The Black Boy Pub and Restaurant in Oxford

Amazing food! The salmon fillet is fantastic! Cant fault the service either, everytime I have been they have been so accommodating and helpful! Will be coming more often!

Absolutely great food until there was hire in our food that put a big stop on us eating but unfortunately we just felt we had to leave

Had a pint that was off, which isn't a problem in itself, but the reaction from the management was awful. The person in charge was verbally abusive under their breath, and refused to accept their drink smelt and tasted like vinegar

Gorgeous location 5/5 Service was very poor. Rude manager. Asked 3 times for waters. Our food order was taken by 2 different wait staff and there was a “printer error” so it never got placed. When we finally got food, it was delicious!

Very hospitable, beautiful old pub! Well priced food and drinks. The only downside is that there are no disabled access toilets despite online stating that it is disabled access.

Really cute room with excellent bathroom and comfortable bed. Service was good, the chef didn’t turn up for morning breakfast but the lady running front of house made sure everyone was fed efficiently. Will stay here again.

Gastro pub vibes in a corner of old Headington. Very nice building and nicely decorated. Has a little snug which is good for a drink and a larger central room, next to a separate and more formal dining area. Not eaten here so my review is just abut the experience of having a drink there. Generally ok selection of beer/ale/wine. Quite a formal vibe and usually a bit quiet in the afternooon but that’s fine for me (but can sometimes feel like you’re the only one there). I go back often. A bit on the pricey side which is why it’s not a 5*.

In a quiet little area, nice little village vibes to walk through. Food was good. Drink choices plenty and non alcoholic options too. Was quiet for a Saturday lunch. Unable to comment re rooms.

Went for a meal with some colleagues - starter came at an okay time but it took 1hr15mins for our main meals to come so by the time we were eating it was 9pm. A few tables sat down after us, and even when they finished their food, ours still hadn't arrived. There was no update and we had to ask the waiters/waitresses because we had no idea when/if the food was coming! Supposedly there was an error in the kitchen as well so one of our friend's meal came later, though thankfully not too much later. Staff were very apologetic, but there was no compensation like taking the drinks off the bill or something.

Very lovely staff and great food, very pleasant garden and the staff were kind enough to also bring water for our dogs.

The lady welcomed myself & partner for lunch. They had a young girl waitress whom was very efficient & pleasant. Food & drinks served promptly and was very nice. Also thought we got good value for money & it's such a beautiful location, definitely be back again.

45mn to be served for 2 coca-colas and 1 glass of white wine... I can't believe that is a 3 stars place.

Where did the name originate from ? , I'm concerned with that .why the black boy ? I saw this all over TV ,I'm definitely sending critics and people to see why the name it's a bit disturbing.

Stayed one night here. What a lovely welcoming place. The owner and all of her staff were so kind, friendly, helpful and polite. Lovely evening meal and breakfast, with lots of choices to cater for all tastes. Room was clean, cosy, comfortable, quiet with everything you need toiletries, fan, fluffy towels, tea/coffee making facilities ... off street parking. easy access to city centre by bus from top of road. would thoroughly recommend this venue

Friendly and efficient bar staff. Delicious food and good portions. Lovely garden hidden away from the busy road. Highly recommended.

First of all I want to make clear I did speak with someone about our issues at the time, was assured by her she would speak to her manager (I didn't request this she said she had to) and then the next morning on checkout she hadn't had a chance which is fine so took my number and after 4 days never received a call. If they had bothered to contact me I probably wouldn't be writing this but they didn't so here's my honest experience. Room was good, comfy and clean and only issue was there was just a small desk fan which was insufficient considering the temperatures outside, otherwise happy with the room. We didn't eat here we went to the White Hart down the road which was 10/10 and would highly recommend. There was a group who had booked at the black boy for 8:15 and when we were sat in the bar one of the party came to ask when someone was coming to take the order and the blonde lady behind the bar told him the kitchen was closed, it was 8:30..he was very calm and obviously disappointed at why this wasn't communicated (very good question!) to which he received a very backhanded apology. The customers left without showing any anger or upset and the blonde lady behind the bar decided to complain to her colleague about them in front of us. Her attitude was incredibly unprofessional on all levels. When we got a second round of drinks we were told they "can't make a vodka martini" which is interesting because the lady behind the bar had to go back and ask the infamous blonde lady who told her she cant make one despite seeing all the ingredients behind the bar! Unfortunately the attitude of the same lady continued the next day and at breakfast she didn't fill our water (there were glasses laid on the table) and when my partner asked for juice she never thought to ask me if I wanted some also, just ignored me. Every time over our stay it just seemed that no one wanted to be working there and they didn't care about the customers. I really hope management see this and make some changes. I wonder if my number was ever passed on...the initial question i had, (not even a complaint!) was if they could re-do my payment as their card machine had 2 options for currency and charged me a 4% fee which if the staff had told me correctly which one to click I could have avoided.

