Katy Hammond
Sofie Hagen, Jonny & The Baptists, John-Luke Roberts
Katy Hammond
Jonny and the Baptists have noticed a worrying trend: in 2014 they predicted that Farage would lead a right-wing power surge in the UK; in 2015 they predicted that children would be the ones leading ...
5 years ago
Sofie Hagen, Jonny & The Baptists, John-Luke Roberts
Offbeat Festival 2019
Katy Hammond
Witch Hunt at Arts at the Old Fire Station, Fri 28th June 2019 Directed by Cal McCrystal, A&E Comedy return
with a surreal and darkly funny sketch show about how outsiders and the preyed
upon can ...
5 years ago
Offbeat Festival 2019
Women In Power
Katy Hammond
Based on Aristophanes' Assemblywomen, Women in Power tells the story of the women of Athens’ plot to overthrow the all-male assembly and take charge of the government. Originally intended to ...
6 years ago
Women In Power
The Skating Rink
Katy Hammond
Love triangles. An ice rink hidden away. A murder most foul. No, this isn't an Agatha Christie play, it's the world premiere of The Skating Rink performed at Garsington Opera. Taken from Roberto ...
6 years ago
The Skating Rink
The King's Arms, Holywell Street
Katy Hammond
Beloved by students, many consider the KA an Oxford institution. It has the history, the brains, (if you believe their claim that they have the 'highest IQ per square foot anywhere in the world') and ...
7 years ago
The King's Arms, Holywell Street
Jack & Alice
Katy Hammond
Known for its fabulous brunch and its extensive gin menu, Jack & Alice has become a go-to meeting point for the people of Thame. The brand describes itself as a wine bar and pantry dining which ...
7 years ago
Jack & Alice
Mowgli
Katy Hammond
Swinging into action, Mowgli is quickly becoming a hit in Oxford. With several well established restaurants in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, founder Nisha Katona aims to bring simple, real ...
7 years ago
Mowgli
The Black Horse
Katy Hammond
To locals, the old Black Horse was a characterful establishment; it was known for its cheap drinks and late opening hours, and with that, it held a certain reputation amongst the town folk. The ...
7 years ago
The Black Horse
Oxford Literary Festival 2018
Katy Hammond
As someone who has the typical marks of a witch (dark eyes, birth mark, an affinity with animals) I've always been intrigued by the history of witches. In his latest book, The Witch historian Ronald ...
7 years ago
Oxford Literary Festival 2018
The Opium Den
Katy Hammond
Choosing to ignore the current health scare stories about the salt content of Chinese food, myself and my dining companion decided to try out George Street's Opium Den on a windy weekday evening. ...
7 years ago
The Opium Den
Pieminister
Katy Hammond
Thank goodness for Twitter. How else would we know that it's #BritishPieWeek (5th-11th March 2018)? Out of respect for this special occasion, the DI team decided to try out the giants of the ...
7 years ago
Pieminister
The Talkhouse
Katy Hammond
If you have guests from across the pond who want to see (or even stay in) a typical quaint English country pub, the Talkhouse is perfect. With its Cotswold stone exterior, exposed wooden beams and ...
7 years ago
The Talkhouse
Mission Burrito, St Michael's Street
Katy Hammond
Situated on St Michael's Street and King Edward Street, Mission Burrito is a popular place to visit for a quick bite of Mexican inspired goodness. These guys know what is needed to make a decent ...
7 years ago
Mission Burrito, St Michael's Street
Sticks'n'Sushi
Katy Hammond
Can't decide whether to have frikadeller or sashimi for dinner? Have both at newly opened Sticks'n'Sushi, situated on the top floor of the Westgate. Founded by Jens and Kim Rahbek and Thor Andersen, ...
7 years ago
Sticks'n'Sushi
KuPP
Katy Hammond
At last! There’s a Scandinavian – or at least ‘Nordic inspired’ – restaurant in Oxford. Hidden away at the top of John Lewis in the Westgate, KuPP is one of the latest smallish restaurant ...
7 years ago
KuPP
The Bat & Ball
Katy Hammond
A gastronomic gem disguised as a traditional country pub! The pub itself was wonderfully cosy on a chilly winter's night and we were made to feel very welcome by the barman. The menu is a mix of pub ...
