The Crown in Cherwell

Thank you to Kerry for welcoming us to the Crown and allowing us to visit on a trip to Charlton on Otmoor to research family history. The pub is lovely and full of history - although we had to be on the road back home by the time it opened for customers, I will be back as I need to bring my friend's whose family used to keep the inn back in the 1800s and will stay for a drink and soak up the atmosphere. Kerry was lovely to talk too and shared some stories about the pub, which was kind of her as she was getting ready to open. Based on meeting Kerry, I know you will get a great welcome at the pub.

This was such a lovely welcoming community pub. Superbly run with such a welcome, smashing food, well kept selection of local ale . All offered by a wonderful landlord and landlady. Sadly all has changed, the whole feeling is of contempt, no food, no welcome, no relaxed local charm...all gone! New landlady is rude and generally not nice. The locals who made this pub what it was are avoiding it themselves. So sad when these things happen, especially in such a lovely village and tight community.

Great local pub in very nice village - humming with lots of local drinkers - and very friendly service. Lovely walks on Otmoor (if not under water!). Thank you!

Had a very enjoyable evening with a few mates here. The beer was good at reasonable price and it is a typical English country pub. The main reason I have given 5 stars is because we were made to feel extremely welcome and nothing was too much trouble. We were there to play Aunt Sally ( mad pub game). All the locals were very friendly and there was a great atmosphere. At the end of the match we were treated to Pizza, Sausages and chips. All the food was very good and most welcome after playing outside in the rain. Look forward to going there again and well done again to all the staff. Pubs like this are becoming a rarity nowadays and they need supporting.

Typical village drinking pub good beers great gin bar warm and welcoming. Lovely walks across Otmoor finished off with different Gin every time ! Keep it up !

Went here last night and good time. The pub has just changed hands but the welcome and service was very good. Good range of beers at reasonable and prices and a great atmosphere. I believe they will be doing meals in the near future and I will put on my list. It makes such a difference when the staff are genuinely friendly and it makes you want to go back. Keep smiling !

Amazing food. Great crisped crisps. All for a great price. Would definitely recommend the ribbs and the roast dinner.

Had an early Mother's Day lunch here. Very friendly staff. Fairly basic decor in the restaurant area but all our meals were excellent. All of us had fish, three fried and one grilled. Fish was really fresh and we saw the glass of beer going into the kitchen to make a lovely fresh crispy batter. Would recommend.

A very special family and friends birthday dinner surprised many of us for its excellent quality as well as good value. Duck bruscetta was followed by a platter each of small fish tasters: beer batter prawn, scallop, cooked oyster, salmon roulade and small glass of cold cucumber soup to refresh the palate. The main course was steak for all, cooked to perfection with browned exterior but pink inside, accompanied by outstandingly good chips and a selection of green vegetables, with superb gravy, a small jug for each of us. The finishing touch was a small chocolate souffle each, with molten chocolate inside, accompanied by a ball of vanilla icecream. We all enjoyed everything, some having wine, others draft beer. Jolly accordion music from the bar added a festive touch.

Lovely village pub with very friendly staff (and locals). Children are welcome. Right on the edge of otmoor it’s an Ideal venue for a nice walk then back for a bevvy !! Nice menu, Food is all freshly cooked, Well worth a visit !

Booked the Crown for Sunday lunch after reading so many favourable reviews - and it more than lived up to to the ratings. My wife doesn't eat red meat so she made an enquiry about the possibility of roast chicken instead when she made our booking.. Back came a very positive response and what's more there even was a phone call on the day to check how she wanted it cooked. That's service! We both thoroughly enjoyed the meal - I had the terrific roast Scottish roast beef - and it came with a sharing dish of tasty vegetables - carrots, stick beans and broccoli - plus a decent Yorkshire pud and really good roasties. As others have noted, the atmosphere is very friendly, the service attentive and the prices reasonable.. Real ale is available, too, so for us the Crown is the perfect choice for a country lunch. Couldn't help but overhear the next table repeating their booking for the follow week. Not surprised.

