The Bell Restaurant in Cherwell

we have been avoiding this place for a couple of years, but heard the previous useless manager had been dismissed, so we came in for a couple of drinks. we asked to see the menu and a young lad working there wasn't sure where they were and came across as not knowing what his job was all about. the printed menu did turn up but was really tatty and creased around the corners a cheap menu but sky high prices !! the chief a couple of years back was nothing more than a pub cook, reading previous reviews a would imagine its the same second rate pub cook still chancing his luck, with no strong management above him. if I were the owners I would shut the pub and reopen with more investment in qualified staff. until then I think they Will be closing down the restaurant and sending the cook home more regularly than they are doing at the moment. unless of course the owners are a charity for unemployable staff.

As a previous advocate of The Bell, my experience yesterday was beyond belief, having tried to make a booking for lunch on-line (absolute failure) and also calling 18 times over two days ("This person's phone is unavailable" - WHAT???) we decided to take a chance and turn up on spec, what we witnessed was unbelievable, the manager stood berating a party of six in front of us saying that despite them having a booking confirmation it wasn't on his system, and basically he wasn't interested. He then took the same stance with us, saying that he wasn't interested in discussing his obvious system shortcomings and had better things to do. My suggestion is to give this establishment an extremely wide birth until at least the owners have the sense to remove this rude, ignorant bully boy, and provide decent management that put the customer first,

My experience today at The Bell at Hampton Poyle was beyond dreadful. My party of 5 arrived punctually (slightly early) for a lunch booking at 1.30pm. I presented my booking reference and confirmation email for my reservation to be told that it was not on their system. The manager gave no apology, no explanation, and no potentially later booking options. He was extremely brusque, kept repeating that my booking was not on his system, that there was nothing he could do, and that it was not his problem. His manner was rude, offhand, and utterly bewildering. My celebratory lunch was spoiled and I will never return.

This place used to be amazing and I’ve visited for years. We have just had the most appalling aloof service, tasteless food; soufflé undercooked and cold in the centre, young staff who haven’t a clue what they are doing. Never got asked once if we were ok, left with empty glasses the whole meal . When I ordered gin; I was told they didn’t have it in, so I had to point it out in the bar . One young waiter wearing an ear pod , other waitress was a young girl who spent the whole time sat behind reception on her mobile Will never be returning ! £84 lunch - expected so much more

Lovely rooms but not even a bar of soap available. Rooms freezing or boiling. Staff aloof and dismissive. I’m afraid this is no longer of an acceptable standard.

Dined here with friends who suggested coming here last minute. Service wasn’t up to scratch, no one bothered clearing our table and when we wanted to grab the bill it took forever to get anyone’s attention. The staff were not very engaging.Food was okay nothing to write home about, Such a shame as it’s a very pretty pub/restaurant. Won’t return.

Very, very disappointing. We've been to The Bell on numerous occasions but after today would reconsider bringing friends and won't be back for a while. Catastrophically poor service and poor food. We went for Sunday lunch and it was honestly very poor. We waited over nearly an hour for our starters, joking if they were waiting for our prawns to hatch and commit regicide before we could have five king prawns on a skewer. When they finally arrived they were just plain rubbish. Flavourless, weirdly soft (defrosted, refrozen and defrosted again?) and certainly not worth the price. The very young staff deftly avoided eye contact and I had to ask for our main a couple of times. At which point it finally turned up minus the sides we ordered. The board it was served on was cracked. There were penguin stickers stuck to the floor, dirty napkins left on window ledges and really just not worth the money. I was at least hoping the awful starter would be comped but instead a 10% service charge was added. It's been better and hopefully it will be again, but right now it can't possibly be recommended.

Haven’t visited since Jan 2020 Had read the recent reviews but was prepared to give it another go, as really love it for my birthday (though they didn’t know that) Check in was smooth and Majeck (?) was delightful, good start. Room was fabulous (room 1) Dinner was good, food lovely, though staffing is a bit sticky but friendly. Great nights sleep, could not fault the room or location of it. Breakfast was triumphant (cooked by Triena) sooo delicious. I’m so happy we went back (5th time) I realise they are having staffing problems, as are many places in the current climate but would say to upper management, look after the two that made our stay memorable for the right reasons. We will return.

Oh dear. Please train your staff… I’ve been coming to the Bell for more than 10 years, and have loved it and recommended it to all my friends… But not at the moment. Recently there’s clearly been a high staff turnover and the service has been just sad. Every single time I have visited in the last three months I’ve had to get up and walk to the bar to ask for help at least twice because the guys meant to be waiting on us have been too busy playing stuff on their phones to wait on us. That would be fine for a £15 a head Wetherspoons meal, but not here! I’m going again in a couple of weeks and will update if things have improved!

Sunday lunch. A shame we weren't told there was no lamb before the waiter came to take our orders. Dad ordered chicken which came with fries so he asked for proper chips. It came with the unwanted fries and a side order of proper chips. Okay could argue we didn't make it clear, but thought it was obvious. Did get them reluctantly removed from the bill. Love not being rushed, but hate sitting with dirty plates in front of us for way too long. Gave up waiting on a previously ordered glass of wine and went to the bar. Gave up on the latte altogether - it was still on the bill. Ordered 2 cheesecake, 2 spoons delivered, 3 cheesecake arrived, one of which we refused! 3 on the bill and felt it was an uphill struggle to get them to believe we only ordered, ate and would pay for 2. Very nice food but service lacking despite very pleasant staff. Crying out for a maitre d' and better training.

