The Back Lane Tavern in West Oxfordshire

Our research paid off, ‘tapas’ suggests Spanish style bites however you’ll be met with a great variety of European, Asian & traditional British lite portions, we ordered 3 each plus a side which was spot on & allowed 6 tastes per couple. Add great local beers, we had their own IPA, very busy but the way the dishes came to the table as they were cooked made for a grazing style of very relaxed dining very highly recommend this place but book before hand.

My wife and I were totally disappointed this evening. 1. The menu is pompous and unintelligible in places eg. 'White miso & yuzu aioli', 'pangritata', 'nut dukkah', chimicuri'. 2. Every tapas dish was coldfood and the flavours unexciting. 3. The tapas portions were very small. 4. The meal was overpriced - £70 + for a 2 courses. Sadly the worst meal we have had in recent years,

We had visited The Back Lane Tavern for Sunday lunch and had a beautiful roast. The portions were ample and the sides very tasty. We really enjoyed the unusual cauliflower side. There was a nice buzz in the restaurant and the service was great. We returned a couple of weeks later for a midweek lunch. It was quiet, with only a few tables occupied but there was still a nice atmosphere. We selected some small plates and took advantage of the 25% off Wine Wednesday offer. We were not disappointed, the food was delicious, particularly the prawns and the beef butter and sourdough. The service was good and we had lovely exchanges with both Echo and Holly who looked after us. I would highly recommend The Back Lane Tavern and we will most definitely be returning very soon.

Had a lovely Sunday Lunch yesterday. Great hidden gem of a pub/restaurant. Lovely busy atmosphere and we were able to sit earlier than our allotted time. Lovely choice of food -4choices for Sunday roasts. Wanted to try them all. Really polite and helpful staff. Totally recommend. (Not cheap-but you pay for what you get)

Stopped in mid week for dinner and we were not disappointed. The food has a local tapas feel and is definitely unique for the area. We had the arancini, truffle gnocchi, pork belly, satay prawn, beef tartare and the squid. The highlight for me was the pork but I couldn't fault any of the dishes. They serve wine by the carafe which is a nice touch. The service was brilliant - overall a great experience.

Excellent friendly service in a very hospitable restaurant A tapas type menu reasonably priced Food cooked to order was excellent and nicely presented A must place to visit if you are looking to eat in a very nice environment

Delicious small plates. Couldn't choose between the "Sea" ones so we had all three and none disappointed! Friendly staff.

Dinner with colleagues. So many lovely choices, brilliantly executed with great service. A larger group meant that we could choose lots of different plates. All were absolutely stunning.

Our favourite place to eat in Woodstock. We love the Korean Chicken! Friendly staff and a busy atmosphere give the place a real buzz.

I picked this pub /restaurant purely on reviews from tripadvisor, We were meeting friends from Birmingham and we’d driven up from Kent ! We chose the roasts which were all really delicious,and the desserts the same ! The staff were friendly, super efficient and thought of everything! If we’re in Woodstock again we’ll be back .

Well this place is like a tardis, very unassuming in the outside, fab in inside, so were the staff, food, drink and ambiance

A must visit on any cotswolds itinerary. Food incredible, service incredible. A hidden gem. If I could give 6 stars I would ⭐️. We were served by Holly who was so attentive and lovely. Will be returning,

This little gem is tucked away off the Woodstock high street. A warm welcome awaited us. The decor is cozy and comfortable. The food consists of small plates (like tapas, but not Spanish). We ordered a selection, and they were all delicious, from the caeser salad, via triple-cooked chips and scallops with pork belly to Vietnamese spring rolls, followed by a yummy fruity ice-cream and chocolate dessert (can’t remember the name).Recommended!

Amazing little find. Gorgeous place. Food out of this world. Staff amazing - big shout to the lovely ladies running the place (Jen and Holly), bending over backwards to please was nothing but a pleasure for them.

Delicious small plate lunch! Yummy Korean chicken wings, Caesar salad, salami with celeriac coleslaw, chorizo with piquant sauce, and standout king prawns with ginger and garlic butter sauce. All tasty with distinctive flavours. Finished off with very good panna cotta with walnuts, crumbs and citrus sauce. Friendly and relaxed service and nice beamed dining room. We will be returning!

A real gem. We were visiting for a few days for my partner’s birthday. I wanted to take him somewhere special so I had spent time looking at the previous reviews. The tavern did not disappoint! Asian inspired food that is superb, fresh and well presented. At the front, it's a small 17th century tavern which opens out into their fantastic restaurant at the back. Not cheap but well worth a visit!