By chance and a last minute change of plans we decided to go to The Crown for their beer/cider festival. Parking was easy and The Crown is a most charming village pub. We were welcomed from the moment we went in. It was just an idyllic afternoon/evening. The hospitality was wonderful, the barbecue was so good that we went back twice (not great for diet but hey it was the last bank holiday before Christmas!), my husband delighted in the choice of beer/cider and commented on how friendly everyone was and we sat under a lovely marquee to enjoy some of our favourite songs present and past from Radio Generation who performed live. There was also a lovely beer garden and lots of seating. We stayed for 4 hours and by the time we left felt part of this wonderful village community. Even the children were so well behaved and helpful! The tractor going past added to the ambience. This was an English country pub at it's very best. The owners clearly take a pride in their business. even the loos were immaculate (sorry TMI but this is so often not always the case!). As we only live 15mins away we can't believe we didn't discover this gem before. We are certainly going to become regulars now and can't wait to book sunday lunch. Thanks guys for a most memorable and happy day.

we only went here as the other pub we'd planned was closed - but so glad we did. Had a lovely meal, the pizza (king prawn, chicken and chorizo) was super - lovely thin crust, and they whipped up a salad for us. The others had the fish and chip[s, one said the chips were the best pub chips he'd ever had. Cam with beautifully cooked fresh veg - including asparagus. All cooked to order so a little wait but that was fine. Very friendly people

Our absolute favourite place to go for a Sunday roast or a weeknight dinner. Tip is to book ahead as it books out fast. Highly recommend it.

a village pub how it it should be! full of characters and wonderful hosts. Food, service @ and staff are a credit to the landlord and landlady.

What a nice little place. Small menu, but I like that, usually means what's on it is better and that was the case here. Really good pizza for a pub, ribs were also good. Service excellent. Sort of place where everyone knows everyone. Meal for two including alcohol around £35. Would recommend.

I live 50yards away from the crown and use it regularly,the food is excellent and all cooked by the landlord max,the pub is well run and always welcoming,I would definitely recommend a visit.

You need to book - and don't expect "fast food" it is all home made home cooked and fresh Great selection and some of us had had fish other beef both top drawer

We had a great Sunday Lunch here. All the dishes were well prepared and tasted great. The sirloin of beef was melt in mouth. We had starters and pudding, all good. It's not a cheap meal but very good quality, simply done. Staff were really friendly.

We had a small family party at the Crown. Fantastic hospitality, quality buffet. A really lovely venue, thank you to everyone at the crown. I recommended you go along yourself and enjoy a lunch,dinner or a drink, relax and enjoy this wonderful village pub.

Nice, warm pub. Good food, open for "special" orders. Friendly staff aswell! Felt like most of the village came in for a pint or two. If you want to experience an authentic, english pub this place is recomended :)

Excellent food and very nice people. Louise is a great host and Max a fantastic chef. The pizza is amazing, we often get it to take away. We have been several times and the standard of the food has been top notch every time. The ribs and the chocolate fondant are other highlights along with the Nostros Pinot noir. I can't recommend this place any higher, a must visit. A lovely country pub location tastefully decorated for a nice atmosphere with food and hosting of the highest standard in Charton on Otmoor, near Bicester, Islip, oxford and kidlington.

Return trip and our favourite was on the menu - she had the Ribs and I had the rib-eye. I sat and enjoyed my steak while she 'MMm'ed and 'AAA'hed over every bite. That she left perfect chips is a mark of how good those Ribs are.

I love the Crown, we've been there loads. The food is fantastic and the owners are incredibly friendly and accommodating.

Popped in here for a drink, and ended up having a very delicious pizza, which was one of the best I've ever had. Thin and crispy, with loads of topping. The atmosphere is great..very local, and everything a country pub should be. The landlady was very friendly and helpful. I had the sauvignon blanc wine, which was much better than I have had in more expensive places. My Husband really enjoyed the Young's bitter. Can totally recommend and will certainly visit again.

Consistently fabulous food in this quaint little village pub directly opposite the village church. Food is faultless but give yourself plenty of time as it's all cooked freshly by the one chef. A compact menu but something for everyone and highly recommended. Best to book at there are not many tables but worth taking the time to plan ahead.

a truly wonderful evening at the crown, superb hosts and food. we are so lucky to live nearby, everything this couple do they do superbly.

The crown has been transformed, first time but by no means the last we have actually eaten here. It is a very clean welcoming establishment, serving good fresh food. No loud music or TV bearing away. A genuine family working hard and delivering excellence all round. A very nice country pub in a lovely village. A must visit.

I have dined here on a few occasions and I wondered whether I should keep this little friendly gem a secret to ensure that I could get a table during my next visit to Oxfordshire. BUT on my last visit, it seemed to me that the portions had been less than their usual generous levels - so to the husband / wife team who run The Crown, I say ... you have the potential to have a very successful & popular lifetime food/drinks establishment - please do not spoil it by reducing the amount of food on the plate....

Lovely family-owned pub with really great atmosphere and fantastic food, the pork ribs were particularly good. There was live music when we visited which was great (I think this happens every third Thursday) The owners are really nice and genuine people, definitely worth the effort to get over there!

Nice pub, small with a good atmosphere, Good service, food nicely cooked. Restaurant section was busy, so advisable to book.