Had dinner in the pub. Excellent food, compliments to the chef!

We travelled with friends for anniversary and stayed on a Saturday night. Good base to visit Oxford from bus a short walk away. We ate in restaurant food and service excellent. Thank you Rea for the service

Hey would love to come here it’d be my local however I feel uncomfortable about the name maybe it should be changed

Really enjoyed Sunday lunch on Father’s Day at the Black Boy today. Thank you!!

I’ve just purchased the two most expensive soda waters ever! I’m shocked and queried it! £7.50 confirmed as correct! Wow! I dread to think how much an alcoholic drink is!

I like my linguini and cheese board. Staff is friendly and helpful

Celebrated my birthday here yesterday and it was great! The food is fantastic and the staff are lovely. Hoping I can celebrate here every year. Big thank you to Katie who helped organise it!

The interior is nice but drink was a bit pricey. £4.45 for small orange juice lemonade.

Great food, prices and easy parking in an out-of-the-way quiet road in Old Headington.

Short bus ride into Oxford great staff nice rooms excellent food bar closed a little early,perhaps still a little early in the season. Great breakfast

I had a delicious butchers pie. It took a while for it to come out buy the quality of the dish was so good that my hunger instantly melted. Would recommend this place for a good salad, burger, or the pie I ate. They also have some cheese boards which I didn't get to try but they looked rather good. The menu prices are a little high but that's probably because they hand make everything.

Very nice accommodation with great service. The breakfast and dinner were absolutely delicious and very well prepared with great attention to detail. The accommodation offers a small backyard where you can end the evening with a delicious drink. The room offers everything you need.

After hearing great things about this pub we were very disappointed after what was a comical Sunday lunch service. We were greeted in a pleasant manner and from there it just went downhill. The young male waiter we had seemed to be new to the job and either nervous or just didn’t care. He didn’t seem to know the menu and took a long time taking the order with long and awkward moment of silence. He failed to take a drinks order and just asked what do we want. Not particularly friendly. He kept referring to a young child as ‘my man’ again not particularly appropriate. After taking the food order he then came back to say that one of the children couldn’t have an item off the child’s menu as it was Sunday. If that’s the case then have a separate menu for Sunday and don’t disappoint a child. When the drinks came the order was wrong which led to a conversation between two wait staff at the table with one blaming the other. We didn’t need to see or hear that. When the food came after an inordinate amount of time for a restaurant that was only half full it was just okay and bland with what seemed like key ingredients missing from menu items, such as feta cheese in a pie. The children’s mashed potato had wholegrain mustard and leeks in. Neither child ate it as they didn’t like it. The desserts were ordered and when they came the adults were served first, again maybe minor but normally the kids are served first. Overall it was pretty bad from start to finish. With what we experienced it seems overpriced and does not deserve the reputation it once had. After our visit I can’t see us returning and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

The positive first: The dinner was delicious and the pub is nicely decorated and plays good rock music. The location is quiet and it takes about 30 minutes by bus to get to the city center, which is worth seeing. Unfortunately, our bathroom was either not cleaned or was cleaned very poorly. The remains of our predecessors' shaving were still found in the sink and shower and there were numerous toothpaste splatters on the tiles. Traces of previous guests were also found under the toilet seat and on the bathroom cabinet. The tables in the pub would also have been happy to be wiped over. At breakfast you have to decide whether you want to eat something savory or sweet - you can't have both together. You have to ask for the O juice, it is not offered. If you order granola with Greek yogurt and mixed berries and honey, you will be given a bowl of dry granola and a little Greek yogurt and thawed berries (without honey). The watercress, which was specifically listed on the menu for Eggs Benedict, consists of two slightly dried stalks of cress. These are decoration at best. It's a shame actually. Overall it's a nice pub that is unfortunately run a bit unprofessionally.