This is easily the best pub I have ever been to. From the rapid & super super friendly service to the decor to the food... oh my god, the food is unreal. Had about 7 small plates between my family & everything was AMAZING! We couldn't fault a single dish. Everything was absolutely spot on. Presentation was also incredible. I don't live in Woodstock anymore but I'd definitely travel back from London to go to this incredible pub!!! HUUUGE recommend!

Another superb Sunday lunch. This is consistently the best Sunday lunch around. They were super busy today with it being Mothering Sunday. The staff were working flat out to look after us all - a brilliant team x

What a lovely place, the food was delicious, the atmosphere relaxed & service impeccable- made my husband’s birthday & our anniversary extra special- look forward to returning in the future .

We are so pleased we found this place during our stay in Woodstock, go, you’ll not be disappointed. BUT you need to book to be sure you’ll get a table. Even if you are going just for a drink it’s an experience not to be missed. It’s a lively buzzing place, for people to meet up, celebrate and generally have a great time. From the outside it looks just like one of the houses in the street, but as you go in it like being in the TARDIS, it opens out into an amazing restaurant, bar and beer garden. The food is tapas and you get the items you’ve ordered when they are ready in the kitchen, so is a very relaxed way of eating and sharing the experience. We’ll definitely be booking a table if we return to Woodstock

We loved everything about the Back Lane Tavern. At first we thought we had come to the wrong place as it appeared to be a busy pub , but the beautiful restaurant is at the back. The service is great, efficient and friendly but the food .. my word ! I will be thinking about the gorgeous pies we had for ages . Just exquisite! I really wish we had something like this restaurant at home. Loved it !

Went with my husband. Had a great meal. Food was wonderful. Service excellent. Would definitely go again as a couple or in a party.

From the outside this looks like a regular back street pub… step inside and you’ll get a surprise! Stunning dining room, even more stunning food, lovely friendly staff… We could see why this place was popular; very busy for a Tuesday evening in February. (My photo was artfully captured once we’d mostly departed!) I can see why ‘the concept’ of Tapas Style food, brought to the table when it’s ready might not be to everyone’s taste; we decided to go with the flow and enjoy it although it meant at times we didn’t always have enough room on our table for the plates! We enjoyed the range of cooking styles and flavours, and would go back regularly if only we lived closer. (The only dish that didn’t wow us was the green beans- at £7 a portion, it was rather hefty especially as they were a little on the al dente side and rather tasteless. But I’m not going to hold that against them as everything else was spot on. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Great food and great service. Food was excellent and was so much better than the usual pub food. All the staff were excellent and explained a couple of dishes to us. But all the team had smiles on their faces something that doesn’t happen in other places

Tapas style food in a great location with a fab atmosphere. Not the cheapest but you get exactly what you pay for in terms of quality of food and superb service. Don't hesitate to visit. The add an annoying 12.5% service charge (which you can ask to have removed) but I have to say the team here earn every penny of it. It was very busy indeed when we visited but the service and food delivery was seamless. Brilliant.

I have been arround, eating out two times a day, for the past weeks, driving from Edinburgh all the way south, and I have eat wonderfully everywhere. But it was in Woodstock, at this pub, where we had the better food and experience so far. I can not recommend it enough. I deserves a Michelin star.... Or two!

This restaurant is at the back of a pub down a back lane and the notice in the pub saying it was a small plates restaurant did not really encourage us. We wanted a decent meal. However the waitress made some suggestions and we had a lovely meal comprising an intriguing variety of small plates. Thoroughly recommended, especially if you want something a bit unusual.

We hadn’t booked, and turned up on a recommendation from a local. We couldn’t be seated in the main restaurant without a booking, despite turning up v early (12noon), so we’re sat in the cosy bar, which is lovely and v comfy. The bar menu is very limited though - you can’t really have a decent lunch. It’s just tiny snacks. Wings/one Vietnamese summer roll/tiny charcuterie board. Quite expensive for very small amount of food. We went home and had lunch, again. Maybe they could offer some hearty sandwiches too, for the bar menu, so at least walk-ins can fill their bellies. But, it’s our own fault, as we hadn’t booked! I would still recommend it, and will return for another go. One small critique - the barmaid said she’d bring over a high chair for our baby, but she didn’t bring one. We waited and waited with the baby, unable to put her down. It was quite difficult for me to get one down from the tall and heavy stack, at five months pregnant, so some help from staff would have been much appreciated. Which also reminds me - there was nothing remotely suitable for a baby/toddler on the bar menu, so I wouldn’t bother dropping in if you’ve got little ones. Again, just a sandwich would do!