Had Sunday lunch here before and faultless so today very disappointing. Having waited for sometime for someone to greet us we found our own table. ( the only one for 6). Attractive welcoming dining room. Then came the meal......... Snails with garlic butter - no garlic butter. Cheese souffle with apple ,pear and walnut salad. Souffle 10/10 but no sign of pears or apple. Apparently menu changed and now souffle comes with scorched grapes. No sign of scorching on ours. 5 of us had roasts. For £26.50 for roast lamb I expect decent meat. 3 paper thin, overcooked, small slices. Reminiscent of a Findus frozen roast dinner. Beef was the same. Vegetables excellent although had to ask twice for cauliflower cheese, didn't come until half way through meal. Tasty when it came. Delay in mint sauce and horseradish and requested extra gravy never appeared. Long delay for dessert, coffee drinker had his coffee and cup cleared before desserts materialised. Sauce on sticky toffee pudding tepid (lost will to complain further). Chocolate sundae very underwhelming for £8. We raised issues throughout the meal, the young workforce were polite and apologetic but nothing was really addressed. We had been offered one free dessert as recompense for the garlic butter less snails, when the bill came it was still on. The waitress was lovely and took all 3 desserts off the bill but it very much felt like a junior team who were floundering and no-one able to take charge. For the quality they advertise and prices they charge this pre- Christmas family catch-up was a disaster meal-wise.

I have visited the restaurant and hotel several times. I’ve never had reason to complain. Dinner last night was such a disappointment. The food is poor. The southern fried chicken was over cooked musty nonsense. Zero care, poorly trained staff. Frankly it was a huge let down. And expensive!!! Cannot recommend.

Tastefully decorated inside and nice an warm on a chilly evening, welcoming and friendly barman, will definitely return for food.

Headed here for a family celebration. Delicious Sunday lunch enjoyed by all - with fantastic service.

Used this restaurant for years but sadly standards have dropped, unchanging menu, illustrated by the grubby menu cards, fish more batter than fish! Duck arrived lukewarm and had to be returned to the kitchen twice to be heated up to an edible temperature. Staff slow to react it took over 20 minutes for the bill to arrive and had to be chased. Food poor quality and expensive. We will not return

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Bell. Highly recommended! We decided to stay at this beautiful Hotel/Pub due to its close proximity to Blenheim Palace. We were upgraded without asking. The room was spacious, clean, comfortable, bright and airy. We ate at the restaurant and couldn’t fault the food or service. The staff were attentive and couldn’t do enough to ensure our visit was top notch! The breakfast was generous and of a high standard which set us up for our visit to Blenheim Palace. All in all, a lovely experience. Would stay again!

Disappointed with the food, I ordered a roast lamb Sunday lunch, the portions were very small and I have never seen such thinly sliced fatty lamb! Cauliflower cheese was on the menu, however a family member with a dairy allergy was told that cauliflower was...

Booked for an evening meal. Sadly disappointed. The food was nice but not what I expected . Not value for money. Steak with skinny fries and lettuce. ( frozen fries) service good , staff friendly . I would not recommend. Just over priced pub grub.

I have stayed here twice over the last month, and have found the whole experience to be absolutely superb. The staff are very friendly, the food is excellent, and the standard and executive rooms are both brilliant and equipped to a high standard. Strongly recommended.

Great looking website, but the food just does make the grafe. We all had roast beef for £22, I don't think I have ever been served such a thin piece of meat except capriccio! We had 2 of these. In iur local for less miney...

We couldn't get on the website. We wanted to book our place and see the menu but it kept saying website closed.

We stayed here overnight for a birthday treat. First the good, lovely setting, great room with monsoon shower. Food was tasty. However, we waited a while to check in. A girl came over and said, sorry for the wait, we are short staffed. There will...

If I was reviewing this place on just Dinner and staying in the rooms it would be 5 start EASY. However the shambles of breakfast brings that right down. Firstly if you have guests stay over, 8.30 is a pretty late time for breakfast to...

This is the 2nd time we’ve stayed at this lovely hidden gem. everything was just perfect once again, we will definitely stay here again when in the area thanks again.

Staff pleasant. Nice surroundings. Attended for family lunch. Unfortunately the guests who had the Cote de Boeuf were ill with gastro enteritis. Not what you would expect from a main course at £40 per person. I emailed to let them know but obviously it was...

This pub/ restaurant has a pleasant rural feel despite its proximity to Oxford. There was a good selection of wines by the glass. Unfortunately they had run out of goat’s cheese but the menu was varied, the food nicely cooked and the service prompt. We...

A Monday evening for a meal out with friends at this venue was a perfect choice. The ambiance and country setting made it peaceful and easy to relax. Unfortunately 2 of us wanted the plaice but there was only one left. A brilliant suggestion from...