Good atmosphere,good service , brilliant food . Thank you for your hospitality , we will be returning soon defenetly!!

Amazing delicious dinner the staff were very friendly I’ll score it a 20/10

We were so looking forward to having lunch here, but what a disappointment. The place looks lovely and the waiter was very pleasant however the meal took an inordinate amount of time to arrive. Although the menu looked tantalising when the food finally did arrive it looked nice but was totally flavourless eg there was no sign of goats cheese in the goats cheese and beetroot filo. The roasted ravioli tasted deep fried and the inside was beyond bland. It is very unusual for me to leave a poor review but this meal really under delivered. Ps we only went for lunch hence this review does not reflect on the rooms.

I have stayed in many guest houses and small hotels in the 3 years that my daughter has been at oxford university. The black boy is definitely the best. The breakfast and evening meals are fantastic, lots of gluten free options and very reasonable prices. Rooms are decorated and finished to a high standard. Super comfy bed and lovely shower. The black boy is also very reasonably priced, so if I need to come to Oxford again I will definitely be staying here

We came here a number of times whikst in the area. The food is excellent, especially the sunday roast. The staff are friendly and would recommend to anyone in the area

Beautiful corner building location Very charming staff and delicious food all that coming with reasonable prices Can’t ask for more

We hired one of the rooms for a Christening reception. Food was good Staff very helpful and attentive

Disappointing! We came to scope out for a future celebration meal, after we found out The Black Boy was open again after a few visits pre COVID. Many small details made the overall experience disappointing. The drinks were delivered but the wine left for us to open and pour. The starters were good and as described. The mains- beef was nearly 50 % fat, the vegan nut roast was basically left over mushroom stroganoff (great for people with a nut allergy) and the veg was limited and maybe a little under cooked I think the icing on the cake was when the horse radish was delivered and it looked like it was taken from someone else's table half eaten! We ate because we were hungry and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great and we won't be taking our larger party back. The service was average and wouldn't be surprised if someone said the whole day was a new staff training day!

Lovely atmosphere. Good hosts. Staff make you feel welcome. Good food, good drink. All in all a very enjoyable evening. Will certainly be returning.

Excellent service food excellent waitress is amazing and remembers us, personal touch. Highly recommend for daily lunch and sneaky drink

Brunch was excellent value and the service exemplary. Crispy duck salad was especially enjoyed, as were starters of avocado on toast and quid. Will certainly return soon.

Stayed for 2 nights recently, the room was lovely, clean and spacious. We had dinner one night which was excellent. The breakfast was included in the room rate and was very good quality, you have to try the poached eggs! We were looked after very well by the manager Sarah, nothing was too much trouble for her, including bringing me her own Apple Watch charger when she realised I’d left mine at home. Will stay here again and recommend it to anyone who asks!

Great pub. Very welcoming. Lovely log fire on the go. Very good food at a fair price. Highly recommend

My husband and I stayed here overnight for an early appointment at the John Radcliffe Hospital. It was in walking distance and a very convenient location. The staff were incredibly friendly, and the food was exceptional - both the dinner and the breakfast. The room was clean and warm and the bed very comfy. The only slight criticism I have is that the room was a bit dark. Brighter bulbs and maybe another lamp would have helped. Would certainly stay here again, and would recommend to others.

The staff at the Black Boy were incredibly friendly and helpful. We had drinks followed by lunch from their set menu, which was very reasonably priced for 2 or 3 courses; the food was very tasty and beautifully presented. We had no difficulty finding the pub off the A40. There is parking around the pub if their own parking at the front is full.

