The Bystander in Vale of White Horse

Called in 1630 today (Thur) nice & quiet (we're pensioners,1 Coeliac, 1 normal ! ) food was very good together with good beer & wine, what's not to like, all at a sensible price.

Poor slow service. Not many people there as in the past it has been very busy

Really nice atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. Lovely outside area perfect for a sunny evening. A varied menu and the food was very good. Also there are different events /activites put on throughout the week. I look forward to another visit soon!

It was a quiet lunchtime when we called in for some food. We both had chicken and ham pie with gravy. The pie was well filled with meat, and the gravy was nice and thick. My wife ordered luxury hot chocolate, but they had no cream or hot chocolate. I ordered a pint of guest ale, and this was unavailable. So they recommend the guest lager. This was flat and taste less,like dish water. The whole pub looked like it needed smartening up. Food is good, and drinks choice poor.

Food was good, came out in timely fashion. Although wasn't busy. Staff were super helpful when realised another member of staff had left with the baby change door key. So he climbed in from the outside to open it so I could change my son. Muchly appreciated 👍

One of the best visits I've had. The lady on the bar was very friendly and welcoming food was quick the chef delivered the food himself and was again very friendly. Good value for money be back again soon

Always a favourite of mine, staff are lovely and always have a chat with me and my husband when we come in. Was with my friend today and we had coffees and tried out the lunch menu, was very nice.

The Food was amazing and affordable. And the staff were lovely and welcoming. Would definitely come again.

Great meals for 2 adults and 2 children. Staff were very accommodating and helpful as we also had a disabled person in the group. Altogether a very good afternoon.

We had a baby shower in the Bystander today and it was great! The staff are so helpful and friendly I would highly recommend if you are planning any events or parties. The food was excellent although too much! 100%!

Came in for lunch on Tuesday the lady on the bar was busy bit still delivered excellent service food was amazing the chef delivered himself as his colleague was busy on the bar which shows strong team work much better now than it was before

Amazing food, lovely staff, Jamie in particular was great! Will definitely be back!!! Ordered the chicken burger and was delightful!

Food good with very reasonable prices. Service quick and friendly. Carling on special offer nice surprise. Lemon sorbet brilliant and new burger yummy !

Great atmosphere, friendly staff who know how to have a laugh while being professional, tasty fresh tasting food especially the small plates and overall a genuinely welcoming pub to visit. Quiz night is good fun too! Well done to the whole team to making the local pub a good one. Have also visited with with our 3 year old who is always welcomed by any member of staff. Would definitely recommend.

Efficient and pleasant staff especially the South African lady food good all reasonably priced

We came tonight for the pub quiz and decided to have dinner here ! Staff were lovely food arrived hot and well cooked . I had chicken salt and pepper strips with chilli and katsu sauce . It was lovely very tasty and we both enjoyed it ! The quiz is good fun and the live music nights on the last Saturday of the month are great ! We dance all night and sing our hearts out 😁well done team loved it 🥂

Came here with a friend to watch the football and something to eat. large space so easy to find a place sit with the multiple TVs. Good atmosphere and the staff were helpful and welcoming

Great service and hot food compliments to the chef and staff

Food is great, fantastic service, will be back

This is my local and I'm always made to feel welcome and staff always have my pint pouring when I come in the door. I've never had any complaints about the food as it's always well prepared and tasty, I'd go as far to say that I've enjoyed one of the best cuts of gammon here. The atmosphere is friendly and people are respectful and polite. Before Sean and team came here the pub was at a low point but they really turned it around, long may it continue.

Lovely food served by fantastic staff. We really enjoyed our family meal here today.

