The Duck on the Pond in Cherwell

Very tasty local food ,selected menu all cooked an served at its best ,very nice setting too

A bit quiet for an early Sunday lunch. But my soup starter was heaven. My friend’s roast chicken was underdone but the cooked bits were tasty. Not sure about the chef’s own ‘hay custard’ pudding!!

Fabulous country pub. Great selection of food and good wine. We had Mushroom Wellington nice but need more. Chicken with pork cheek croquette and Pork all delicious.

Really impressive - lovely food and attentive staff in a lovely setting. Lots of pubs have gotten expensive lately but this one is well worth the price. Loved the little touches like the tiny pot of soup that came with the bread and delicious chocolate truffles to finish

We were staying nearby and had been told this had recently changed owners. We went for Sunday lunch and it was wonderful! Super friendly, attentive, informative staff, delicious and interesting food and a lovely pub! Would highly recommend.

Wow what an amazing Sunday lunch we had here today ....The best beef we have ever tasted !!!!!!

Excellent Sunday lunch. Crispy pigs head starter was delicious, roast beef main was tasty and tender and vegetables cooked perfectly. Chocolate mousse cake and heritage grain ice cream (home made) to finish. Service was great. Thankyou to the team.

Great restaurant would highly recommend it.

I had seen some good reviews of The Duck on the Pond and I was very pleasantly surprised by the internal decor and general atmosphere. The food was very good (especially the Beer and Cheese soup) but, my criticism would be the quality of service. The 2 waitresses busied themselves but there was little attention to detail. Having ordered more drinks, after 15 minutes, I had to get up from the table and enquire about the whereabouts of my order. The cultery (which is held in a rather pointless wooden tray) wasn't replenished and nobody enquired if we were satisfied or required anything. My main course was pork belly - beautifully cooked and crisp crackling. The mash was perfect BUT the cabbage leaves that lay over the pork belly did nothing for the dish and without any other veg, the plate had no colour. If the level of service matched the quality of food, they would be onto a winner!

14 of us were warmly welcomed for Sunday lunch in a private area which suited us perfectly. Food was attractive, hot and perfectly cooked with the children well catered for too. We would highly recommend

We have been enjoying Hendrick's food for the best part of ten years, first at the White Horse in Kings Sutton, prior to their move, and latterly at the Duck on the Pond. This Saturday lunch time was no different. The mushroom soup taster was delicious, setting the bar high, but this was surpassed by the chicken and sweetcorn soup, tasty little pieces of succulent chicken with a delicious light and flavorful soup poured on. Both of us had the lamb bun/pie, a new riff on an old White Horse favourite, that even surpassed our memories of versions passed. Julie and Victoria create a wonderful front of house atmosphere and have recruited in their own likeness. We highly recommend arriving for dinner a little early and enjoying a drink in the bar prior to what will be a most enjoyable meal. Further to travel than the Kings Sutton days, but always worth it!

Beautiful food, very relaxing in the beer garden. Excellent service. The appetiser of fresh bread and a mushroom sauce was delicious. My husband and I both opted for the lunch 2 course set menu. Beautiful flavours, local produce whete possible, and plenty of food for lunch time. We are visiting from Norfolk and this was out intro to the Cotswolds. Great start. Our dog was given some biscuits and fresh water. Very pleased that we stopped here for lunch.

We were a party of 14 and very well looked after in such a pleasant ambience & manner

The food jere was excellent even though the description on the menu didn't give much of a clue as to what you might receive. This kept things interesting though and we went with it and weren't disappointed. We were sat in a little alcove and I wonder if this is why we were a little forgotten at times by the waiting staff but this won't stop me going back again.

Great place, delicious food and drinks! A little on the pricier side - but I guess extra for the ambience (very pretty food presentation ad well). We sat indoors, but the outdoor seating looked very lovely as well. Had the Sunday roast beef lunch - very delicious, but felt something was missing to really take it to the next level (for us anyway). The individual components of ox cheek Yorkshire pud, roast beef, carrots, kale and brocolli, roast potatoes were all delicious on their own but the combination somehow lacks that desired oomph for a Sunday roast. Not sure what though…4/5 The Beer cheese soup starter was amazing though! This one is >5/5 stars - definitely give this one a try! Also had the trout and gherkin starter - this was also so-so…very nice plating but again the combination was just ever so slightly off - 3.5/5 Had the mocktail - if this is anything to go buy, definitely also recommend their cocktails! Delish and not thimble-sized like what others I’ve had! - 5/5

Absolutely out of this world.. top class recommendation. Of the duck on the pond. Never before eaten food sp outstanding as tonight's meal. We had. Mussels. Steak and chicken.. just to give you a clue on what to go for. Perfect service from the ladies . Cleanliness. Presentation.menu choices. The table layed with quality items. Top class. We will be recommending. Thankyou for our amazing evening.

A really nice find. Popped in here on our way home to Reading from Birmingham. Nice quiet place with lovely service and beautiful food. The pre-starter of lettuce soup was a very nice touch. I never thought I'd ever have a soup made of lettuce but was lovely. All foods at the table was really enjoyed especially those who had the Beer and Cheese soup. Top notch

Beautifully place. The staff and quality of the food was excellent.