7 years ago
The Bat & Ball
War Horse
Katy Hammond
Who would have thought that a show about a horse's perspective on the Great War would be such a hit. Still going strong after 10 years, War Horse continues to dazzle its audiences with its ...
7 years ago
War Horse
Christmas at Blenheim
Katy Hammond
Nothing’s better than a crisp wintry walk to get you in the mood for the festive season. Over the past few years grand houses across the country have been making the most of the darkening evenings ...
7 years ago
Christmas at Blenheim
Mock Trial: An Improvised Court Case
Katy Hammond
My first time in Oxford Town Hall’s Court Room was much more entertaining than it could have been. This was the setting for Tight Five/Comedy in Oxford’s Mock Trial and it certainly set the ...
7 years ago
Mock Trial: An Improvised Court Case
The Fox Inn (Boars Hill)
Katy Hammond
Located on Fox Lane on Boars Hill, The Fox is a cosy and relaxing pub offering seasonal, locally produced pub food at a mid-range price. We received a very warm welcome on a chilly evening and were ...
7 years ago
The Fox Inn (Boars Hill)
Kazbar
Katy Hammond
Distinctive in its appearance both inside and out, Kazbar on the Cowley Road is well-liked by locals and visitors alike for its excellent cocktails and warm ambience. The décor inside transports you ...
7 years ago
Kazbar
Imagining the Divine: Art and the Rise of World Religions
Katy Hammond
Exploring artwork from five major world religions in a single exhibition is no mean feat. The Ashmolean and the British Library have come together as part of the Empires of Faith Project to look at ...
7 years ago
Imagining the Divine: Art and the Rise of World Religions
Mae Martin - Dope
Katy Hammond
Obsessive behaviour, described as a niggling, excitable shrimp living in her brain, has been a constant for Mae throughout her life. From an innocent(ish) childhood dedication to Bette Midler to an ...
7 years ago
Mae Martin - Dope
Pint Shop
Katy Hammond
The tagline ‘Meat. Bread. Beer.’ plus the avid promotion of hot scotch eggs almost put me off visiting Pint Shop as I was worried that this simplified rendering of their menu would leave little ...
7 years ago
Pint Shop
The Fox and Goat
Katy Hammond
The Fox and Goat has the appearance of a quintessential English country pub. While there’s a decent range of Oxfordshire ales, a large garden with plenty of picnic tables and a loyal band of ...
7 years ago
The Fox and Goat
In Conversation With Nadiya Hussain: Nadiya’s British Food Adventure
Katy Hammond
Nadiya Hussain doesn't like being called a celebrity. After winning Bake Off she thought she'd return to her normal life of being a stay at home Mum to her three kids. But the nation couldn't get ...
7 years ago
In Conversation With Nadiya Hussain: Nadiya’s British Food Adventure
Vice Versa
Katy Hammond
Described as being “lovingly ripped off” from ancient Roman Comedies (in turn were stolen from Greek comedies), Vice Versa is Phil Porter’s latest comic farce being performed at the RSC’s ...
7 years ago
Vice Versa
Unconditional
Katy Hammond
Would you want to create a piece of theatre with your mother/daughter? ThisEgg's Josie Dale-Jones has teamed up with her mother Stefanie Mueller (co-founder of Hoipolloi) to create Unconditional, an ...
7 years ago
Unconditional
Bothy Vineyard
Katy Hammond
Burgundy; Barossa Valley; Tuscany: all famous regions known for producing some of the most acclaimed wines in the world. Could Oxfordshire be in line to give these celebrated terroirs a run for their ...
8 years ago
Bothy Vineyard
Big Society
Katy Hammond
It's such a hard life working so close to many restaurants and takeaways. Sometimes the DI team crack under the pressure, especially when we heard that Big Society have introduced some tasty ...
8 years ago
Big Society
Cuttlefish
Katy Hammond
Craving a taste of the sea on a blowy March evening, my companion and I ventured out to the newly renamed Cuttlefish on St Clements. I was a little nervous about how Cuttlefish would compare with its ...
8 years ago
Cuttlefish
Dead Funny: The Improvised Funeral
Katy Hammond
Although kicking the bucket is usually no laughing matter, the Oxford Imps have managed to bring mirth to that most solemn of occasions: a funeral. As soon as you enter the Simpkins Lee theatre, the ...