A great lunch had by my party.the food was excellent the staff were friendly and the service was prompt and enjoyable

4 adults and a toddler on Bank Holiday Monday pulled up into what looked like an almost deserted car park. Had we made the right choice? Yes we had! The pub was clean airy with plenty of room between tables. The menu was what you would expect from. a Green King pub, but the quality, service and presentation far outwayed expectations. We payed £69 for 5 2 course meals with drinks. To put into perspective the day before we had paid £116 for 4 adult mains and a toddler meal! If you was good, reasonably priced food with a menu to suit all please consider coming here. There is also a lovely pub garden area too.

Rude staff. Asked if they could cater for 9 people, response was 'you'll be lucky' walked away and continued clearing tables. We're now having a lovely lunch in The Fox

Food was amazing came in for lunch and the food was incredible highly recommend this friendly local pub and will be returning again soon

Arrived looking for some food Only to be told that the chef would be back at 4.19, So disappointed and was looking forward to some food after hearing good things about the pub Will definitely not be coming again

Visited recently the food and service was fantastic, was greeted by friendly staff who showed a lot of courtesy in helping my elderly mother. The food we did not have to wait long for, arrived hot and tasting great. Was much better than our last visit a couple of years ago. Definitely much better now, will be returning.

Great pub! Service is always good, staff very friendly and welcoming. Nothing wrong with decor, quite nice throughout. Always had nice food on each visit too. Previous reviewer complaining about wet toilet floor maybe needs to re-learn how to use the loo and not go on the floor in future.

Great food, big portions for a good price. Perfect value for money for a family dinner. Friendly and helpful staff, service was quick. Good selection of beers too.

Nice pub, service, food and drink. Gave the low score for the state of the garden. Came here with young children as remembered it had a playground (haven't been here for years though) , but that has all been removed and just left is the base of it. Trees have been cut back so you can see the containers from the trading estate nextdoor. Children were bored while we were waiting for food so they joined other children trying to climb trees and using sticks as swords. Couldn't leave quick enough once we had eaten our food.

Just had a lovely lunch here with family. Wonderful food and fantastic service. Will be coming back.

Had a lovely family lunch here today. Service was lovely and friendly manner. Food came quickly, atmosphere was calm and chilled. Kids and adults enjoyed their food. Thank you 😊

Lovely meal this evening. Great vegan burger and pie for my partner. Felt warm and welcoming. Staff were kind and couldn’t do enough to answer my food queries. Lovely atmosphere and will be coming again.

Lovely local pub in a lovely village the staff on shift were very are very friendly and food is delicious highly recommend haven't been for a while because of the old management but far better improvement from last time well done team bystander

Vastly improved since the new management took over. The atmosphere is friendly and warm. Food is the standard GK fare, but still nice. Best aspect is the service and care.

First time at this pub and most definitely the last. Love Greene King Pubs BUT this one is atrocious. Place was filthy and could do with a complete redecoration . Ordered food which two were sirloin steak, no sirloin steak available so chose two rump steaks, I know that rump is a cheaper cut ( I was a chef for 18 years before changing trades) but to say it was tough would be an understatement. I could have re- soled my shoes with it and it would have lasted for years, even the steak knife struggled to get through it. I did point this out to the manager who in fairness offered a free desert. Toilet - gents toilet floor was flooded in water well I hope it was water? Wet floor sign was on show but only after you had actually stood in it . Staff - they were ok but you could tell that they really didn't want to be there . Atmosphere - There is more atmosphere on the moon, the place was really quiet - now I wonder why that is ? This place really needs sorting out because it really could be a great pub .

A good pub with a reasonable menu. It is a standard menu that you'd expect from a chain. Food is fine but nothing to write home about - don't expect country village pub fare. The staff are lovely, very friendly and helpful.

Nice food. Wasn't very busy but took a while to come. We didn't have the kids that day, but the kids next door to us were losing the plot a bit because they were hungry! The staff were nice, though.

Couldn't even sort a bowl of chips out front to a passing motorcyclist, little balding ginger fella said," were not geared up to do that!" Not a hard request, certainly won't bother again.

Really great pub! Well decorated and lovely staff. Good service and really enjoyed the food! Thanks for having us!!

