Old Fire Station Cafe — Café in Oxford

Old Fire Station Cafe is a community-focused café at 40 George Street in Oxford. Housed in a former fire station from the late 1800s, it blends historic industrial architecture with bright modern interiors that support its dual role as a daytime café and evening bar. The space serves Middle Eastern food, especially Syrian pastries, through a social enterprise kitchen that supports refugee women. It’s popular for morning coffee, early afternoon lunches, and after-6pm drinks when the venue shifts into bar mode.

Old Fire Station Cafe Oxford was originally built as a functioning fire station in the late 19th century. The building maintains its industrial character with exposed brickwork, large windows that let in bright natural light, and original structural features adapted for modern use. Inside, low ceilings and metal beams create a spacious yet cozy atmosphere, balancing historical authenticity with everyday function. The space retains visible traces of its fire station past through preserved architectural elements. This mix of heritage and modern utility defines the visitor experience, clean lines, open layout, moderate noise levels, and steady crowd density even during peak times.

Old Fire Station Cafe offers locals and visitors a practical yet meaningful space for relaxed meals or quiet work over Middle Eastern food and drinks. During the day it operates as a café serving coffee, light bites, and full meals with a focus on Syrian pastries. After 6pm the venue becomes a bar, part of its dual-use design that makes evening visits especially common. The community-oriented atmosphere is clear in how guests interact: solo visitors receive warm welcomes; small groups meet for conversation or to attend events like live music nights, cultural gatherings, and other hosted activities. A key feature is the social enterprise kitchen, which provides training and employment opportunities for Arabic-speaking refugee women.