We were meeting family half way and found this place during research. We are so pleased we did. We loved everything about it. Very friendly service & top quality food. We will return even though its not local for any of us

Popped in on the off chance we could have a light lunch.. our server ( Echo) was very accommodating.. overwhelmed by the wonderful offerings... I strongly recommend the Vietnamese rolls and the courgette flower... The gluten free pud was very good,the fabulous chocolate cake.. pricey but very tasty... Return visit very soon.. thank you Woodstock hi

Lovely place. Came in from the rain to a warm welcome & delicious mulled wine. Great service, fantastic roasts (rare beef & beautiful pork with crackling), all veggies were also delicious especially the creamed leeks. A quick coffee & then we were on our way...

Found this restaurant quite by chance and so glad we did. From the moment we were seated, we were tended by lovely, friendly staff. The food was amazing, serving tapas style food. We had chicken wings, wow! Crab with a marie rose sauce, roasted sweet...

Some friends had recommended this pub, and we booked and had lunch there yesterday. The food was exceptional - not too expensive - but definitely tasted like it should be! The wine was flowing, and we had a great time. One and only negative was...

I have been to the Backlane a few times the past year and every visit has been faultless. Always a warm welcome, the food is always flavoursome and indulgent, and the service, great, personable but not overbearing. I would highly recommend the Backlane for any...

Delicious food and an absolutely fabulous atmosphere. The staff were just delightful, and I can’t wait for some more cosy evenings seeing friends and having drinks here again. 10/10

I love it here. I thought of it as just a restaurant at first, but it's definitely a destination pub too. A wonderful place to just kick back and relax in the garden or snuggle into with the log fire when it's colder. Such a...

Excellent small plates of food. Each one a different delicious flavour. We weren't sure what to order so had a bit of everything and was not disappointed. Service very good and the ordering method explained very well. A little on the high side but well...

Delicious Sunday roast. Lovely atmosphere.great customer service . I would highly recommend. Great job! We will be back.

Surroundings rally impressed, the building externally looks like a local back street pub. Inside opens up into a classy dining environment. I wanted to love it, but didn't. I didn't feel the food warranted the price tags. Service was really good. Sorry

I am surprised by some of the negative views, as we went and found the service and food was excellent . I think the notion of “Tapas” might throw people a little as you expect Spanish, but actually it’s a bit more of a “Tapas”...

Three girlfriends and I booked on recommendation and were so pleased we did. The food was second to none. Amazing interesting dishes, in generous portions presented beautifully. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our evening was perfect on every level. Wonderful ambiance in...

We’ve been several times at lunchtime but not on a Sunday before. Good choice of meats, we all had something different and all agreed it was just fabulous, traditional but with twist and highly recommended by us all. Looking forward to our next visit (aweek...

Fantastic trip last night to the Back Lane Tavern, we were a group of four. From the minute we arrived we were greeted with a warm reception, a buzzy bar scene with locals, we had arrived early but nothing was too much trouble and we...

Staff/chefs/manager are the best! Incredible, so friendly and knowledgeable about allergies. The food is GORGEOUS! We make the trip there weekly. Great atmosphere, lovely indoor or outdoor settings.

Really lovely service and although it wasn't the Spanish tapas we were expecting (would say it was more international), we had a few of the small plates from the interesting menu and the food was extremely tasty.

Met my sister today for lunch, for the first time since Covid. Expected it to be something special. On ordering the waitress advised me to order nibbles as well as the main course, 'so we had someting to eat while we waited for the main...

Great food, lovely buzz, and kind and helpful staff. Nothing bad to say at all some of the best food we have had in a long time.

Visited this spot after reading reviews and realising a taxi would not got to our desired destination. Reasonably good atmosphere and in fairness was told the restaurant was full. Despite being advised to come along and see what could be done, no interest in making...

Don’t often write reviews a great meal superb tapas wine service and dessert. Hidden away in Woodstock food cooked with love.

Excellent food ,clean and vibrant pub, good atmosphere with really friendly helpful staff. Recommended

Booked for a celebration dinner with friends and could not be more disappointed. Could not order drinks to the table as no members of staff were to be found in the restaurant so we went to the bar to order and were ignored for 15...