Wonderful boutique hotel and restaurant

We went to The Black Boy for our annual Christmas meal and could not fault the service that we received. I was first to arrive and saw that our party had been split into 2 tables which I wasn't too happy about. Once Lavinia saw that I wasn't too pleased she and the staff rearranged the tables in a way that we were all together on one long table. It was done without any fuss. The service also was good during the evening even though they had 3 other big groups in that evening. A BIG shoutout to Lavinia and the rest of the staff. We will definitely be back next year!

Unbelievable!! Walked in today(Sunday) at 2: 10 , hoping to eat . But was told they hadn’t any tables. Ok , disappointing! I then walked out of the door and was able to book a table for 2:15 . Tried calling to ask why but unfortunately no one picked up . Hopefully they will come up with a decent excuse!

Please sort out your open fire! There is not enough up-draught up the chimney, and lots of smoke comes into the bar and restaurant. My clothes reeked of it and my coat is still completely smoked out, even after hanging it outside for two days. My friends had bad throats afterwards. The smoky chimney was a bit of a problem last winter but this winter it’s a complete turn off. We can’t come back until next spring! And it’s a shame because the ambience is great and mostly the food is good, though the batter on the fish needs rethinking - it was soggy next to the fish. And please sort out the waiting staff! The woman who owns the pub is lovely and friendly and helpful. But the others were offhand, neglectful, disdainful! They need some training!

Good food, friendly service, great pub atmosphere and decorations. In quiet area of Headington, off beaten track

There is very little parking at the pub and the local roads are permit parking only. We had to park in a public car park a few hundred yards away on a pouring wet evening. Once we had arrived we found the pub very welcoming, the staff were friendly and helpful. After we were sat in the restaurant we started to notice the food other diners were enjoying - it all looked very nice. We ordered the garlic prawn pil pil and the smoked trout, followed by marinated roast chicken and pork belly porchetta. It was delicious and the portions were generous. I'd happily recommend The Black Boy, just take into account the parking.

Un accueil très sympa dans un cadre typiquement anglais. Fish and chips top. Soupe du jour originale (choux fleur épicé) et linguine aux champignons très bonnes. Service rapide et très sympa.

What a little gem of a place !! Stayed here for our Anniversary room was lovely & clean & spacious!! Food wow !! The pork belly was amazing my husband said best meal he’s ever eaten!! Great starter of lamb Kofta & a very delicious apple & berry crumble!! Great value for money a proper little find .

Booked for a two night stay and what a wonderful surprise! Located in a quiet outreach of Headington, the Black Boy delivered everything we needed. The evening menu was hearty and wonderful, the breakfast (included in the room rate) was fantastic. The staff were friendly and very attentive. The parking was free, which was very good, and the beer choices were varied which included some good local selections

Had an overnight stay at this lovely pub, which had 5 modern bedrooms. Located in trendy Headington, we were greeted with a smile by the staff and shown to our room, which was very well appointed, clean and had everything we needed for a short stay, including a complimentary glass of Sloe gin !!. Free parking was available, which was very convenient, and as we were going to a concert in the city centre, we just caught a 10 minute bus ride into Oxford. We did not manage to have lunch or dinner there, but our breakfast was really really good, and it was clear to see and taste that they use local produce. We will certainly return to have a lunch when passing through this area again.

Friendly staff, good food and a lovely garden at the back on a sunny day. We have always found the food to be excellent and there’s a good selection of vegetarian options

We stayed for 4 nights to celebrate our wedding anniversary and really enjoyed the whole experience. It’s set in a lovely location and just a short walk to main high street where you can easily get buses into the city. Free parking was available outside the pub. The room was well decorated and bed was very comfy. We were provided with bottles of water and biscuits in the room. We had their lunch deal which was good value, 2 courses and glass of wine for £16. I had the chicken Milanese and hubby had the steak sandwich. Breakfast was delicious, a few nice options. Eggs were very tasty. We also had an evening meal which again was lovely. Staff were all very friendly and polite. I don’t really understand the negative reviews as we thought everything was spot on. Would definitely recommend.

