The Chequers in South Oxfordshire

Reassured by the Tripadvisor rating, we were looking forward to trying this Thai pub. What a letdown. Absolutely dreadful food. Avoid.

This is one of the finest Thai restaurant I've eaten at the food is superb, the service is every bit as good as the food, my compliments to all involved especially now, they will be leaving this location in Jan 2025 and I think I talk for all and will be greatly missed, funny how the GOOD things in life move on and we have to start over, many thanks to all for the care and respect they afford me it's hard to find these days thanks again and good luck for the future jimbo, ❤

Very good Thai food served by friendly and helpful people, housed in a traditional pub. Not nearly as busy as it deserves to be, and well worth a bit of a journey (we came from Oxford).

Had an overnight in Watlington and decided to book here for some Thai. Plenty of seating inside and out so feels more like a Thai rather than a pub. We were seated at the rear in what I’d call the conservatory part. Our table was on a bit of a thoroughfare to the garden at the back which was a tad annoying. However, the food was very good and decently priced. We both had beers and they were well kept. Service charge added automatically to the bill, which I know some people dislike.

Amazing Thai food in a gorgeous little pub. So so delicious, really fragrant, authentic Thai food, fresh and filling. Gorgeous little 16th century pub. Definitely worth a visit!! As vegans we really appreciated the separate vegan menu with lots of tasty options! We found this place on a whim whilst travelling from Liverpool to Eastbourne and so grateful we did!

Vandaag voor de tweede keer deze week hier heerlijk gedineerd. Het Thais eten was gevarieerd en zorgvuldig bereid en goed en verfijnd van smaak. En het personeel vriendelijk en attent. Blij dat wij hier tijdens ons weekje Oxfordshire nog een tweede keer naar toe zijn gegaan. Aanrader !!

First time attending the chequers. Good food, good atmosphere. Although raining the garden looked amazing.

Thai is not something I would normally choose on a Sunday after a long walk round the Oxfordshire countryside but our friends chose the pub for lunch and it was spot on and just what we needed. Great variety and lovely fresh ingredients. Price also very reasonable which is something you hardly ever hear nowadays.

First rate Thai food from a menu that provided an excellent set of choices both of starters and mains. Good portion sizes, well kept beers all enjoyed in a pleasant sunny garden. Definitely on our repeat list.

Excellent Thai food and really good service by polite knowledgeable staff. Went one lunch time with visitors and back again the next week with different friends.

Excellent food, nice pub really oldy woldy, really friendly staff! Totally recommend the squid! Nice garden with lovely touches of potted flowers on the table

Super local pub serving delicious Thai food. Friendly staff. Reasonably priced. Pub garden for a sunny day. Sit in the bar area furnished with a mix of nice refurbished old wood furniture or in the conservatory dining area. Catch a quiz here too for charity.

Too late to cook!! Perfect solution, The Fat Buddha at the Chequers. Lovely Thai fish cakes and for once I didn’t go with my favourite green curry!!! Always risky but decided to try the Fat Buddha Gra Pow with minced beef. No risk at all… it was gorgeous and definitely my new favourite!! Service is always lovely here and we had a happy time for a midweek delight!! Thanks to all.

Stopped here last Friday on our way to Oxford at the height of storm Eunice. What a fabulous pub/eatery. Received a very warm welcome from the landlady which was much appreciated given the hazardous conditions we were travelling in. The few locals at the bar also extended a friendly welcome. Our Thai lunch was delicious and freshly cooked. Just wish we lived locally to enjoy this establishment again and again. Old style restrooms and spotlessly clean! If you’re travelling up/down the M40 and fancy a great place for lunch, just hop off at Junction 6 and you are less than 5 minutes from this lovely pub.

We were excited to take the kids here after the new owners had completely refurb'd the place and introduce a delicious sounding Thai menu. We weren't disappointed! The staff were so helpful and friendly (my kids are only 4 and 5 so it's always a little stressful taking them out to eat!). They have a full vegan menu and lots of other delicious options. The atmosphere is cosy and informal, I could have stayed all night (and munched on prawn crackers!). Highly recommended!

We ordered a take away last night and everything was perfect and delicious. So pleased to have this place locally. I’m vegetarian and they had some fantastic options for me.