Good atmosphere, inexplicably salty food. Eye watering. A great shame. Never again. And we really wanted to love it.

This was a wonderful evening and the ideal way to spend a sunny August evening. The food was superb - especially the prawns. The front of house staff were friendly and knew the menu. We’ll be back.

Visited as two couples. Having been many times before we sold our friends on this been the best restaurant in Woodstock. Expensive but worth it. The good was the food was the usual high standard. The bad was the service was terrible. When the bottle...

Super place, clean good atmosphere and the girls (staff) are great! Food was perfect! One tip, more time between the tapas. So you have more time to enjoy the food. Greatings from Dutchie 👍🍀

Lovely unique tapas, honestly the best chicken wings I've ever had! Cooked to perfection. Staff were great, a lovely young lad that hadn't worked there long was very pleasant, we had a lovely little chat with him as we paid our bill. Would 100% recommend

Sadly we were disappointed for our second visit here, the first being just after the original opening. The food was fine but the service and lack of personality falls short of a great dining experience. We were forgotten about twice for quite some time and...

We were greeted by the biggest, genuine smile by our server and seated in the stylish, relaxed restaurant area. The menu is Tapas style, which we love and we ordered loads! The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, well portioned and reasonably priced (too...

Monday night - the place was buzzing. Something for everyone. Great Pub first - superb real ale, local feel. Second - lovely garden area. Thirdly - excellent Tapas, good cooking and varied choice. Fourthly - very professional and attentive staff. Highly recommended

Best kept secret in Woodstock. Tuck away from the Main Street as it’s name suggests but it was packed when we were there. Must book to avoid disappointment. Food is amazing served in the tapas style. Just a shame we live so far away as...

Every dish was superb. Lovely lunch, thank you trip advisor hence adding to the reviews. 2 small plates and 3 tapas was perfect for 2

Absolutely superb dining experience with exquisitely presented tapas/small plates, each offering a culinary delight for any foodie. The place was packed when we were there and everyone was clearly enjoying the experience. The portions are generous and it is such a sociable way to eat....

This wonderful restaurant is literally on the "back lane" in Woodstock. The vibe is modern and fun. Many places call themselves a "wine bar", but Back Lane Tavern truly is one. The wine list by the glass is expansive and diverse. The menu is basically...

Great find in Back lane , looks tiny but like a tarsus , friendly . Bar and restaurant. Would recommend. Good pint of Timothy Taylor’s

A very popular pub/restaurant slightly off the beaten track in the centre of Woodstock. We were staying at the nearby Marlborough Arms and it was on their list of places recommended to eat. We booked a table for dinner well in advance of out trip...

We went here with a couple of locals who fortunately knew it was best to book a table! Really great food and excellent service. I think it’s always a good sign when you want to recreate the dishes back home!!

We go often to the back lane tavern and have never been disappointed , from the service which excellent to the choice of wonderful dishes beautifully presented, it’s a great little find and would highly recommend. Martyn

We are visiting the UK and met up here for lunch with old friends. The Tapas menu was something pleasantly different from the average pub/restaurant menu, as plates were small, but very well presented and tasty. We enjoyed ordering various dishes and then sharing. The...

Astonishingly good! A really nice venue with a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, dog-friendly and very relaxed. The staff were friendly, knowledgable and efficient. The food was excellent in its variety and execution - a different flavour on every tooth. Can’t recommend this place...

Outstanding pub in the middle of Woodstock. We ate in the charming garden. The food was superb and the service was just great. We chose a selection of tapas plates and each one was delicious. We agreed it was the best houmous any of us...

We had six different tapas between the two of us and they were all delicious. Prawns and Korean wings particularly good! Good atmosphere and service.

The server was very good initially explaining about mixing two small plates and two large plates between 2 people is usually sufficient but there is no problem if you want to order any more later. This was where the difficulty lay as we never saw...

Great place to go, we were visiting family and popped in for lunch. Lovely friendly staff, particularly our waitress Milly who was so helpful and cheerful. Amazing food, would definitely recommend and will be returning next time we are in Woodstock!

Such a hidden gem! Have seen this place many times walking through Woodstock but always thought it looked a bit quiet from the outside. We were so wrong! The atmosphere in this place is incredible - such fun vibes with amazing staff and delicious food....

This was our last day of our holiday in Oxfordshire so we chose The Back Lane Tavern in Woodstock to have our final dinner and what a great choice this was. Such a buzzing place, great food choices and great service. We have a great...

