Purple Turtle Union Bar

The people that frequent the purple turtle suck, the atmosphere is student laddish gross stuff. Not cool. It also smells like a massive bad fart which sucks. It does have the potential to be a great spot with cheap drinks and monster with vodka instead of red bull on offer (tastes real good). But overall I’d rather get cheap drinks at plush (by the station), where nobody really gives a fuck who your related to, or how many girls you’ve plopped your inadequate piece into this term.

Absolutley love going town to pt on an evening to very casually chill out and have a few drinks with friends. The drinks are cheap, you can play your choice of songs on the jukebox and the staff including security and all very friendly and helpful. its a fantastic bar.

The Purple Turtle. where to begin! Well, it is underground, which does give it a fun vibe — but if you are claustrophobic this could be a problem. The ceilings in some rooms are curved like the inside of a tunnel, which makes it feel very enclosed. Not sure if it’s the fact that it is underground or just the bar itself, but some nights it definitely has a foul rotten smell.
In terms of atmosphere, the Purple Turtle actually does pretty well — it has fun seating areas spread around in different rooms, a few bars, and a good layout overall.
Drinks were a touch expensive, but still pretty good.
If you’re in Oxford, the Purple Turtle is definitely worth seeing if only for its uniqueness, but I wouldn’t come here on a regular basis.

The Turtle pretty much dominates. One night after slaying a pretty unhealthy number of Irish carbombs at our college bar, we hit up the Turt for some flaming absinthe shots and karaōke night. I’m pretty sure we all had a great time, despite only having about 30 seconds of actual memory of the place.

This is by far my favorite club in Oxford. They have a great staff, decent drink prices, and always a live DJ. The Wednesday night DJ is by far the best, lots of alternative music, no dance/​techno. The bar tenders and other employees are truly awesome! It may not be the cleanest or the cheapest, but its the most fun!

Well, what I will say about the Purple Turtle is as follows.
Ratio of attendance: standing in vomit = 1:1
…and yet I keep going back.
But why?
Because I am a poor student and the drinks are very cheap.
How’s the temperature? (nobody would ever ask this)
Why, it’s hotter than the SUN in there.
…and yet I keep going back.
Oh, the PT. Who could ever be mean about you? Nice and cheap and… cosy I suppose, and a pleasing layout I would say. Toilets are horrific though, no denying that. Music’s also quite good although they could do with integrating some RnB if they want my guaranteed custom.

Being a student abroad in Oxford meant that I was at subject to the currency rate first hand. Therefore, going out was a limited luxury until my friends and I happened upon the PT. Along with one other place this was one of my favorite spots to go hang out, dance and have a drink. The atmosphere is very amiable with lots of students, even during the summer (which is when I studied at Oxford). Although the first time I went there was no line to get in some of my classmates on the same program as I had some challenges getting in on some nights, particularly when the wait time is an hour to get in. There are some other underground venues but this is by far the best in Oxford because of the atmosphere and its affordability.

Ohhh my. The Purple Turtle.
I studied abroad in Oxford the summer of 2007, and we came here every single night, groups of about 25 of us. At least that summer, they played great music, had decent-​priced pitchers, and a fun atmosphere! I miss it!

The Purple Turtle only deserves its two stars because it is central, and it has — rightly or wrongly — gone down in Oxford legend as being somewhere you have to go at least once during your academic career. I went there on a few nights out but never enjoyed it: the music wasn’t to my taste, it was far, far too sweaty, and the toilets were inevitably in a horrible state. I suggest those in pursuit of a good night out head for Park Lane or the Cowley Road, where the drinks prices are similar, the tunes are MUCH better, and you don’t have to spend an evening lit by neon tube lighting. Sorry to debunk the myth, but the PT never lived up to its reputation for me.

A great night out!
small and cozy but amazing venue very colourful!
Amazing generally Eclectic music
Full of the funnest type of student great prices
regulars gigs

Definatley a great venue for cheap drinks and lots of fun.
Dancing, giggling, hanging out with friends.
It is underground, marvellous and sweaty!
Of course one of the best features is the foozball table — probably one of the most used tables in Oxford.
They have a variety of live music as well.
It is often packed and so you are assured of a good atmosphere.

The purple turtle is a matter of taste. you will either like it, or not. no in between — and a lot depends on the night you go.
It is located in the central of oxford town centre which is good if you want a kebab or mcD’s afterwards. Its clientèle is only students. So its a student joint. HOWEVER, sometimes its full of oxford students, sometimes oxford brookes and sometimes a mix. I find this changes the atmosphere somewhat as brookes seem to bring with them a little more ‘i dont care what you think even when im sober’ with them — which is quite fun. Oxford students take a while longer to liven up. Stereotyping? maybe. But ive witnessed it for over 6 years and i dont think its offensive. ;)
I would recommend that you go on a monday nite as its always very popular. You will have a choice of both home brew and the normal beers and wines :)

The PT… ah, the PT. Many a good night has started with the chant of ‘Pee Tee Pee Tee’ and then a disorderly stampede towards the sticky-​floored hole itself. I say this in the fondest of tones, of course — the PT is far from luxurious, but it’s exactly as a student venue should be. Part club, part bar, it has incredible cheap drinks, is open at weekends and, dare I say it, can play some pretty good music. The walls are lined with typically studenty posters — think Che Guevara and various rock bands. It’s very hot and sticky and the smell’s probably best ignored, but whether you’re coming for a full night out or just planning on a quick drink after a meal out, you’ll have a good night here. Just one word of warning: the bouncers can be a bit funny about letting people in. Technically it’s the Oxford Union’s club (don’t let that put you off though — it’s very informal), so it’s a good idea to go with a Union member. They prefer non Oxford students to Oxford students who aren’t Union members, and will sometimes charge £5 for non-​Union members, although being/​having a girl to sweet-​talk them usually helps!

Oxfords best student bar. Hidden away underground and down an alleyway, it can be hard to find but diamond mines aren’t easy to find! This club/​bar has a real student feel to it with extremly cheap drinks and accesories such as table football, a jukebox etc. The music is a real mixture which leads to mixture of cultures. For someone on a budget and looking for to much quality this is a much. Try the South African beer, Castle Lager!

The PT is by far my favourite bar in Oxford. In a city full of student with money (i know its odd), too many bars and clubs ooze smugness and elitism. You will find none of this here. Located next to The Cellar bar in the underground tunnels that give these two bars such a great atmosphere, it is strictly for students, so remember to bring a student ID of some sort or you will be turned away. Personally, the best night is Monday, alternative night which isnt what you’d think. You will not be scared off by stoner kids moshin on the dance floor, but find a ecliptic mix of indie, rock, old school hip hop and anything that you can sing along to.
On a budget? Try the PT’s home brew, its actually not bad.