The food is good, had the hummus to start which was good and steak frites which was very good. However, the service was so quick we barely had time to finish a course when they were wanting to clear, they need to let people enjoy...

My family and I had a delicious Sunday lunch at the Bell. Service was efficient and friendly, there was a good selection of beers on tap and the children (10 and 7) were well catered for. I started with snails (great to see these on...

Over the past 12 years I have been a regular visitor to what was one of the best pubs with accommodation you could find. The owner George's attention to detail made the pub with rooms and restaurant an amazing experience and it was very difficult...

This was one of the worst experiences of customer service I have ever ever had. We were staying at the pub (nice rooms) and booked dinner for the evening. We arrived downstairs 11 minutes late for our table. The manager (I believe his name is...

What an amazing place to stay with my 4 fave people for a long awaited celebration ... beautiful room, fab food and very friendly staff, particularly Matthew and Olivia ... so polite and nothing too much trouble although we may been especially at brekkie .....

Small room, well furnished,but so hot. I thought it was underfloor heating, but on requesting it to be turned off the following day I was informed that the floor and room was hot because we were situated above the kitchen. They said that is why...

I have eaten at this restaurant 3 or 4 times and has been excellent. However this evenings visit was a huge disappointment. Firstly there was no Gentleman's lunch ss they had no rare roast beef. So my partner chose steak frites which was very good....

This used to be a lovely place to eat but has gone down hill badly. Food ok but the pub still has lost attention to detail. Feels un looked after, staff are very unbothered and rush the meal. The toilets were broken and smelly. They...

Lunch with friends turned into a long one hour wait, followed by an appalling tirade by the manager. Time to find trained staff. Food reasonable.

I stayed with a group of friends in July. I was given a room within the outer building which on first glance looked great, very quaint. However after going into the room, I could see over 8 spiders in the room and the carpet didn't...

My husband and I use to adore eating at the Bell. The food was always amazing, the staff were always friendly, attentive and WELL TRAINED, and the atmosphere was alway welcoming. Oh how this place has changed, and not in a good way! No wonder...

Saturday at 3 pm . No welcome. The barmaid absolutely not interested in our business . Blently told us no food until 6pm what a shame in 2022. All and all extremely disappointing.

Booked for Sunday lunch on recommendation and very glad we did. Friendly greeting , shown to table without delay. Well looked after by very efficient staff. Starters of Twice baked cheese soufle with poached pear, which was light as air. Absolutely perfect but could have...

Visited for Sunday lunch for a birthday with a large family group, 6 adults and 3 children altogether. Staff were very friendly and accommodating to intolerances (one gluten and one dairy). Food came promptly and was very nice. Nice to have a room to ourselves...

Food was okay but nothing wowed us. Some of the flavour combinations were odd. Service was disorganised and a little slow. Staff didn't seem to know the menu or drinks options. A member of our party asked what bitters they had and she listed a...

We visited for my sisters birthday. There were 10 of us including my 11 month old baby. The positives were the food! Everyone enjoyed their meals and food was delicious. The negatives were the slightly slow service. We had to chase them a couple of...

As a change to the usual fare offered by the service areas on the M40, we decided to head towards Oxford to find somewhere for lunch. We followed the signs for The Bell at Hampton Poyle and it's quite a distance from the motorway but...

Nicely appointed foodie pub. Extensive menu so plenty of choice, decent portion size. Attentive service.

Lunch today for 4 of us. Eaten here several times before, BUT never again. Terrible slow service Wife eventually ordered Cheese Souffle Starter and Mushroom Risotto as main course. Souffle was very disappointing - hard crust and very dry. Within couple of hours she was...

We were recommended The Bell for an overnight stay and dinner with a supplier. Three of us stayed and all had a great experience all round. Great rooms and a good sleep! Nice bar area and an excellent dinner. Would definitely recommend and use again for business and private stays. Staff brilliant- led by Ed with great support from Honor, Bruno and Marta. All round a splendid place.

Village gastro pub, just off A34 going up to M40. Handy for pit stop! Friendly. Large car park. Contemporary decor ie not faux rustic. Party of 13. Service and staff friendly and efficient. Food wholesome. Plates well covered! Desserts very nice. Go on. Forget diet. second visit. Standards maintained. Will visit again.

This was my second visit and last visit. The food was ok definitely not as good as our first experience but omg the service was slow in half empty restaurant. While some would have liked dessert we didn’t have another hour to wait.

Booked a table for Sunday lunch. I had checked before on their website and although they didn’t have a childrens menu they said something like they were happy to make smaller plates for children so I assumed children would be welcome. On arrival we discovered they didn’t have any high hairs. There was also a very passive aggressive sign about well behaved children who were willing to sit and enjoy the atmosphere being welcome. I’m the end we left before ordering food. As it was very clear children were not welcome there but this had not been clear from their website.