Very busy a peak lunch. Small amount of staff manager and Kitchen staff. Be patient for for meal Added job for staff you need now be waiting to be seated. We use this a pub lunch place on rota of Greene king owned pubs That all that's in the area. Now sadly and with disappointment the seniors menu has been withdrawn Ones with smaller appetites. Go else where. Food was good after the wait. My smaller appetite i had to sides. Just not the same as seniors meal. Age 73 years.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS …. The General Manager is an arrogant rude unprofessional moron … he shouldn’t be in hospitality and my family , friends will never go back into this pub whilst he is running it …. shame on you Greene King for employing this odious individual… no wonder this place has only 3.7 google rating and poor reviews across all platforms

Much better now there's a new manager

Good quick service and friendly.

Roast potatoes under done ...beef chewy and vegetables hard

Food was excellent and the staff were very friendly

Needs to be reinvented ask the locals

Always a great time with family and friends! Great to see this pub doing so much better than in previous years! Staff are always super friendly especially the manager!

Beer and food was excellent and I will be back again!

Great friendly service and the chicken strippers in IPA hot sauce were superb!

Just dropped in on our way home,very accommodating.

Love it friendly staff go there all the time

A beautiful and well decorated pub with a warm feeling and some well appointed distractions such a pool table and darts board. I liked the fact the locals started friendly and light-hearted conversation. The coffee is well nice. The garden is very neat.

Good food that came out fast, excellent service

Had a lovely meal with family. I was a bit disappointed that the 2 items I first tried to order were out of stock, and it's the second time the Pulled Mushroom Chilli was off the menu, so I've yet to try that. There aren't so many vegetarian options on the menu, and I was starving, so fish and chips again. It was lovely, though, and their raspberry gin is so lovely, too. It was busier than usual, so service was a bit slow as they didn't have many staff on: however, given the stress they were under they were welcoming, accommodating and still just as efficient as usual. I'm so glad this pub is just down the road for me.

Called in for Sunday lunch and the result was a bit disappointing. The price was good, so I guess you get what you pay for. There was quite a lot of fat and gristle on the beef, the roast potatoes weren't crisp, whereas the broccoli and carrots were almost rock hard. The beer was good though, so I might go back for a drink but probably not to eat.

Usual Greene King fayre. Quiet ish for a Monday evening but good prices and food cooked and served quickly. What stood out was the single gentleman working and doing all, serving on the bar, running food and clearing tables whilst providing a excellent cheery customer service focused experience.

Went in today with my partner and children, Staff were absolutely brilliant, friendly and helpful. Ordered food which came out at a reasonable time and was delicious 👌 Definitely worth visiting 100%

Great price for an excellent meal. Quick and friendly service.

Great local pub with good service and food

The waitress called ana was very cheerful and helpful helped alot to brighten the atmosphere

Absolute disaster & a bunch of time wasters ... On arrival at 12.15pm we were given a dirty sticky table 17 that I had to get their cleaning solution off the Bar to wash the table down ... We then placed our order to be told all items were off the menu so we told the Staff we were leaving ...I told the Chef (not that she had anything to cook) that it was a complete shambles ... Apparently they didn't get a delivery ... So on arrival why weren't we told items were off the menu rather than letting us wash a table, sit down & place our order ... Then go through the farce of choosing second options they couldn't also serve ... We left & went to another Green King pub whose delivery was a tad late but had a full menu & the food was excellent ... In reply to the owners comments ... 1) We reserved a table for 6 for 12.15 yet you couldn't clean it before we arrived 2) No apology for the dirty table 3) Why weren't we told on arrival that items were off the menu ?? 4) You let us order 6 meals before being told items were off the menu 5) No comment on the Bystander's pour customer service 6) I respectfully suggest you get your "customer service" house in order before criticising customers 7) As for not being welcome I wouldn't have come the first time if I'd read your 3.5/5 rating & the 113 - 1 star reviews

Great food, great host, So much better in a short space of time.

