Restaurant in Oxford | Frank's restaurant | Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House

Born Adventurer: The Life of Frank Bickerton Antarctic Pioneer

Soldiers and sailors, geographers and geologists, submariners and balloonists all flocked to Antarctica during the ‘Heroic Age’ of Polar exploration. No one better represented this eclectic band than Frank Bickerton, engineer on Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) of 1911–14. A true pioneer of Antarctic exploration, he piloted the expedition’s ‘air-tractor’, established the first crucial wireless link between Antarctica and the rest of the world, and discovered one of the first meteorites ever to be found on the continent.

Treasure-hunter, explorer, fighter pilot, entrepreneur, big-game hunter and movie-maker, Bickerton not only made a major contribution to the success of the AAE, but was also recruited by Ernest Shackleton for his ill-fated Endurance Expedition, dug for pirate gold on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, survived bloody dogfights over the Western Front during the First World War, and flirted with the glittering world of 1920s Hollywood

Frank’s offers a modern take on classic British and European dishes, while using the finest in local ingredients.

Our new mouth-watering Menu and wine list has just launched.

 FOOD MENU  DRINK MENU  DESSERT

(Please note this is a sample menu. Dishes and availability times are subject to change.)

SUNDAY LUNCH

Looking for the perfect way to spend your Sunday in Oxford? Every Sunday, Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel offers one of the city’s finest Sunday lunches.

2-course meal: £ 25 per person
3-course meal: £ 30 per person

Join us for a mouth-watering feast where our chefs prepare a selection of succulent roasts—including beef, chicken, pork, and a delightful vegetarian option—all served with classic trimmings.

Choose to dine in the elegant Frank’s Restaurant or relax in the casual Terrace Bar. Don’t miss out on this monthly treat. Book your table now and make your Sunday something special!

SUNDAY LUNCH MENU