8 years ago
Dead Funny: The Improvised Funeral
Power and Protection: Islamic Art and the Supernatural
Katy Hammond
As usual, we Oxonians should feel blessed that we're fortunate that the first major exhibition to draw out supernatural themes in Islamic art is based at the splendid Ashmolean museum. Don't be ...
8 years ago
Power and Protection: Islamic Art and the Supernatural
Café Coco
Katy Hammond
I'd forgotten how tasty the food was! Such a lovely setting, especially when the doors are opened out and a miniature courtyard is formed between Coco and its sister establishment Kazbar. In this ...
8 years ago
Café Coco
Storms, War and Shipwrecks: Treasures from the Sicilian Seas
Katy Hammond
Covering 2500 years in a relatively small space is no mean feat. The Ashmolean achieve this almost effortlessly in their latest exhibition exploring history of the recovered treasures from Sicily's ...
9 years ago
Storms, War and Shipwrecks: Treasures from the Sicilian Seas
Al Shami
Katy Hammond
Went to Al Shami on Saturday evening for a friend's birthday with high hopes for a delicious meal. As predicted, the food was fantastic and lived up to my expectations. We all revelled in the novel ...
9 years ago
Al Shami
The Bear & Ragged Staff
Katy Hammond
The Bear and Ragged Staff has all the comfort of a classic olde worlde English pub while providing an above average menu. On previous visits I've enjoyed one of the best roast dinners I've ever had, ...
9 years ago
The Bear & Ragged Staff
Jericho Coffee Traders
Katy Hammond
Formerly Baby Love, Jericho Coffee Traders have set up shop on King Edward Street. While the exterior makes it seem appealing, I found that once inside, it was a little bleak and it isn't somewhere I ...
9 years ago
Jericho Coffee Traders
The Alternative Tuck Shop
Katy Hammond
For the uninitiated, the Alternative Tuck Shop is hidden away on Holywell Street almost opposite New College. The shop is small, so probably only suitable for grabbing a bite while on the go, but ...
9 years ago
The Alternative Tuck Shop
Custodians
Katy Hammond
Custodians by Joanna Vestey is a collection of photographs focusing on familiar Oxford locations with the people who keep everything ticking over. Vestey's previous works have included photographs of ...
9 years ago
Custodians
Andy Zaltzman
Katy Hammond
Having only recently discovered his satirical podcast The Bugle, I was delighted when Andy Zaltzman announced that he would be taking his Satirist for Hire tour to The Glee Club. My expectations were ...
9 years ago
Andy Zaltzman
Oxford Castle and Prison
Katy Hammond
Since its reincarnation in 2006, Oxford Castle Unlocked, formally Her Majesty's Prison Oxford, has offered tourists an alternative history of the city which isn't focused on the University of Oxford. ...
9 years ago
Oxford Castle and Prison
Castleyard Café
Katy Hammond
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 ...
9 years ago
Castleyard Café
We Want You To Watch [16+]
Katy Hammond
Commissioned by the National Theatre, RashDash's We Want You To Watch is bold, shocking and definitely achieves its aim of raising more questions than it answers. After reading a number of mixed ...
9 years ago
We Want You To Watch [16+]
Al-Andalus
Katy Hammond
Al-Andalus, situated on Little Clarendon Street, is set to be my go-to tapas restaurant for the foreseeable future. The food was outstanding and was probably the best tapas I've had outside of Spain. ...
9 years ago
Al-Andalus
Pitt Rivers Museum
Katy Hammond
For tourists and locals alike, the Pitt Rivers is a treasure chest filled to the brim with trinkets and curios to keep you occupied for hours. I often find myself only intending to pop in for a quick ...
9 years ago
Pitt Rivers Museum
Joe Perks & Co.
Katy Hammond
From the exterior, Joe Perks and Co. looks as if it would be more at home on the streets of Shoreditch rather than St Clements. The hipster vibe continues inside - mismatched wooden furniture, black ...
9 years ago
Joe Perks & Co.
Titus Andronicus
Katy Hammond
Titus Andronicus has a reputation as being one of Shakespeare's brutal and bloodthirsty plays. Although it was highly popular with Elizabethan audiences, the Victorians were less amused by the vast ...
9 years ago
Titus Andronicus
Fisherss
Katy Hammond
For a number of months, I have wanted to try Fishers mainly due to much praise from friends and family members. I am very pleased to have finally done so but my high expectations have been lowered to ...
9 years ago
Fisherss
