How to have a Brat Summer in Oxford
Thanks to Charli XCX’s phenomenally successful new album, it’s officially Brat summer. Here’s how to make the most of it in Oxford this year.
What is Brat?
Whether you are already a fully committed 365-party girl or have no idea how to respond when someone says you are so Julia, there is no denying Brat is having a moment but what is the deal?
Brat is the sixth album by British artist Charli XCX. Released on 7th June, the new record reached number two on the UK album charts and received widespread critical and popular acclaim. The album tapped into a multitude of relatable anxieties and celebrated living an authentic life, while also serving up earworm after earworm. I challenge you to listen to 360 in your headphones while walking around town and not feel like the main character.
What is Brat summer?
With its iconic green cover art and songs referencing everything from comparison, holidays, parties and wondering whether to have a baby, the album quickly became a major cultural reference point. A sea of lime green memes, viral dance routines and even a presidential campaign (kamala IS brat) followed.
This summer has been christened Brat summer. Like hot girl summer before it, Brat summer is about living your best and possibly more chaotic life while the sun shines, and ideally looking great while you do it. If you are keen to embrace your inner Brat, here’s our guide to the brattiest places to eat, drink, party and hang out in Oxford this year.
Where to drink
On Brat, Charli XCX sings about drinking neon orange drinks (read aperol spritz) on the beach. While we are low on beaches in Oxford, there are some great places to drink your drink of choice. We love Popina on Walton Street or the Summertown Wine Bar. Try Freuds or The Duke of Cambridge, both in Jericho for great cocktails or The Perch for one of the best pub gardens in Oxford.
Where to eat
Eating great food at a lovely restaurant is very Brat, especially alfresco with your sunglasses firmly on. We have some amazing independent eateries in Oxford, try apero hour on the terrace at Pompette on South Parade, grabbing a table in Quod’s spectacular garden or visiting Gees Restaurant and Bar and its iconic glasshouse. If dining waterside is more your vibe, try The Folly or Cherwell Boathouse.
Where to party
Festival season and Brat summer are a match made in heaven, tickets for Fairport Convention, Wilderness and The Big Feastival, all in August, are still on sale while Off Beat Festival, in September, is a celebration of local talent and creativity.
For more music, Common Ground are hosting Anglo-French avant-garde electronic artist Julia-Sophie on 1st August, and new goth-indie band Pet Twin on 30th August. Grammy nominated post-punk pioneers The Tiger Lillies are at The North Wall Arts Centre on 14th September or head to The Bullingdon for The Big Drum & Bass Summer Rave featuring Sub Terra on 10th August.
Tap Social Movement is hosting a range of events over the summer, head to the Botley Taproom for Drag Bingo, which feels very brat coded to me. To round out your summer in style, head to Cowley Road Carnival which is back after a five-year break on 1st September.
Where to romanticise your life
On Everything is Romantic, one of the album tracks on Brat, Charli XCX sings about the romantic details of a holiday to Italy. We can’t guarantee the weather but exploring Oxford as a hometown (or real) tourist with rose tinted glasses is a lovely (and very Brat) way to spend a summer’s day. We are pretty lucky to live in a beautiful city, even if the magic wears off when you see it all the time.
Some of our favourite places to romanticise your life in Oxford include visiting the many indie shops and bars in Jericho followed by a walk on the canal or head to Magdalen Road for indies a plenty, an iced coffee from Missing Bean and to top up your to read pile at Caper Books. The Ashmolean Museum, Natural History Museum and Botanic Gardens are great places to visit.
Anywhere beside a body of water feels romantic in the sunshine, try riverside walks in Christchurch Meadow, visiting the horses and cows in Port Meadow or walking up the river towards Iffley means and popping into the Isis Farmhouse for a drink. If you’d rather be on the water, try stand up paddle boarding at Farmoor Reservoir.
What to buy
Like Barbie pink before it, Brat’s bright neon green has become its own brand – you might start seeing it everywhere and thinking anything from a high-vis jacket to nail varnish choices are subtle marketing tactics for the album.
For the little brats in your life, check out Ducky Zebra’s colourful and sustainable children’s wear, it’s all very on brand especially this dog and hedgehog sleepsuit. Likewise Rainbow and Spoon has a huge range of colourful women’s clothes and accessories if you’d like to dress the part, and check out Miller and Jeeves’ statement earrings for the finishing touch.
Annabel’s Patisserie’s raspberry and pistachio chocolates really got memo and check out Cranston Pickles amazingly bright pickles, the pickled radishes aren’t green, but they feel very brat.
Truck Store, Oxfordshire’s longest running independent record store, has shops on Cowley Road and in Witney, and is the perfect location to hunt out your favourite club classic, or Brat itself. Let’s be honest, shopping indie is brat, so however you support your indies this summer, know that you look really hot doing it!
