Which Oxford pub was associated with C.S. Lewis and the Inklings?

The Eagle and Child was the Oxford pub associated with C.S. Lewis and the Inklings.

The Eagle and Child, a historic pub on St Giles’ Street in Oxford, was a regular meeting place for the Inklings, an informal literary discussion group. C.S. Lewis was one of its leading members, and J.R.R. Tolkien also attended. The group discussed works in progress, mythology, religion, and literature.

The pub was familiarly known as the “Bird and Baby,” a nickname derived from its sign. Meetings were also held at other Oxford locations, including rooms at Magdalen College and the nearby Eastgate Hotel, so the Inklings were not permanently tied to one venue. Still, the Eagle and Child became the location most strongly associated with their gatherings.

Lewis and Tolkien’s friendship influenced twentieth-century fantasy literature, although neither author belonged to a formal literary organization with membership rules or an official publication.