Recently opened very pleasant interior good Tai food Only moan it is a pub and to attract people management need to recognise and converse with punters who like to have a friendly local

We were so excited to finally have a Thai restaurant in Watlington! We have spent a lot of time in Thailand and love authentic Thai food. We ordered a takeaway, 2 salt & pepper squid, 2 somtam and 2 chicken drunken noodles. The squid was delicious, a bit on the small side and a little oily as it was packaged in a small paper box, all on top of each other. The som tam salad however needs to be improved. For the price it was a very small portion and the dressing was nonexistent! If you’re going to put an authentic dish on the menu please do not westernise it! Please add fish sauce. Noodle portion size was very good, however chicken was dry and not a lot of vegetables. I also think the takeaway menu should have different pricing to eating in the restaurant. If you’re not being waitered on, having crockery etc then the pricing should reflect this? We would certainly order more frequently if this was the case. We ordered 6 dishes which came to £50 which is quite expensive for a takeaway which you have to collect.

Went for lunch yesterday. All 4 of us had set Thai lunch. Looked after very well and food was tasty and good value. Will go again for lunch.

The best thing was the service — at least our waiter was absolutely brilliant! Oh, and the orders come through amazingly fast! The second best thing was the pricing and value-for-money: most of the menu items were distinctly on the cheap side. And oddly, the 'least-best thing' was the actual food. Everything we ate was good, some things were even excellent, but somehow it didn't 'zing'. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining in the slightest; it's just that somehow I was hoping for something a bit more vibrancy and spice. Still, very good overall, no doubt about that.

At last Watlington has a Thai restaurant!! Eaten twice now, once eating in and once takeaway. Lovely food and really great service. Ask if you would like spicy, our first meal was not hot enough for me but after asking for spicy with the takeaway...

We had travelled from Worcestershire looking for a midway spot to meet my son from London, for Sunday lunch. Having been let down by our initial booking, we were worried about finding somewhere at short notice, that would also not disappoint. A search of the...

Yet another superb meal well presented and perfectly cooked Staff all really friendly welcoming too And so nice to eat and chat with the general pub noise in the background And got add that the Beer tastes well looked after Another nice evening out

My partner and I called the pub in the morning to ask if they were near to the remembrance field of sculptures. We drove to the pub and we were welcomed by a lovely young lady and a few locals who directed us to the...

Popped in here after seeing the m40 soldiers memorial. Made to feel welcome by the locals and the barmaid did a sterling job managing drinks and food orders. Real ale was in great condition. More than one vegetarian option on the menu which was great...

Great Sunday lunch. We had The roast beef, pork belly and salmon. All perfectly cooked good portions and very tasty. Service was excellent. Will definitely return

This is an area where high standards are the norm, not an exception. As a quick visit to trip advisor will show, there are easily two or three dozen establishments in the near vicinity which offer something special. Sadly the chequers for many years has...

We had a very average meal which was a bit tasteless at times. Perhaps it was the things we chose from the menu but I do expect a burger to have some flavour! That said the lemon tart was delicious.

From the moment we stepped in, were greeted by the busy bar staff & pointed in the direction of our reserved table for 10, we knew we had made a good choice. Landlady Lou was beyond accommodating of our bunch of lovely children (7 aged...

Had lunch at The Chequers today. As always, the food was lovely and service great. Good value too, and portions very generous. Wine was good too!

Amazing pub with outstanding food and drink, personally recommended the nachos, chilli and burger. As it’s out of this world. Excellent customer service, and is always helpful with any customer queries and special requests.

Visited The Chequers on a cycling tour and was greeted by fantastic, welcoming staff. Great beer 🍺 and food with tremendous service. If you want to see what a great pub should be like, this is it.

What a lovely pub. We stayed in Watlington for a week and stumbled upon The Chequers. The owners are kind and friendly and the for is really good!

We visited today for Sunday Lunch we picked The Chequers for two reasons A) It was half between us and my daughter so ideal meeting spot. B} The fantastic reviews here on TripAdvisor which believe me are true. The staff are all all fantastic young...

As a new lady that has moved into the village this is the by far my favourite pub. Lou and Andy and there family have made me feel very welcome always a smile and laughs. Andy's home made cooked food is simply delicious. I have...