Fantastic meal and spoilt for choice with the menu. Lovely village pub atmosphere. If you haven't been its worth the effort but advisable to book so you won't be disappointed as it is a small restuarant.

I have visited this pub/restaurant a few times now and cannot fault the food or overall experience! The staff are extremely attentive and nothing seems like too much to ask. I've had a number of dishes including the duck pate and chicken terrine to start and they were both outstanding. It is clear that the chef really cares about his food and everything from the presentation to the service and taste is just outstanding.

We visited the Crown following a game of golf and were really hungry. We chose a Pizza to share as a starter with Ribs and Lamb for the main. I can only ad to what other people have said , the Ribs are the best I have ever tried and my friends lamb was cooked to perfection. This place is a real gem and only a fool would give it a bad review. As for the chap that wants extra chips and onion rings I think it says more about him that this lovely pub.

We have been here a few time for dinner and lunch and have loved it each time. The Ribs are the best I've had and the duck/hoisin pizza is fantastic. We came with two children under 5 and were made very welcome.

Me and husband have been here many times and each time we dine it never disappoints the food is delicious the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming the staff are very friendly and the landlord and landlady are FABULOUS people, I look forward to coming here again and again and I cannot wait for our next visit.

Dropped our daughter off at a Birthday Party far too far away to go back home, so decided to have dinner on a whim. Nearest restaurant was The Crown and convenience turned into delight.

Booked The Crown for my birthday meal with friends as it is classed No. 1 restaurant in Kidlington. I am afraid I cannot agree and found it to be a little disappointing. There were only 2 tables laid out this particular evening, ours and a table of approx. 12. We were the only ones in the restaurant when we ordered our meal. We had to wait for an hour for the food to arrive. In fairness the fish dish and the spare ribs were very good but the steak wasn't up to standard for the price. The meals arrived with just a small portion of chips which in my opinion were over cooked. There was no choice of sauce with the steak, just peppercorn which my friend did not like. We were given 2 bowls of vegetables to share between us, which were good and saved the steak meal from being a tad boring. In my opinion the steak could have done with a tomato, mushroom or onion rings to make it a bit more tasty. When we ordered our deserts we were told we would have to wait as the table of 12 were being served with their starters. Again to be fair we did not have to wait very long and they were very good but I think a little overpriced. unfortunately our evening was then spoiled because of the noise coming from the large table. In fact we were unable to speak or hear each other. In my opinion there are better restaurants in Kidlington which are better value for money.

Had to find a pub that was equal distance between London and Warwick so decided to avoid the major cities and go for something a little more rural. After searching around I came across this place that had excellent reviews. Decided to give it a go and fortunately was not disappointed. Beautiful setting, friendly and attentive staff and fantastic food. The pub had a great local feel to it with one area set aside for dining and the other for drinking and socialising. This is the sort of place that helps to bring a local community together but also welcomes outsiders and treats them just as well!

Sunday lunch at the Crown was delicious, beef cooked to perfection and plenty of it, freshly cooked roast potatoes and vegetables. Puddings were amazing, we had the chocolate fondant and apple crumble both melt in the mouth and delicious. The wine and beer were equally excellent quality. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, relaxed and friendly. It was so refreshing to see the bar full of locals including families with children (all well behaved) enjoying meeting up in such a relaxed welcoming pub. We enjoyed the ambience and hospitality from the landlady and the young lady serving the drinks. We will be back, many thanks for a wonderful lunch in such relaxed and friendly pub.

Having taken my parents for Sunday lunch here yesterday, based only on the Trip Advisor reviews, I thought I should do my bit and write a recommendation for such a lovely little village pub. The Sunday menu was short and concise (4 options for each course) and we would all have happily tried each of the options presented to us. The starters were very yummy (I had the beer battered prawns which were light, juicy and not at all greasy) but the star of the show was the roast beef which we all had for our main course. It was probably one of the best roast beef dinners I have ever had. The beef was so tender and cooked to absolute perfection - pink in the middle, so delicious. The gravy was brilliant too and the waitress brought an extra jug to the table (as well as horseradish sauce) without us even asking! The Yorkshires were huge, crispy and tasty and the veggies and roasties were perfect too! Well done to the chef!!! 3 of us managed to squeeze desserts down as well which were gorgeous - esp the chocolate fondant which I indulged in. Overall, a very lovely Sunday lunch!!

This is the first time I've ever left a TripAdvisor review, so hopefully that gives you some idea of what a fabulous evening we had at The Crown last week. We visited for my mum's 75th birthday, and with mum being a coeliac (she has to follow a gluten free diet) it's often difficult to find a restaurant that offers her something as lovely as other guests can enjoy. The Crown managed all this and more. The only dessert option for mum is usually ice-cream or sorbet, but the chef came out to chat to us and made mum something special that wasn't on the menu. If only more restaurants could be so amazingly accommodating.

