Oxwell & Co- impressive gastropub in Singapore

Inspired representation of classic UK-style public house- modern British cuisine with craft cocktails & ales

December 21st, 2013

One of the year’s more notable restaurant and bar openings in Singapore, Oxwell & Co is a recent addition (August 2013) to the revitalised dining and bar scene centred around Singapore’s historic Ann Siang Hill and Club Street precinct. Deftly evoking the heritage and charm of the traditional British “local” or public house- Oxwell & Co occupies a beautifully restored three storey heritage terrace, standing prominently astride a corner site in the heart of the burgeoning dining and nightlife enclave adjacent to the CBD. A serendipitous collaboration between partners Mark Sargeant (acclaimed UK-based chef and long time head chef within the famed Gordon Ramsay Group), Luke Whearty (Australian cocktail maestro- ex head bartender and manager at the internationally acclaimed Der Raum [Melbourne] and Tippling Club [Singapore] ), and locally-based The Blind Group, Oxwell & Co offers a superlative combination of casual drinks and all-day bar bites on the street level bar and pavement, together with a more refined dining experience in the first floor dining room that showcases the accomplished culinary repertoire of executive chef Mark Sargeant with his re-interpretations of classic British comfort dishes.

Taking its name from the local history of the site- where oxen in the 19th century used to haul water carriages from a nearby spring, Oxwell & Co cleverly melds the ethos of the traditional British public house with a contemporary, relaxed yet sophisticated dining concept. Masterfully conceived and executed with admirable attention to detail, the interiors of the terrace have been faithfully restored to a colonial era splendour, and harmoniously interspersed with quirky design elements that encapsulate the distinctive personality of the venue. With three floors and a rooftop space to work with, the designers have created a series of engaging spaces. On the ground floor, the decor references a traditional public house- with white tiled surfaces, unpolished timber flooring and a hefty bar topped with a solid reclaimed timber counter top. Seats at rustic timber benches that extend along the covered pavement- offer ideal people-watching opportunities- making them particularly popular with patrons. In addition to the handsome first floor main dining room- a luxurious private dining and adjoining drawing room on the second floor is a superb option for small groups or private parties. And the rooftop terrace has been utilised as a functional herb garden, providing freshly grown local produce for the Oxwell & Co kitchen and bar.

True to its public house heritage, Oxwell & Co is open all day- serving breakfast and coffee from 8 am at the ground floor bar, with an all day bar bites menu and full bar service to satiate appetites and thirsts through until midnight. Up on the first floor, the elegant dining room serves both lunch and dinner – with menus updated frequently with seasonal specialties. Oxwell & Co is open Tuesday to Saturday- with seating in the dining room for only 36 diners, bookings for dinner are strongly recommended.

Oxwell & Co cuisine and cocktails
An honest, straightforward menu of familiar British comfort foods is cooked with a consummate simplicity and lightness of touch that focuses the attention on the first class fresh produce. Presentation is modern and attractive, pleasingly without unnecessary embellishments. Standout dishes that exemplify the signature cuisine style of Mark Sargeant include his rendition of the quintessential British appertiser- the Oxwell & Co Prawn Cocktail– with fresh prawns arranged on a bed of crisp lettuce, topped with his distinctive take on the flavoursome sauce. British-inflected mains include Halibut- served with Jerusalem artichoke and ceps; and the Welsh Salt Marsh Lamb Rump, with roast onions, and green sauce. A British pub meal is never complete without indulging in one of the delightful puddings- think Choc Pot and Honeycomb, and the perennial favourite- Eton Mess– a delicious combination of strawberries, cream and meringue.

Taking a refreshingly unpretentious approach to serving first rate cocktails, Oxwell & Co manager and head of the beverage program, Luke Whearty, has created a concise list of classic cocktails- masterfully house-crafted into small batches- attractively priced at S$12 each- and uniquely in Singapore- poured directly from a series of taps mounted into the back wall behind the bar. His signature drink is the Gin & Tonic– made from a premium house distilled gin, with calamansi and locally foraged nutmeg leaves. Other cocktails served from the taps include Cuba Libre and Pimm’s Cup. The drinks menu also features selections of craft beers and ales from the UK, premium spirits and wines by the glass. A well-curated wine list offers selections from boutique wineries across a variety of regions to complement the modern British cuisine.

Oxwell & Co- ground floor bar

Rustic timber benches line the 5ft terrace walkway in front of Oxwell & Co.

Stripped back interior of the Oxwell & Co bar- roughly white-washed walls and reclaimed timber floors are highlighted by the array of retro tungsten bulbs suspended from the ceiling.

Original features of the heritage terrace have been faithfully restored.

First-floor Dining Room

The main dining room interior features white washed walls, exposed timber-beamed ceiling, and classic timber “farmhouse” style dining tables and chairs. The copper sheathed serving counter connects the dining room with the kitchen.