7 of us stayed here for a night for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is cosy and comfortable with fantastic service and food. The hotel rooms are a perfect blend of country and modern style and extremely comfortable and spacious with all the amenities. I can't fault a single thing about our stay or our meal. Matt the General Manager runs a great operation there and seems to be very proactive and involved in the guest experience himself which is great to see. 5 stars and we will return

Always a pleasure to visit. Staff are welcoming, friendly and attentive. Service is amazing. An outstanding establishment, always clean with a lovely atmosphere. Food is excellent, all freshly cooked and a varied menu which caters for all tastes.Visited with friends for lunch and would highly recommend a visit. You will not be disappointed. We will be back soon, thank you for a fabulous Lunch

We have recently visited this lovely establishment and decided it would be prefect to book for my Mother-in-Laws 80th birthday. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful, including adding a personalised “Happy Birthday” decoration to her desert. A small but wonderfully thoughtful addition, which was was greatly appreciated. The food was excellent and the whole experience, memorable and I am already looking forward to our next visit.

Wow, what a wonderful surprise. This isn’t just a regular village pub!The accommodation was beautifully decorated, spacious and spotlessly clean. The bed was huge & very comfortable.The evening meal was exceptional. Gorgeous produce, perfectly cooked, all served with stunning presentation.The cooked breakfast wasn’t at all greasy. Plenty on the breakfast menu to choose from, all freshly prepared to order.Would definitely recommend.

Long Weekend in Oxford and lucky for us , this visit was at the end of our stay rather than at the beginning. We showed up on the off chance at 6pm on Sunday 5th December. We waited a while to be be seen and then finally begrudgingly was given a table. We were only planning on having drinks but we thought because the staff gave us a table begrudgingly we would try the food. The place we were staying at recommended this pub but we are going to ask them to take it off not for the food or the place but the sheer and rudd customer service on the Sunday night. We could hear the chef effing and blinding from where we were sitting near the bar . This was constantly and what makes it worse was that there was children on the premises. I asked for a mulled wine and it was €4.50 and tasted like luke warm juice no fruit or spices for that price where I have a bottle from sainsburys for a fiver which is a million times nicer. At no point at all were we asked if we wanted another drink or asked how the food was and I am sorry this is really basic customer service . I have had better in KFC!!! We decided that although we could have had a more drinks there , we didn't want to give the staff anymore or our money. We didn't eat all of our pizza and took it away to eat it at home in a more friendly and relaxing atmosphere. I hope you train your staff better on how to speak to the staff instead of making it truly uncomfortable and awkward. Instead of hearing them discuss amongst themselves on how expensive his Xmas trip was to London. I truly hope you actually work on this and actually make customers actually feel they are wanted there rather than an annoyance as the food is actually ok. Hope other customers have better service than we did tonight and it was just the wrong staff. When I come back to Oxford I won't come back here!!!

We spent a night at the Bell in a very spacious and comfortable room - also had a huge ensuite with a fabulous shower! We arrived around lunchtime so had a light lunch in the restaurant - beautifully soft strips of chicken fillet in a crispy coating served with an Asian slaw. Lovely. Dinner that evening was also excellent. We both had twice-baked cheese soufflé as a starter with a pear and walnut salad which was delicious. We also had the same main course - loin of venison with a haunch and blackberry crumble. The venison loin was beautifully cooked and the haunch meat in the crumble fell apart but the crumble as a whole was a little dry. However a request for extra gravy was quickly fulfilled and that provided the necessary moisture. We shared a pudding of a Scottish style tiramisu which was enjoyable but needed a little more whisky for my taste! All the staff were friendly and very efficient - particular mention goes to Lauren who took great care of us in the restaurant. We have been looking for a place for a nice getaway and this is it for us. We will definitely be back!

First time at The Bell at Hampton Poyle and certainly wasn't disappointed. Discovered the restaurant via the Michelin Guide website, my wife and I enjoyed a delicious lunch in an inviting and warm setting. Great service, excellent food, which didn't blow the budget. We'll definitely be back to sample more of the menu.

Dinner with friends 4 of us in all. Lovely place, very short on parking spaces, we had to park 100 yards down the road.I had the pigeon to start which is served with a sweet purée, overall I thought the dish was a little bland and not rich deep dark flavour which you would normally associate with pigeon. Soup and prawns were very nice apparently.Rib eye & the burger was very good, unfortunately I ordered hake with a mixed bean cassoulet. The fillet of hake is a lovely thick fillet, unfortunately I thought it was a little overcooked and very dry. The was no mixed bean cassoulet, I counted 4 beans in all! There was just a lot of chorizo and some chopped tomatoes. Overall a very bland dish which was not served as the menu says.Dessert the waiter forgot to put our order through so after 20 minutes when we were told we cancelled the desserts had a coffee and left. Not the end of the world and I felt for the waiter. Probably didnt help that 3 different staff looked after us throughout the night so sometimes we got 2 check backs or had to collar another member of staff for a drink. I always think it’s better to have 1 member of staff deal with a particular table.Wine was great! Nice place, we’ll give it another go Maby we were unlucky!