The More we go the more we like it

Great little find. Cosy village pub with a lovely atmosphere. Staff very friendly. Food very tasty and well presented. Great that there is a smaller Sunday roast - perfect amount for me.

Being local to us we have visited this pub on a number of occasions for food and drinks. The pub is hundreds of years old and holds all of the old fashioned country pub atmosphere and cosiness. There is always a very warm welcome and it is a family friendly establishment.

Nice well cooked and presented meal Served By lovely friendly Staff in a nice friendly Pub A lovely Atmosphere throughout the evening

Popped in for lunch today and it was just what the doctor ordered.

We love this pub, amazing food all home cooked, the landlord and landlady are just the best, nothing is too much trouble.

Beautiful pub lovely people great food, will return as soon as we can. Felt really comfortable , very relaxing

Ate here the other night spicy leek and potato soup was too spicy three spoonfuls and couldn’t carry on. No fish left so lasagne was recommended it stunk like cheap meat so two forkfuls and a few chips.

Popped in for mid week lunch. Really lovely friendly service and a great lunch. A menu to keep everyone happy and a garden to sit out and enjoy the sunshine.

We stayed at Watlington and had our evening meal at The Chequers. It’s a nice traditional pub full of locals. However we were made to feel welcome by the staff and clientele

Service was good but lite bites were obviously straight from the freezer and then deep fried. Could do with some summery salads or sandwiches on the menu.

Visited in a group of seven with two children. We had booked a table which was ready upon arrival. Food and drinks ordered at the bar and a tab started. The food all arrived together and as ordered. We were told we could order any combination of food from the menu, which is always excellent when children are eat.ing!

Great basic food in a relaxed atmosphere. Also a good range of beers. Large garden with wooden furniture.

After a bit of shopping, we drove down the hill to The Chequers. It's been a while since our last visit, and the last few years have seen it change hands several times, so we weren't sure of what to expect.

We had lunch there a couple of days ago. It was so cold that you needed to either eat with your overcoat on or fry next to the wood fire. My wife's meal was of gammon egg and chips but fine. I had the beer battered fish. It had really strange batter it looked like a mix between breaded and battered it was also skinned when haddock is normally served skin on. I suspect that it was a catering product that could be cooked from frozen.

Popped in for dinner on Saturday, service was fantastic as always.

Lovley food warm welcome great location all in all recommended will definitely be returning, food was excellent and afordable

Lovely evening in the Chequers garden, listening to birdsong... excellent food with beautifully cooked selection of vegetables brought out by charming and cheerful bar staff.

El Chequers, dirigido por Andy y Lou, es un precioso pueblo pintoresco, pub. Hay un excelente jardín para bebidas de verano fuera en un día/noche.

Had a lovely Sunday roast here with kids (who massively enjoyed the small play area). Everything was delicious (incl dessert!), and the staff is really welcoming. Highly recommend!

What a lovely place - beautiful garden, friendly staff, fantastic vegetarian food eaten under the shade of a cherry tree, Italian beer on tap also local ales. Can't wait to go again.

Lovely old pub, warm friendly atmosphere. Open fire in the winter. Reasonably priced and delicious food.

Called in but locals occupied whole bar. Decided not to stay. Looked nice but seems not for passers by.

Pub displicente. El personal no podía ser molestado. Todo el lugar parece viejo y lo mismo se puede decir de la comida. Aparcamiento poco

Un pub antiguo precioso, muy bien dirigido por un equipo feliz que te hace sentir muy bienvenido. Excelente comida con ingredientes locales de gran calidad, muy bien organizado para algunos deliciosa comida hecha. Volveremos. . . Gracias de nuevo. . . Richard y Elizabeth

Firstly not sure why my account thumbed up that post which said disappointing in more way than one! As it's certainly not!Andy and Lou are fantastic and always make you feel welcome. They can never do enough for you.Food is always good, and the new conservatory is very well done it's a lot warmer in there now.My only slight criticism is they need more MINT CHOC CHIP ice cream

Varied menu with good choice - we had the fish and chips which was good. Nice cosy restaurant and bar.