It is a lovely place, you kind of suspect when a chunk of bread appears prior to the starter that the portions will be beautifully presented and on the small side, we were not disappointed.. 😊 Ordered pork belly as a main, fabulous and tasty with an apple crumble as the sweet. Fabulous quality, if a little on the small side. Great staff, friendly and welcoming without intruding. Recommended.

Best pub food going agreed by all 4 of us! Saturday evening and a group of 4 of us decided to call in while passing through the area. It was a bit of a gamble as we had looked online at a sample menu and all had something we were possibly looking forward to from that. The sample menu was just that; an idea on the cuisine style but in the restaurant the menu you’ll get is the seasonal one for what they have on. It’s not a huge menu but the 4 of us all chose different things for mains and everything we had was delicious. All of us I think left feeling like we’d made the best choices on the menu. The service was friendly with the team checking in plenty to see if we wanted anything and to check we were happy with the dishes but also it was laid back enough we could casually enjoy the meal. We were lucky enjoy to get a little appetiser and some after dinner chocolates we hadn’t ordered during our visit so combined with the service and amazing food, while it was a more expensive meal out, it felt like really good value for the offering. The stand outs for me on this trip were the beer and cheddar soup along with the pork belly with mash and cabbage. The cod in mussel sauce looked incredible and all 4 different mains were cleared, with all of us very full after having finished the meals just down to how tasty they were. The pub is really nicely decorated and felt like a traditional pub modernised and fresh for an upmarket meal.

Was just passing through it's very nice pub very picturesque

Visiting the area for the day, we found the Duck on the Pond online, didn’t bother with reading any reviews as we liked the sound of it, booked a table for lunch and we were not disappointed. The staff were extremely pleasant and friendly and the dining room is smart, with beautifully laid tables. We had initially intended to have a light lunch but when we read the set menu we rapidly change our minds. I think it’s the first time I have ever wanted to eat every course on a set menu: there are normally one or two things that don’t appeal and which reduce the choices for me but that wasn't the case here as it all looked lovely. The chef has some interesting dishes which make great use of very local produce without introducing elements that clearly don’t go together – something other chefs would do well to emulate. While we were waiting we were brought excellent home-made bread, butter and tiny cups of a really delicious garden soup, undoubtedly made from ingredients from their kitchen garden which is close to a very pretty flower garden, there to wander around, overlooked from the terrace with tables under umbrellas. However, it was a very hot day so we opted to eat indoors where it was cooler. We both ate the same dishes (we usually do, and often without prior discussion as to what we’re going to choose!). We had the Cod in mussel sauce which was absolutely delicious, as was the dessert of Hay custard, crumble and ice cream and accompanied that with glasses of a very good Picpoul de Pinet. We can’t remember when we enjoyed a meal so much and we wish we lived closer but we will certainly try and visit again. Such a shame that they don’t have rooms: dinner would be even better if we didn’t have a very long drive home afterwards!

Excellent food but a little pricey. £23 for small fish and chips ?????

Excellent food in a beautiful setting. We went for a Sunday roast and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. I’m already trying to find an excuse to go back. Congrats to the whole team for such an excellent job.

I was really disappointed with this restaurant. It has a very limited menu and the one on the night we went was not as good as the one advertised. Personal choice I know! I had the steak my husband had the pork belly. With the steak you got half a mushroom! A teaspoon of some unrecognisable green vegetable and a table spoon of gravy. The mini shepherds pie that accompanied it was dry and just meat and potato put together not cooked together! The pork belly was simply dreadful just a rib of pork full of fat and very little meat.very little sauce and a small bowl of mashed potato on the side. Both wines we chose were not available we did find one in the end much more expensive and not that great! The starters and desserts were uninspired. With a bill to of £191!! ( that’s with them taking the pork off) I don’t feel it was worth or in anyway a good evening. The biggest disappointment it was my husband’s birthday. I had researched this place but if fell far short of the reviews it gets! There are much better restaurants!

Not been there for a while but not disappointed saturday night visit - got busy at 8pm. Seated at 1845 Menu is reassuringly short and reasonable in price for dishes that all had a but of a twist. This is not somewhere for burgers and chips - nor do I think it is a place for young children Pork Belly excellent. Portions ok and beautifully presented. Waldorf salad just fantastic Service good for us but by 8pm the front of house team was clearly stretched Great place for special nights

I have marked the actual place as excellent because it is lovely. But I took my friend for a drink, I ordered a bottle of Rose and a bag of Pipers crisp which came to £39.00. Later, I ordered 1 glass of rose and it was £13.00. I know they have to make a profit, but that's just greedy. I had heard that Duck on the Pond was rather expensive, but that is ridiculous. It's a shame really, because I love to use a local, but never again. We will sit in my nice garden and buy the same wine in the supermarket for £8.00.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this restaurant. The service was exemplary from the moment we arrived. There was plenty of choice on the menu and we opted for the cod fillets. The food was excellent and cooked to perfection. The restaurant also provided good value for money. We can’t wait to come back!