After having our first restaurant booking cancelled unfortunately due to covid at The Bell, we finally got to sample the food today, Sunday. Really warm welcome, bottle of champagne at the bar and shown to our table. Really friendly polite and attentive service from the off. We ordered grilled prawns to start x two, plus a burata. These were good size portions and Really tasty. The prawn come with a light mayo and zingy sweet and sour sauce too. For mains it was threw roasts, one lamb and two pork, and a fish and chips. The meals were lovely, huge portions, lovely side of cauli cheese included. And a nice flavour too. So often you get lots of food badly cooked, or very little qell done, here it's great size well done.We had a couple of desserts as all so full. It's a great place. Relaxed setting, no rush to get you out, great food, friendly staff. If we lived locally this would be our go to, but at least its not far from bicester village for a shop till you drop, then food and drink at The Bell.Enjoy

Delicious food, lovely restaurant and very pleasant team. We were in a private room for 6 and felt a tad forgotten about a few times, but hey, the good FAR outweighs the not so good. We will certainly return and would highly recommend The Bell. Thank you all so much.

Been here a couple of times and both times the welcome, the service and the food has been great. The food was fresh, hot and tasty. Nothing was too much trouble and all in all a great experience from start to finish.

I work in travel so i know how hard covid has hurt the industry but there is a way to speak to customers that this hotel obviously doesn't agree with... I booked the hotel months ago for a trip to the Horse trials including expensive hospitality and 24 hours before arrival i am told its closed at midnight on the day we arrive for a week... The rude manager (As detailed below) Matthew said it was due to covid and brexit and didnt have to tell me why it was closed. When i asked more he then said it was covid for a week which i have to be honest i dont believe but he also wouldnt tell me when my refund would be processed because even though its booked on their website its not "their responsibility". Terrible customer service from them and extremely disappointing way to treat customers especially a day before travelling down to an area that is of course fully booked.....

The Bell at Hampton Poyle . My partner and I stayed at the hotel at the Bell for three nights. It was our first trip away from home since lockdown and it was a real treat. The general manger was a very affable man called Matthew and he simply couldn't have been more helpful than if the establishment was his own home or business. The room was very comfortable and the breakfasts were prepared and delivered promptly to perfection. We ate there one evening out of the three as we had other commitments and the food was delicious. The steaks were prepared from aged beef and the pizzas were perfect. The big surprise albeit well deserved was that the establishment had a 5 star rating from both the RAC and English Tourist Board. I say surprise because ordinarily one wouldn't believe that there could be such a high accolade available to a country hotel. I realise that this sounds like a negative comment , but that is not my intention at all. I'd thoroughly recommend this hotel restaurant to all visitors whether it is for a meal or a stay. It is well situated to visit Blenheim Palace or the Park and Ride to Oxford City centre. The nearest Park and Ride to the Bell is Parkway but the buses are infrequent compared to those buses that depart from Pear Tree Park and Ride which is a little further but has more frequent buses running.

Excellent food and service .As a hotelier I find it amazing that any gratuity paid on card is still kept by greedy boss!!!

An excellent meal in a convivial environment. Six of us lunched here on August 25. Particularly noteworthy were the cheese soufflé, cold roast beef and chocolate mousse. Maincourse portions are very generous. The pub is divided into various rooms and areas which add to the homely feel of the place.The service and welcome were warm, friendly and efficient. We shall be back.

We have stayed here previously, tried to return just prior to COVID restrictions and were forced to cancel, but decided to use The bell again as a stay over and meal prior to a wedding in the area.We booked the same room that we stayed in before, and although I appreciate that the hospitality industry suffered very much during the pandemic, I was a little surprised to see how much standards had actually dropped.Don't get me wrong, the staff were outstanding, and as welcoming as before. The food, although a tad on the pricey side, was also OK, but my main gripe was down to lack of attention to detail.The room was very tired - and had not been decorated or 'touched up' since our last visit. There were spiders and cobwebs in the room, the TV had been isolated and would not turn on - this was rectified, but even the member of staff who did sort it, could not understand how the switch at the rear had been turned off. Trust me, I am not a technophobe, but he had to almost remove the TV off the wall in an attempt to get the power on - admittedly, this could have been turned off by a previous guest, but surely this should be checked when the rooms are cleaned and checked. The extractor fan in the bathroom was caked in dust and I would suggest had not been cleaned or dusted for a number of years - if each room needs to be deep cleaned at changeover, then I suggest new housekeeping staff are employed or the existing are retrained to bring up to what most guests would expect in the current climate.The final insult to our stay was that there was no hot water for a shower - a very basic necessity on the day of a wedding!!!We did leave our feedback form at reception, along with the key, but a total stay of 1 night at a cost of £265 was very disappointing. Breakfast was included in the price, but as we were un-showered and had to find somewhere to wash prior to the wedding, we declined.

Visited with a friend for lunch (recommended by him). Overall, I was happy with the experience. Food (Duck pizza - different!) was nice and well presented. Staff were efficient. Some menu items overpriced. As this pub is 15 miles from home and ‘off the beaten track’ I don’t think I’d bother coming back as I believe that there is better within a few miles of here.

Sunday lunch !! I’ve been a few times to eat at The Bell and I’ve not been disappointed.It was a bit of a crappy day weather wise and we fancied a Roast.Attentive staff and a generous roast. Lovely….Puddings were delicious and overall it’s on the expensive side but the food is delicious.