We had researched the pub looking for a dog freindly pub to meet with an old friend for a meal to be followed by a good walk with the dog. The website made it look promising.However - dogs are certainly not welcome, so much for the welcome - positively frosty. The inside is dingy and tired and rather than being quaint and traditional was for me simply depressing and typical of why pubs are dying out.The lunchtime pub grub menu was OK, the scampi were just about cooked and teh wild boar burger was nice, so the meal was OK but nothing special.All in all disappointing, and will we go back - nope.

Enjoyed a very good meal at this lovely traditional country pub. Home cooked steak, mushroom in Guinness pie with good selection of veg. Great selection of homemade puds. Have no problem in recommending.

Anyone looking for a family friendly pub meal around Watlington should visit The Chequers. Great beer. Fantastic local food and a warm welcome. What more could you ask for!

Thank you for dinner tonight. Our large party was easily accomodated for. Food was incredible and fresh and didnt take long either. Plates swiftly taken and left to relax. Lovely local cosy pub xxxx

Lovely Sunday lunch - beautifully cooked and a great atmosphere - highly recommended xxxx The staff are fantastic x

Amazing birthday meal and I got a red cabbage birthday cake with candle.Lou and Andy are fantastic publicans and always go the extra mile.Food was excellent as always

Really good pub food - nice atmosphere, friendly staffAl food is cooked to order and of a very high standard.Great with kids, lovely garden

An excellent home cooked Sunday roast. Just how I like it. Unpretentious quality that hits the mark. Very good value for money with excellent service. Beers fine but would have liked more in the way of guest beer but what I had was all fine.

Great local pub,I would recommend this to anyone.Friendly service always welcoming an friendly.Louise and Andy a tribute to their trade.

Lovely pub, has great food, great beer and a garden with a play area for the kids.Out of the way of the main routes through the town of Watlington. Sat Nav,love lane Watlington.

This is a small pub tucked away in the back streets of Watlington, some 17 miles from Oxford. It's run by Louise & Andy with occasional help from other family members. Andy is the chef and he is excellent. The food is traditional British, including roast beef, lamb, pork belly, and other choices. The food is fresh, cooked well, with plenty of vegetables. The prices are competitive and it's a great place for a family or friends' get together. Eating in the large garden is certainly an option in good weather. If not, the inside is very cosy.

This is a great little pub with great food nestled away in the back roads of Wattlington. Great "honest" food and well kept beer all rounded off by a really lovely owner who is very friendly and eager to help.

Had a lovely steak Guinness pie topped with a delicious pastry with a selection of 4 vegetables and chips. Reasonably prices, good portion no nonsense food. All wonderfully hot, which is becoming a rarity these days.

Selected Watlington as the mid point to meet up with friends for lunch and chose The Chequers based on Trip Advisor reviews. Not disappointed. This pub set in one of the towns back streets has a pleasant atmosphere and is a pretty typical English pub with garden and small dining area. Menu fairly varied and moderately priced. All our meals were well presented and cooked to perfection, no complaints. Will return if in the area again.

Booked for Hubby's 40th as we love the Chequers.Food was amazing as always and we always ask for extra Red Cabbage - try it, it's amazing!!!The locals are so friendly, make conversation even though they don't know you that's why we try to go back as it's so friendly.

We booked here as it was in easy reach for both parties. The atmosphere was very pleasant and we were given a warm welcome. The choice of food was excellent. The food was delicious, plentiful and well presented. The staff were very pleasant and very obliging. Even after eating the meal and they were due to close, we were not hassled and had to ask for the bill.

Always love coming here, great homemade food and good drinks:) and really good atmosphere :) always guaranteed a nice time

Choosing the pub as it was half way between ourselves and friends. Good choice of meals all freshly prepared. If you go into the conservatory they have a window into the kitchen, which is spotless. Good selection of beers.

Quaint, charming pub, with great food and great choice of ales. Staff very friendly and keen to impress. Food took a while to come out (hence the 4 stars) but was cooked fresh. Book a table early, and try the food. It's worth it!

Friendly helpful staff even when busy which is quite rare these days Honest pub food lovely garden and a good pint of Brakspears, what's not to like?

Amazing food every time we go to the Chequers. We never have a bad meal.Staff are very friendly and always make us very welcome.Lovely garden area, hope to get over for some summer days

Popped in for lunch on Bank Holiday Monday for lunch. Welcoming staff, Wild boar burger was pretty substantial as was the wife's moussaka. Would visit again if the opportunity arose.