To say I was amazed with the meal is truly an understatement, not to mention the service. Please do support the Crown and keep them going for a long time so we can all enjoy. Thanks Chef we will be back again and again!

First ever visit to The Crown on a Thursday evening with 3 generations of our family, arrived to find that the chef had burgers in specially for the youngsters in our party as I had mentioned that they liked burgers when I booked,impossible to beat service like that. All the adults in our party had different items from the menu and all our meals were just the very best, no fault in any way,so no more needs to be said on the subject of the food, to round off a great evening there was the friendly landlady and her daughter.The Crown is a little off the beaten track but don't be put off by that you will not regret the extra effort required to find it,they do not seem to have a website at present or at least I was unable to find one so you may need to phone to get opening hours etc.

We are a group of 3 retired couples who meet for long weekends around the UK so we have eaten at many, many restaurants. We had dinner at the Crown and what wonderful surprise!

The chef here has a real eye for a relaxed environment yet fine dining experience. The menu is one of those that does not have so many choices but enough that they all so good, you want to sample everything!

The best food I have had for years; considerably better than the meals in London's better-reviewed restaurants. The tempura prawns in beer batter are well worth driving across two counties for - as is the honey glazed lamb which is probably the best lamb dish I've ever eaten. Relaxed, friendly service and a quiet out-of-the-way location. Despite its somewhat remote location all of the tables were reserved when we visited mid-week so probably best to book ahead - word is obviously spreading about this hidden gem

We are very reluctant to comment on visits to restaurants because everyone has different standards. But my wife, myself and sister in law have just had lunch in The Crown and I can honestly say that it is the best lunch out we have ever had. Louise in front of house was exceptional and her husband Max produced the best food ever. We will definitely return. Thank you.

My husband and I called in the crown on Sunday for a roast, we hadn't booked and got there around 230, we asked if they could squeeze us in and they did! The food was beautiful, the beef melted in my mouth and the gravy is out of this world.

My friend and I visit many different pubs in and around Oxford. If I do not enjoy the meal I tell the landlord, I do not write criticism on here. That gives the landlords opportunity to explain and put things right. If I do enjoy I do right a review like this one....Louise the landlady of The Crown is an exceptionally charming lady who offers service with a warm friendly smile, her husband takes the helm in the kitchen and their daughter Alice helps behind the bar. The food was delicious, not hurried, which is nice if you want to enjoy a relaxing sunday lunch. I had an omelette with smoked haddock and mature cheddar in it....mouth watering, followed by roast beef, loads of vegetables and a whopping tasty yorkshire pudding plus delicious gravy. I then indulged in a strawberry crumble, I felt compelled to help my friend out with his biscuits and cheese. It was all just fantastic......whoops I forgot the nice glass of merlot to wash it down. I urge you to try it.

We have just come back home from a couple of nights in and around Oxford. As a family (2 adults, kids 6 & 12) we decided to venture out based on the strength of the reviews to The Crown, Charlton on Otmoor nr Kidlington. In summary, we had an amazing meal with a menu that catered for both parents and children. On the one hand the parents were treated to fine dining consisting of slow cooked lamb with potato gratin & rib eye steak, while the kids stuck to tasty thin crust pizzas with smoked chicken or chorizo & prawns.

Owners, Max and Louise took over The Crown in September 2013 and immediately set about a major facelift and reopened in October. Whilst retaining its importance as the village pub and a place to meet The Crown now offers excellent home cooked food in an attractive, contemporary and welcoming setting. Focussing on fresh local ingredients chef Max has cleverly kept the menu short but offering enough choice for causal or formal dining including delicious starters, thin crust pizzas, traditional and innovative main courses and rich puds.

Just visited The Crown for a quick drink and received the usual warm welcome from Max. Pleased to report that the pictures have arrived and don't they look great! Louise and Max have worked wonders since they took over The Crown and reopened it less than three months ago. In that time, my family and I have eaten there a number of times and the food and service have always been top class. Difficult to choose what to order from the menu because everything sounds so lovely. Louise, Max and their team make everybody feel welcome and I'd recommend without hesitation that you pay them a visit soon.

Matt and Louise only took over The Crown a couple of months ago and what a change! From a dark, dingy dive which once visited ensured you never returned, it is truly amazing what can be achieved with a deep clean, a coat of paint, some new furniture and hosts who smile. However there is still room for improvement with some pictures on the wall and perhaps a screen across the kitchen door.