Sadly this place was fully booked for dinner so we had drinks, the pub is immaculate and staff were friendly and helpful. We will be back next time and will book in advance.... this is a place that isn't on the high street but worth...

What a hidden gem Moment we entered welcomed by pleasent staff, especially Millie you was exceptional as our host couldn't of done more to be helpful.thankyou to lady who brought our food out regarding my husband Parkinson's so helpful. Food was very good was recommended...

Fantastic! Food, drinks, service, ambience was excellent. Shared the tartare, Korean wings, cheese and meats and which we could have eaten more. Will return next time I’m in the area.

Every key attribute of hospitality is scoring highly with customers in this new venue in Woodstock. Combines fine modern British dining with a relaxing and vibrant upmarket pub atmosphere. They also make efforts to bring the community together with various events thus appealing to locals...

One of the best meals my husband and I have ever eaten (and we are foodies!). The sharing portions were an orchestration of flavors that came together to create food magic. When we first walked into the tavern we were greeted by an affable bartender...

Excellent meal as always.great choice on the menu. Staff very attentive. Fully recommend a visit !

A lovely meal with great service. We were able to share lots of small plates giving us all the opportunity to try lots of different dishes, all superb. It has become a favourite eating venue. Thank you.

I had read the reviews, seen photos, heard recommendations... of course I had to find out for myself. I like good food, I've worked in hospitality, I'm no push-over but I do appreciate when something is above the norm. Back Lane Tavern is far far...

On balance, this is a 5. The service is wonderful: young people who want to make sure you have a good, relaxing time at the pub. The atmosphere is excellent; the pub is a bit of a Tardis, with a tidy bar as you come...

We ate on a busy Friday night in April 2023. It looks like a back street pub from the outside, but there is a substantial restaurant at the rear. We had 2 tapas each and shared some fries. The food was great with interesting specials...

The food was delicious and the service was friendly and professional - thanks Mags and Charlotte. We will definitely be back.

Best roast ever! Always love going here but had been recommended the roast by a few friends and it massively lived up to expectations!

The food here is amazing. We were looking for somewhere to have a quick but decent lunch and the reviews for this place looked promising. It did not disappoint. Hats off for the chef. The Vietnamese spring rolls were so delicious I’ll be thinking about...

The service and food were both excellent. Very attentive but not overbearing team served without fuss but with care and gave good advice about the menu options and how much to order. The food itself is extremely tasty particularly the Korean wings and the beans...

Lovely Easter Sunday Lunch. We loved it. The food was great and the staff are fantastic. It is a very friendly place to go.

What’s not to love! This is our favourite local restaurant and it never fails to live up to expectations - Easter Sunday lunch was no exception. Roast dinner was delicious, with extra gravy and all the sauces without having to ask. We often go for...

Arrived table not ready, but we were seated elsewhere to wait with the offer of a free pudding after waiting for 25 minutes. Which we declined, although happy with the offer. They kept checking to ensure we were happy to wait, very attentive. We were...

Amazing place - our favourite place to take our friends and family. The food is divine and the service and atmosphere is first class

Stumbled accidentally across this place, thank goodness we did!! Amazing food, great friendly service… Milly you are a star! Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend, will definitely be back!

Apart from the initial experience where we were ignored the service in the restaurant was exemplary This place was ideal for lunch with a selection of tapas and good ales

This place is amazing. Expect food you haven’t had before in a style that’s unexpected. Order it all. Exceptional chef and service. Thank you.

We had an amazing meal here. Group of 5 of us including meat eaters, pescatarian and vegetarian. Something for everyone and every dish was delicious. I’d particularly recommend the Cornish Hake, chocolate cremeux and triple cooked chips. Even the olives were great. We all agreed...

Really good interesting food , well cooked and served. Not a huge amount of ambiance in the newly built restaurant part of this old pub, but the food made up for this and I would definitely go back.

We popped in for a snack and found the tapas irresistible. We chose the Thai vegetable rolls, the Bhaba Ganoush, the potted crab and the spicy chicken wings. All delicious and beautifully presented by young and friendly staff. It was a wonderful and unexpected find...

I’ve been to the Back Lane Tavern 8-10 times now. It’s a homely pub with lots of lovely touches. The staff are always very friendly and attentive. The Sunday Roasts are incredible! On the weekday the pub has a mixture of tapas dishes. The chicken...