Good good and drinks, beautiful little old pub, lovely garden! A great local. Friendly staff, climbing frame in garden. quality pub grub

Lovely welcoming staff. Good beer and great food. The garden and conservatory are very pretty in the nice weather

I booked here for my birthday for a family lunch for people coming from different directions so handy just off junction 6. We had a table for 17, the food all came out together and the staff were really welcoming and patient with us. The food was all really tasty and good value. Everyone really enjoyed their meals especially the pork belly and the lemon tart. Thank you to the staff for making my family celebration really relaxed! I was so pleased I'd booked here rather than going into Oxford.

I have always liked the Chequers for me I love it more in the summer do to the garden, however it is very good whenever you go. The food is beautiful, I have worked my way through nearly everything on the menu and I have never been disappointed.I do also need to point out that I have my sons Christening here in November last year and nothing was too much for the staff! Andy & Lou are brilliant!!

This pub was so lovely. The main reason is because the family that run it work really really hard to give you a good dining experience and the food is lush . I was unfair before, but now I'm proud to have it as our local. Scrummy burgers, delicious pork belly and good old scampi!!! All very reasonable too. Went to Heston's "The Crown" and it is no where near as good as this place. Just blooming love it. Thanks for having us guysXx

This is a pub which appeals to individuals or groups of all ages The building is old, attractive and welcoming. The beer is well-kept and the food, which is genuinely home-cooked and nicely served, is unpretentious but of a high standard. Portions are generous and prices very reasonable.

Good family local with friendly staff. The food is freshly cooked to order, Good portion sizes and great value for money. car park available.

The best pub in the area! Brilliant food, the portions are huge but so tasty you can't put it down. Bar staff are second to none and you will definitely feel at home here. Enjoy the food and drink and the fireplace is a real treat in the winter. Wonderful country pub.

A really friendly local pub with good beer, a real welcome from the staff and good food. Dropped in to eat mid week and reasonably full which is a good sign. Also liked the fact that people were chatting and drinking in groups rather than just eating - made for a nice atmosphere. Food was good: cooked well and reasonably priced. Will return.

Great atmosphere, excellent well kept beer and good food. I would recommend for lunch or evening dinner.

Great pub for food and drink. Lovely atmosphere. Extensive, tasty menu. Well kept beers, seasonal special always on tap. Well worth a visit.

And they don't even open their doors 'til 6... Walked in here after a long day in Oxford, and couldn't find the host or bartender/server anywhere. Turns out they were in the bathroom, for about 10 minutes... When they finally showed up, I was informed they didn't serve food until 7, and that I couldn't sit at a table and wait - I had to sit at the bar. Left immediately and went to Half Moon Pub in Cuxham instead.

Having driven for 4 hours we needed a stop for lunch. Pretty Pub, very warm welcome. They have a lovely conservatory with very comfortable seating. A drink and food to follow. Both very satisfactory. If we hadn't spotted their sign we would never have found this oasis of calm as it is hidden behind the residential housing.. Well worth a visit. They have a large garden with a child friendly area (tree house). I would think that it would be very cosy in the winter as plenty of small bars inside.. If I lived nearer I would go back again and again.

We took my two daughters and grandchildren to the Chequers for Sunday lunch today. What a truly lovely pub. The staff were absolutely brilliant, couldn't do enough for us to make our lunch a success. With a little 16-month old to cope with, we sat in the conservatory area with plenty of space, and the garden just a few feet away. My nine-year old grandson loved the garden with the children's play area and they both loved the rabbit!Although they were only serving roast lamb, this suited two of us and the others had scampi and chips, a ploughman's and my grandson had chicken nuggets and all the roast vegetables - perfect for all of usDesserts were gorgeous, all home-made and we all thoroughly enjoyed our visitWill definitely be going back

took a friend here for lunch, we both ordered the burgers.....bad idea.....never in our lives have either of us had a tough hamburger before! .....couldn't eat it ....This place has loads of charm a great beer garden but, crappy food....

Had an evening meal, menu was quite varied and we chose from the light bites, I had quiche and salad which was very enjoyable, my husband had beefburger which was ok but a little greasy. Reasonably priced and good service by friendly staff. Good to see light bites on a evening menu, many people like ourselves, I am sure would benefit from these smaller meals.