I really am taken aback at how rude, confrontational & arrogant the Manager Matthew was along with the standard of food we received that day. I’m sure the owner George Dailey, who I’ve met a few times in the pub & a nice chap would be thoroughly disappointed to hear about the attitude of his pub manager who’s way of interacting with customers has left such a bitter taste in mouth’s who probably will not return for quite some time. We stopped off for lunch after a walk as we only live round the corner. I ordered two starters to have instead of a main course (£9 Southern fried Chicken with Asian Slaw & garlic dip along with £9.50 Tuna Tataki with a Ponzu sauce). Sounds great but what a disappointment! The 3 slices of sorry looking soggy tuna arrived splattered on the plate & still swimming but in the the Ponzu (citrus soy sauce). The result - instead of tasting the tuna, which is what you’re paying £9.50 for, you get a mouthful of Ponzu sauce which just gives you a nice salt burn on your tongue after a few attempts at making yourself believe it’s edible. I managed half a slice of tuna before giving up. The Southern fried chicken was alright, pretty tasteless & something you could buy from the frozen section of a supermarket for a fraction of the price to be honest. The “Asian” slaw was just again covered in their Ponzu sauce which made it not edible. The waiter came over & I explained this to him. He was brilliant, he apologised, asked if I wanted the tuna without the sauce. I said it was okey I just won’t have it. He took the tuna away & again was very apologetic (great customer service from him). 5 minutes later Mathew the manager stomped over & started by saying “I hear there is a problem with the food” in a confrontational manner in-front of other customers. I explained politely & apologetically myself & his response was, “that’s how it’s meant to be, Ponzu is the style of cooking where it’s meant to be salty & covered in the sauce” (…not true). He went on to say that our “normal customers know what Ponzu is & it’s advertised on the menu as having a Ponzu dressing” which I replied “that’s true but it doesn’t say it’s absolutely covered in the stuff!”I think Mathew is just as read up on Japanese cuisine as I, which isn’t much. I’ve had a chance to read about it. There isn’t such a thing as Ponzu style cooking, it’s literally just a citrus soy sauce you can add to any Japanese dish as a condiment or dipping sauce (you can borrow this info Mathew to make yourself sound more graceful to the next customers). At the table I was trying to explain there was no balance in the dish, it just tasted of salt & soy sauce. The manager wasn’t taking anything I said on board & was becoming more confrontational in his replies in-front of other customers as well, which was awkward & embarrassing for all parties involved. He just kept repeating it’s the style of Ponzu (you could tell even under his mask he was trying to wing this one! After a couple of minutes of now trying to argue with me he said “I’ll take the dish of the bill, just this time” & he again stomped off. We waited another 15 minutes for the bill but it didn’t show up so I went inside to get the bill. I wanted to see the manager one last time before we left to try & calmly explain how dissatisfied I was with the way he handled the situation & the quality of the service. I started by saying “I see where you’re coming from by saying it’s the style of cooking but just because it says it comes with the sauce doesn’t mean it’s wrong of me to say there is too much sauce. This time the reply was “well this is our take on Ponzu style cooking & if your taste buds don’t like it it’s not our problem. I’ve sent out over 400 of these covers & you’re the first one to complain” (doubtful)! I left by saying I think the way you have spoken to me & dealt with this situation is very poor, I won’t be coming back for quite some time, which saddens me as this used to be a nice place with a great little atmosphere close to home. What I witnessed on that particular day was poor quality food, at prices that don’t match & with a manager with: to quote from Come Dine With Me “The grace of a reversing dump truck without any tyres on”. I really hope the owner has a quiet word with the manager or finds a more suitable person to do the job who might be more of a natural at it because he is going to give The Bell a poor reputation very quickly. It used to have a great female manager & team who made you feel welcome along with nice food. Let’s hope it gets back to that standard at some point soon.

The manager of this very attractive country pub seriously needs to pay attention to his customer relations. We witnessed him being aggressive and contentious with a customer who had remarked saying " his meal was so salty with soya sauce dressing that he could not eat it." An accompanying salad was also liberally doused in soya sauce.We have witnessed the standards of this pub steadily decline over the past years obviously still trying to rely entirely on it's past reputation.The main course salads ,costing nearly £17 ,are sparse with their ingredients consisting of mainly salad leaves the main ingredients looking more like a garnishes than anything else.What a great pity when this place has so much potential. Becoming a place you only visit once then never again!

Lovely find, great mid week meal in lovely surroundings. Can’t wait to go back to try more of the menu.

Just loved The Bell, the rooms were luxurious spacious, the bed soft and pillows to melt into . Lovely bathroom toiletries and nice touches with the drinks tray. We stayed just the one night to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and indulged with a delicious three course meal. I would recommend the crispy chicken coated in The Bells own recipe, yum!The staff were knowledgeable and guided us through the menu, the manager was lovely really friendly and nothing too much trouble.

A lovely summer evening spoiled by a confrontation with an aggressive manager over my complaining that the crisps served with my pint were stale. He refused to accept this, said he would SELL me another pack and that I could leave If I was not happy. Subsequently a waiter came out from the bar offering several packs free, and said the manager was tired after a long day, but the damage was done. He had plenty of opportunity to apologize in person but preferred to leave it to his staff. Shan’t be going back for a while. Shame.

