Some consolation

It's not all doom and gloom in Oxford.

One of the happier moments of my week of mostly thwarted nostalgia in Oxford last week came with the discovery that Pepper's Burgers at the top of Walton Street (closed, abruptly and without explanation, some two years ago) is now operating again.

It is not quite what it was (the two Indian guys behind the counter don't seem to be very sure of what they're doing, and don't speak much English; I suspect the place has been taken over by the Indian restaurant next door, and they're still feeling their way into this unfamiliar culinary enterprise). The chips I had there at the weekend were soggy and anaemic (and came, at first, without the salt and vinegar I'd requested), and the basic quarter-pounder seemed a tad smaller than it should have been. However, the meat and the buns are still excellent, the range of sauces (including the infamous 'White Shark' extra-hot chilli) is just as it was, and the prices continue to be very reasonable.

I really think this might be The Best Burger Joint In The World.....