Excellent food, good variety on the menu. Clean surroundings, warm , not noisy.

Went here for lunch with my parents and my son. Really nice atmosphere and the food was amazing. The waitress that served us was really friendly and overall we loved it. We will def be back at some point as its a convenient place to meet up.

I can’t praise this place enough. Excellent and welcoming service from staff and owners.

I went to the Bystander a couple of days before Christmas, with my family, it was very busy, the welcome and service we received was lovely x The food I had and my Grandchildren was really good and a fast service considering how busy they were. Would highly recommend, for first class food and very friendly service x Looking forward to going back again real soon x

The bartenders and the owners are spectacular

Visited the pub over Christmas with some family. Booking a table was very easy, food was excellent, The staff were great. The football on the many big TVs around the pub was a bonus Will definitely be visiting again

Went along again recently and have to say the food was superb and the service was fantastic. Added bonus being dog friendly with a dedicated menu for my four legged friend. Highly recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WYSIWIG. Good bar, decent food and a small selection of beer.

Lovely pub with excellent food. I had a perfect mixed grill that was not only excellent value but top quality food too. Really welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. Would come back for sure!

Food ,service and staff could not be faulted . It was just a shame that the music being played was not really very festive . Went here for a meal on Wednesday 20th December with three others and we all left feeling full and happy .

Excellent food. Tasty and plenty on plate. Roast turkey very good

First class service & food was lovely. Atmosphere brilliant, warm & welcoming. Would highly recommend, the new management are first class.

We had our Aerobics Christmas lunch there yesterday 5th December. The landlord and his assistant were excellent serving 35 women with a welcoming smile and the room, they had laid out looked lovely, very festive!!! The food was excellent freshly cooked vegetables and turkey dinners plus other choices and reasonably priced too. The staff were very friendly and looked after us so well. This is by far the best Christmas celebration we have had as a group (and we have had many). I am sure we will be using their services for our next Christmas meal!!!!!! The parking space was huge and we were relieved not to be watching the clock for parking meters, as we have done in the past. We enjoyed a thoroughly good meal with excellent attentive staff, fantasticly cooked fresh food, perfect parking spaces for all of us, it will be our go to place again in the future. Thank you to the two wonderful staff that worked so hard to make our Festive meal so great , and not forgetting the chef who did a wonderful job feeding 35 hungry women!!!!!!

Went with friends 1 of which has gluten free.We arrived no booking yet got table --- the food was good and had a good time We go quite regular now

Had an early Christmas here while visiting my family. Sean and the staff made sure we were very looked after and it was brilliant! (Thank you all so much) . I aso came in for lunch later the same week and had one of the best burgers I've ever had. Such a great place!

Interesting experience on Saturday. Pub fairly full for football and instead of the landlord offering his 6 seater table by the big screen to customers, he elected to sit there on his own, on his phone. 2 men were even advised to move when they sat there when he had gone to the kitchen because "that's where the boss sits". A little off putting.

Nice food and lovely staff with a nice warm atmosphere

Thank you so much to Sean and Sharon and her hubby who waited on our party of twelve all night !!! The food was lovely we had such fun singing dancing eating and laughing very much appreciated … our pub is back !!! Warm and Welcoming hooray 😁🎉🥂Thanks !!

Went to go in for food was told in quite a rude tone that food wasn't till 12 but we at first decided to stay and wait as we went to sit down we were 15cm away from the dining area with new born baby in pram and told in rude tone of voice well you can't sit there ..... we left and went else where glad we did not to far away. The staff were much nicer

Pre-booked for my son’s 7th birthday a table of 9 of us. Super clean. Kind, attentive staff and the food was delicious. Majority of my party had steak and they were perfectly cooked. We will all be returning x

Pre booked for 10 guests, food was great service was excellent, had a lovely time, made to feel very welcome, pub saw super clean and all for really great prices. we will be back soon.