Took 2 people to lunch today. I did expect a limited menu which was fine. 2 of us ordered Monkfish Tails priced at £23.50 but only whe we ordered were we told that it was Cod Loin instead. we agreed to have the Cod but I was expecting a reduction on the bill.When the Cod arrived we both found it to be very bland. We told the waitress when she collected the plates & when She returned we were offered a free sweet which we did receive.When I received the bill I had been charged the full price. We told the waitress that we had expected a reduction on the bill but none was offered.When I arrived there was no NHS Covid check in.I will not go there again.

I can’t fault the food at the Bell, it’s very well presented and delicious. The reason I am marking low is because of the complete lack of Covid Secure precautions. My friend and I had supper there a week ago and arrived and were shown to a table in the middle of the pub. We were not asked to scan anything nor to provide contact details. The room became quite stuffy and I asked for a window to be opened, it was, but was closed again only 5 minutes later. We were in a stuffy room, with no fresh air with approx 30-50 people around us. Really poor I’m afraid. I do hope this review encourages them to improve their precautions.

As someone who has to be careful with this virus I was surprised to see the same narrow entrance being used as entrance & exit. However, the temperature checking, the QR code, & the hand gel all good signs, although 2 of our party of 4 did not have their temperature checked. It was absolutely packed which was nice to see that people are supporting them. The drinks were very slow coming, we had to remind them when people who came in 15 minutes after us got their drinks before us. The food however is another level. Amazing food, a picture on a plate and tastes as delicious as it looks. Had to remind them about my potatoes, but when they came they were so tasty. Couldn’t make my mind up what to choose so will have to go again to try some of the other great dishes. Fabulous food a must to eat there.

Popped in here for lunch one Friday. The food was superb. My husband had a pizza and I had a burger which were both excellent and the sticky toffee pudding I had for dessert was one of the best o have ever had. The pub has a lovely cosy ambience and the tables are well spaced for social distancing. Definitely plan to go back.

My partner and I visited on a whim whilst on a midweek break in Stanton st John just yesterday. We arrived for lunch at around 1pm and what a choice that was!!! We both ordered the exact same (8oz fillet) which was absolutely incredible! I myself have never experienced such a beautifully cooked steak in all of my life. The food is to die for and I highly recommend that anyone who enjoys food as much as I do to visit!! Superb choice and outstanding food. 10/10

Amazing boutique hotel, with fabulous staff, wonderful food & great rooms!From the moment we arrived we were greeted by 2 very polite gentlemen. Shown to our room, which was very clean, white bedding & towels, cookies waiting for us on the tea tray! Drinks on the patio were very enjoyable, dinner was an absolute joy, my husbands venison was cooked to perfection! Great choice of breakfast options, I decided to have the avocado with sour dough, rocket & tomatoes, great choice! We will most definitely return. Thank you for looking after us

Beautifully designed. Lovely ambience. Fabulous menu and food. Definitely worth finding this lovely country restaurant and stopping for a tasty meal.

Saturday night stay after a day shopping with the wife at Bicster. Stayed in room number 2 in the main building. Fantastic room with the most comfortable bed and wonderful shower. Couldn't fault the room. Ate in the pub on the evening and again really enjoyed my steak, and my wife's pizza was also delicious. Great breakfast set us up for another walk round bicster 10mins away. Wonderful find and we will be back. Lastly, best pint I have had of Timothy Taylor landlord for a long time.

Family party of 14 very well looked after, we did pre-order so we all had our meals served together. Excellent food and service in a very pleasant ambience. Not the cheapest place but worth spending the money for a special occasion which was enjoyed by all.Are not particularly geared up for children with no specific menu which can then become very expensive, £6 for 2 scoops of ice cream!

Stayed for 1 night in Bell Cottage and ate in the pub/restaurant. Excellent stay, lovely furnished rooms and of high spec. The food menu is varied. Chefs are obviously talented and serve lovely food. Good drinks selection. Friendly service.Great location. Near bus stop for Oxford and route 51 National cycle route close by. Perhaps have some bike racks to store bike’s away. Well done for keeping such high standards.

Pizza and prawns and the Tuna all cooked to perfection- attentive yet discreet service and appropriate attention to the Covid 19 rules made for a very very enjoyable evening- never the cheapest but the service and quality well worth the money

So pleased to see they have Covid protection sorted completely. It made a comfortable evening for us. The food was fantastic, the service attentive but unobtrusive. Overall a wonderful evening

This delightful gastropub was recommended to me and it's obvious why. Food is tasty, menu is extensive, lovely atmosphere in the stylishly furnished interior and great service by very friendly and welcoming staff.

We all know the Bell isn't the cheapest pub in the world, so when my friends saw it was taking part in the Eat Out to Help Out gov scheme we quickly booked a table for dinner, and YES we're so glad we did. A warm and welcoming pub, with excellent staff and delicious food. I wasn't sure on which starter to pick, and the very lovely GM, Matt, let us try the tuna tataki on the house (what a bloke). Both starts, tuna and prawns, were 10/10. I followed this with the duck main which was perfectly cooked. The waiting staff were SO kind. We were served by two women, whose names we didn't get unfortunately, but they were so friendly and warm, offering advice on the menu and were happy to have a chat too. Nice bottle of wine, good service, lovely food - you can't go wrong. Loved it so much, I've booked to go back with my family in a week.