Room 2 and 4 ..did try and email them before doing this but no reply.... We had a great stay 21st to 23rd the lady who sorted breakfast was very nice as was all the staff .... But think for money rooms need a lot more attention... very dusty on most edge's and in most draws ..bedding lovely bed comfy. Could only open two windows vo... carpets in both rooms dirty... ...room 2 bathroom door hanging off as staff was told on Friday still was same on leaving...... shower heads on top so dirty... broken picture chucked in sink unit .....was a shame great location food first night not good

There was only 1 vegetarian option on the main menu and it was Thai Red Curry. Unfortunately when it arrived it had nothing to do with Thai Red Curry. There was no lemongrass, no coriander, no lime, no peanuts, no coconut milk and no sticky rice. It was just a plate of chickpeas, parsley, chopped tomatoes and basmati rice. It was basically an Indian chickpea curry. I was charged £14.75 for this. After the meal, when I complained they wouldn't refund me and berated me for complaining.

IPA ale not on. Ran out of steaks. Lamb was grisly and partly inedible. What lamb we could eat was not very tasty. Dauphinois potatoes were burnt. Would never recommend this place to anyone.

Stayed here only for one night while visiting the nearby JOHN RADCLIFFE hospital an easy 10 minute stroll away. Very comfortable very clean I think polished would be a good description of this hotel,good food and pub bar service not cheap but good quality,lovely staff,how...

We visited for a Sunday roast ,£18 soggy roast potatoes ,one piece cauliflower ,a teaspoon of red cabbage ,asked for extra potatoes to be charged £3.75 for 3 in a bowl ,gravy another story a dribble on the plate ,asked for extra took 15 mins...

Great spacious well appointed room. Comfy bed. Nespresso machine, bottled water and biscuits were all a nice touch. Bar and restaurant decorated tastefully with a good selection of beer/wines by the glass etc. Delicious, ample, freshly made full English breakfast. Restaurant menu looked great and...

My wife and I enjoyed a very pleasant Valentine's Day evening meal here. The food was very tasty - well prepared with good flavours and presentation, but not pretentious. Portions are generous. The service was friendly and efficient, and the environment and atmosphere were just...

Went for a Saturday lunch with my mother. No lunch menu available, just brunch. I had fish and chips. The fish was really greasy. Chips were average at best. Mother had poached eggs which she said were nice but not enough for a lunchtime meal....

We held a family birthday party here and want to praise very highly the service, the food (delicious and plenty of it) and the friendly atmosphere. Sarah, the general manager, was very helpful in planning the event and providing us with ideas, and Lily, who...

Now if you want to book the Black Boy for a function then the review might garner 4 or 5 stars even. However, if you happen to have the misfortune to have booked when a function is on expect to be sidelined with poor service,...

Although pleasant environment, food made me ill (park - old? hygiene?) and bill has drinks we did not order. So, would not return nor recommend.

Fantastic service, very friendly staff, great food and very comfortable rooms. Highly recommended and will definitely be back!

A very tasty Christmas meal for a group of seniors. The food was wonderful and the staff very attentive and welcoming. The atmosphere was Christmassy and relaxing.

Our first visit to this pub/restaurant since lockdown. It was a miserable wet and windy Wednesday lunchtime when we arrived, but the sight and smell of a roaring log fire greeted us and revived our spirits. We received a warm welcome from the host and...

Big bed with fluffy pillows and huge bath. Great breakfast and dinner. The eggs were from somewhere local in Oxford and were quite frankly the very BEST egg's I have ever tasted. We bought some to take back home. Nothing was too much trouble for...

7 of us had booked for Sunday lunch All had roasts which were delicious Fab food, great service, nice staff, lovely place Would definitely recommend

I think there was only 5 rooms here so book while you can! Room was so nice and the pillows and mattress was SO comfortable. Bathroom was so nice. I can’t fault the room at all. Staff were really nice but a bit off on...

We visited with friends as it was halfway between our homes, friendly welcome, lovely food, very well presented, good price too

Stayed for two nights, very nice room, we had two good sleeps, and great breakfasts staff friendly and helpful

We stayed for one night, I booked a room with a shower but was given a bath with a shower. The pros - the room was a nice size and comfortable the bathroom was modern and clean. The restaurant was really nice and the food...