Lovely evening with family. Good food, loved the small plates! Service was great and very friendly.

Wow! Went on a whim as just feeling lazy and couldn’t be bothered to cook. Checked they done Sunday roast before going, and it was absolutely delicious, had the Beef & Turkey duo roast, everything about it was faultless,best we have had in a long time and we eat out often. The welcome was friendly,and staff serving were very pleasant and helpful…. Blackberry and apple crumble was as good. We will definitely be back!

We took my daughter and grandchildren for lunch and the welcome we had was excellent. We were given a table big enough for us all including my disability buggy .The food we ordered was served promptly and well cooked . The staff were polite and courteous and also as they understood I was unable to walk made sure I was always looked after.Thanks guys we had a great afternoon.

Nice place for a cheap meal. The food is good of its type. We were a group of 5 so it took a while for the food to be served but was worth the wait when it finally arrived.

Abosultly brilliant couldn't fault it food amazing staff friendly and polite the place has been done up and looks great thank you so much

We’re do I start? Booked table for 6 of us arrived and not greeted by anyone so we just took a seat anywhere. Went to the bar to order. Ordered a chicken strips and asked if we wanted it as a starter or a main. So we ordered it as a main meal with chips and a coke. Ordered off the kids menu as they get a main side and desert. Ok no problem. Chicken strips came out with no chips and asked were they were to be told the difference is between a starter and a main is it comes out with everyone’s main meal. Didn’t explain this at the till, meals were lovely apart from my daughters pasta which had a fly in it. For a restaurant to have a poor excuse of it wasn’t like that when it was brought out. Anyway they’re replaced it but took 15 mins for it to be brought back out after everyone had finished. Went to the bar to order the kids deserts to be told we never asked for that kids meal yet I was ordering off it it as a main side and desert to them try be charged more for it. The guy put it all through separately and not a meal. The lady was extremely rude and I asked for the complaint policy as I wanted to take it further. A guy I’m taking it who was the boss wasn’t having any of it until I told him I found a fly in my daughters pasta to which he changed his tune and was very polite and understanding. ( staff didn’t inform him of the fly in the pasta) he told us all deserts and drinks were free of charge and got a refund. I won’t be returning again even after they admitted their faults and had a refund. Shame it’s not a hungry horse anymore as the variety of the menus isn’t great. Anyone who orders a children’s meal please state you want the deal.

Lovely meal tonight and great hosting from Cheryl-Michell and hubby x

Food was very nice and service was delightful and friendly

Sunday was the first time in 7 years my husband and I have eaten in the Bystander, this was mainly due to awful food and customer service in the past years. The current team under the new management of Sean, are a breath of fresh air, the food and service was outstanding. The professionalism and customer service and along with the food was commendable. Well done guys, we will certainly eat at the Bystander again.

Today was the first time in 7 years my husband and I have I’ve eaten in the Bystander, this was mainly due to awful food and customer service in the past years. The current team under the new management of Sean, are a breath of fresh air, the food and service was outstanding. The professionalism and customer service and along with the food was commendable. Well done guys, we will certainly eat at the Bystander again. Jim and Cathy

fab food and service :) vegan katsu curry and chicken tacos were junk food heaven!!!

I just had to drop you a quick note to say how much I loved my recent visit. The food was amazing! And kudos to your staff; they were so friendly and made the whole experience even better. I’ll definitely be back!!

Nice pub, lovely garden and fair price.

Extremely disappointing visit to the bystander last night. The place is no longer a hungry horse. The portions were TINY, and they have removed the playground for children in the beer garden. On the plus side although the portions were very small, the price was very reasonable and the staff were pleasant and attentive.

Lovely afternoon meal with the family, lovely food reasonably priced

Served by Sharon, great customer service. New manager was proffessional and approachable. Seems to be doing positive things to turn the place around. Good luck to them all.