Stayed here for the weekend & ate here both Friday & Saturday nights. Much busier the second night, booking recommended. Had starters (enormous, especially the terrine) and pizzas the first night. Superb, great value. Second night went with olives & bread to start then fillet steak & plate of cold beef respectively for mains. Terrific. Lots of good quality wine by the glass. Staff very aware of post-lockdown hygiene processes but not walking round in hazmat outfits that make you feel you are in a sci-fi movie. The front of house staff are very good, understand what hospitality is about.

Often call in here for a few pints of real ale which is kept superbly and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Thank you to to team especially during these difficult times.

8 walking friends met for Sunday lunch here in early February. We had a lovely table in a separate area behind the bar. Everyone enjoyed their food very much - Sunday roasts excellent, fish and seafood options all very good too - only one minor niggle from some about undercooked vegetables. Service was excellent with friendly and attentive staff, especially the young girl who looked after our table. Liked it so much that we booked again to go back in April, sadly not to be due to Covid-19, but we will be back when they re-open.

The Bell at Hampton Poyle is a lovely place to stay if you want to visit Oxford and it's surrounding areas. It's situated only 5 minutes from the city's Peartree park and ride, in a very seculded beautiful small village. Lovely if you don't want the corporate hotel chain experience or the hustle and bustle of the city centre. The rooms are of a high quality, the staff are really nice and friendly, but the food is the star here. We had dinner, and breakfast which were both very good, especially the breakfast. The location is also great for visits to Blenheim palace, the Cotswolds, and a walk along the Oxford canal nearby is well worth a try, there are some hidden gems around here, try Thrupp.

We ordered the cote de boeuf after being tempted at all our other visits to the bell. But with the hefty cost had put it off until now. The beef was absolutely delicious and did not disappoint, perfectly cooked and full of flavour! Unfortunately we were served almost raw vine tomatoes which had barely seen the inside of the oven which when paying £35 each and it stating confit tomatoes on the menu was disappointing, also no sign of the chive and shallot butter, we mentioned this to the waiter who didn’t have much to say. The beef was perfect and the chips were good but the sides were disappointing with such an expensive dish. Also never great to receive a dish not as described on the menu and with no explanation from the wait staff. Then to charge £2 for bernaise sauce felt like a real liberty in all honesty.

Went for a team lunch, the service was great and the food was even better. Lovely rest ingredients and large portions. Absolutely lovely place for a warm cosey pub lunch.

Not many people in Hampton Poyle on the last Wednesday of the month for Lunch. But that suited us. Excellent Lunch with attentive service in quiet but beautiful surroundings. Inventive menu. I had Soup of the Day, Celeriac, and it was excellent, followed by Pheasant Stroganoff (now those aren't two words you see on a menu together often) and it was a very generous portion. Good glass of Malbec, and I had good company. In fact it was a v good lunch

Great atmosphere and food, a real class act. Open plan kitchen, immaculate interior and great bar. If you are looking for a very cheap Sunday lunch that has been in the microwave this is not in the pub for you.

My husband and I plus another couple stayed to see New Year in. What a fabulous time we had. Accommodation was lovely and comfortable. Food delicious and staff so friendly and helpful. Our friends had the disabled room which required by husband. Was exactly right for them and staff so helpful when they arrived. Helping wife to get everything to room. They were thrilled with all and we all will be going back. Highly recommend. .

We just spent a fab 2 nights at the Bell with our friends. We had a couple of excellent meals and great rooms plus the breakfasts are superb. What an enjoyable time.

We enjoyed a pleasant stay at The Bell to celebrate my partners birthday. When we checked in we were upgraded to a larger room as they noticed how tall my partner is, which was much appreciated. Our room was nice and comfortable with a large bathroom with a shower, it would have been lovely to have a bath though. The toiletries that are provided are natural and from Italy.The pub is located close to Oxford and we decided to take the bus in when we arrived. The bus stops right outside the hotel and it only takes about 15 minutes to get into the centre of Oxford, ideal! We had dinner here too and the food was good and the staff were pleasant, especially the French lady.The cooked breakfast was good too, although the service wasn't the best in the morning (a completely different experience to dinner). We would definitely stay here again as, not only is it close to Oxford, but also near Blenheim palace and Bicester village.

This was our first ever Christmas Day lunch, eating out at a restaurant and The Bell delivered on every level. Having eaten at The Bell on several occasions previously and having had great food here before we were hoping that Christmas Day would not be any different. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left we were treated to a lovely experience. The service was great, we were not rushed one tiny bit, which gave us time for chat and table games between courses. The food was excellent, hot and well presented, with additional touches including appetisers and a glass of champagne on arrival as well as the obligatory mince pie with our coffee at the end of the meal. An extremely enjoyable afternoon, thankyou. We are definitely converts to eating Christmas lunch out and will be back soon to enjoy everything that The Bell has to offer!

Had lunch and Bnb, wonderful tasty lunch. Vey friendly staff. We had a really sweet room which is separate from the main pub. The room was charming and very comfortable. However it was small with a low ceiling, fine for us but tall people may find this a problem. Has a delicious breakfast. Best of all just a few miles outside Oxford and a fraction of the price of staying in central Oxford.