We had an excellent weekend at the pub! We had come from Kent to visit my son in Oxford and celebrate his grandads birthday. We was so well looked after , the staff went the extra mile . We stayed in very comfortable rooms and...

We have seen good changes in The Black Boy since the redecoration and new management. Very good a la carte menu choice and a fixed menu which is very good value. Also there is a buy one get one free Monday pizza evening. Service by...

Had Sunday roast at the black boy today, faultless 10/10 Service was quick, staff very pleasant and friendly, food was delicious and pipping hot A must go place if your in the area

Myself and my partner stayed for 1 night, rooms are lovely, very comfortable and are a good quality for the price! Bed is very comfortable We had dinner & breakfast there (breakfast was included) and both meals were very good The highlight has to be...

Recently stayed for three nights mid week. Staff very friendly and hospitable, food was great. Bedroom very comfortable. Highly recommended. Nice quiet area

5 of us stayed 2 nights in 3 rooms for my daughters graduation. Great location, lovely decor, delicious food & comfortable rooms. Service was excellent & nothing was too much trouble. Only niggle was there was no socket near a mirror so hard to use...

Super breakfast, a pleasant room with good facilities, friendly staff. We stayed here for a do at Oxford city f.c and would come again.

Had dinner on a weekday night so the pub wasn't full, but good atmosphere despite that. And, thankfully no intrusive musak. Excellent dinner and a lovely Wine of the Month from South Africa. Our waiter was a little clueless about the wine and a couple...

We live locally and have visited many times over the years though this was our first visit this year. The standard of the food has gone down considerably. My husband's burger was of very poor quality with extremely finely ground mince and did not taste...

First the B&B. Arrived tired and irritable. Staff were charming. Showed me to my room - which looked great - asked if I wanted a meal, etc. Cannot be faulted. The pub: nice atmosphere. Good service. The squid was unexciting. I thought they had forgotten...

Pleasant service and decor, however the food was really poor. The pork roast had grill marks where it had been reheated and the vegetables/potatoes tasted like they had been under a heat lamp for a long time. The crackling was inedible. We will not be...

A home from home pub. Only a small B & B . We where greeted by the Holly who was charming and very helpful. Our room was clean tidy and modern. Holly helped with our luggage. The manager and here daughter (Ellie) where also attentive...

A wonderful meal for five of us (old school friends reconnecting after the pandemic) . Welcoming staff. Great atmosphere. Really special. Some of us had travelled from over 100 miles away but it was well worth it.

My wife and I stayed with 6 friends at the Black Boy in Oxford as a change from a large corporate hotel . The staff were very welcoming upon our arrival as the pub only has 5 bedrooms so we were the only guests. The...

My husband and I really enjoyed our one night stay here. Having found the price of hotels in the city centre extortionate, we decided to try this pub with rooms which is a short drive from the city centre. Our room was very comfortable with...

Nice location, great service and a top notch veggie roast in old Headington, a hidden gem in a peaceful location. Will be visiting again.

We live locally and have been to the Black Boy many times since it became a gatropub and always had a fantastic reception and excellent food. The menu did not appeal to us until recently, but we returned tonight and will not be back for...

We had booked for a later slot for dinner, but arrived 45 minutes earlier as we were quite hungry, and there was no hassle getting a table. We ordered some bread to share as a starter and for main course, two burgers, the duck pizza...

We went for the 2 for 1 pizza night on Monday. The atmosphere was good, a nice buzz of conversation. The sevice was good and efficent and the pizzas were excellent.

Called in for a glass of wine and a beer on Sunday Will not do this again felt in the way its a restaurant not a pub

Walked in and we were met with a warm welcome. Set menu offered amazing value, and delicious food, served by a charming waitress.. After a long time waiting to visit, it did not disappoint. Will return.

Family gathering for lunch - all ages - on a Saturday. They do a set cost brunch menu that was a reasonable choice of dishes but only a few quite specific drinks were included which was frustrating. We then had to pay separately for drinks...

Roast really nice. Option of pork, beef or chicken.Service friendly and attentive. Cosy pub with fire. Nice beer selection. Very happy with visit.