Stayed the night in our camper and it was one of our best stops yet. Lovely pub with lovely staff. Lucky enough to have Sunday lunch and it was one of the best we've had for a long time. Noting the suppliers and distances the ingredients had been sourced from on the menu was a nice touch. We knew exactly where all 3 course had come from! It was busy service, but the staff coped well and we're very friendly.

One of the best meals we’ve ever eaten and the service was absolutely knock out ! Loved every minute , if it wasn’t such. Long way away we would be back every week !

Excellent lunch, would recommend.

Really loved the food, reasonably priced too

Excellent food. Pork belly delicious. Mushroom soup as amuse-bouche very tasty. Service excellent and friendly. When I booked I mentioned that it was a birthday celebration mid-week. We didn’t have desserts but they brought a plate with “happy birthday” written on in chocolate with a couple of chocolates - very nice touch and made the evening even more special.

Fabulous pub, warm and welcoming staff great atmosphere, good beer garden too.

Only had a beer, but will be back menu looks good but a little expensive

We visited for Sunday roast today and it was top quality and very filling. We chose the beef and ox cheek main which did not disappoint. The dessert was also great We will be returning more for lunch Thank you team

Was falsely sold this pub as coeliac friendly. Out of 4 mains only 1 truly freefrom. Appetiser was gf but no bread and only 1 pudding option which wasn't on the menu. As a coeliac very disappointing for choices. Definitely NOT gluten free but could adapt. Lovely meal otherwise

Outstanding pub! The staff were so lovely, kind and genuine! The food smelt great but sadly I didn’t have any this time! The beer was lovely and fresh. The two ladies behind the bar were so friendly, happy and accommodating. It’s one of the nicest pubs I have been to in a long time!!

Amazing food. Beautiful setting. Great staff. Everything in this place is great from the decor, to the staff, and the food is exquisite

A large group of us had the 8 course tasting menu on a Saturday evening. The food was delicious and the service was very good. Really recommend!

We stayed nearby and came here spontaneously for lunch. Everything was exquisite. My boyfriend voted it to be in his top 10 lunches haha He had the 3 course menu and each one was incredible, the cheese and beer soup was delicious so was the pork and custard desert. I had the poached chicken, which was nice, although I think I prefer a crispy skin but that's on me. However the meat was still delicious and so were the sides and gravy. Service was fab and attentive. We got a little greetings from the chef at the beginning, which is always a nice touch and a little chocolate to finish The table was set beautifully and everything was spot on. Great small selection of beers. Nothing to complain

Nice table, waitress a bit preoccupied with I don’t know what. Starter very nice Main course Meat ok Veg ok Roast potatoes clearly the chef hasn’t a clue Yorkshire pudding stodgy Gravy jug had 15 chips in it clearly a food and hygiene issue of which whoever is running the kitchen let alone the waiting staff should have picked up on . I think that the food is overpriced and if that’s the standard of food that is served and the crockery used avoid at all costs

Excellent service and perfectly cooked fresh foods. The veg was so fresh it retained all its great flavour. Good sized portions.

Great Sunday lunch. Service was excellent, polite and efficient. Could not knock the food quality, in fact 2 of us had three courses which we generally never do. Extensive wine list with many interesting bottles. Not the cheapest Sunday lunch, but worth the money as good value

We randomly stopped here for lunch on the way home from a well known Farmhouse stay. We chose the 3 course set lunch menu. It was the best pub food I have had for a very long time. We started with a complimentary bon bouche of home made mushroom soup which had exceptional flavour and perfect consistency. My main was pork belly which was lovely quality meat, not too fatty, with a crisp crackling and not salty as it so often is. The mashed potato was also excellent, complimented by a good well flavoured gravy. The piece de resistance was dessert of Hay cream custard crumble. I had no idea what it was when I ordered but it was utterly divine. Subtle flavours, excellent consistency and something different. The ambience was calm, the pub clean. Service was diligent, efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly - a perfect combination. I will definitely return and will go out of my way to do so.

Three of us lunched here for the first time and were extremely impressed indeed. It's very well done out with comfy seats, log fires, lots of duck paintings, proper ales and a charming waitress which all added up to a lovely atmosphere. The food was superb, about as good as it gets for a pub. We had four courses including some treats and everything was delicious and well presented. I imagine the outside area would be brilliant in spring or summer. We are only in the area occasionally but just can't wait to visit The Duck on the Pond next time we are near.

Service exemplary and food great too. Loved the setting.

Lovely place a drink and bite to eat.

Only had drinks but a nice pub great service

Great service by Reena! Probably the best chips I’ve had in a while. Plenty of parking

Been here couple of times; once for lunch and my husband took me for my birthday meal. We had pork belly and beef fillet on this occasion. Absolutely stunning. They serve the most delicious fresh bread with butter. We always enjoy their homemade cut chips and beer cheese soup. They really go the extra mile here. The menu doesn’t change often so you can enjoy dishes for longer. You can’t go wrong with anything you order here! When so many places are constantly changing their menus which always seems to be at the detriment of the diner either in quality, consistency and value. This place has never disappointed.

Didn't eat. Just a quick drink en route to Leafield. Will definitely call in again.

Had first visit last Friday. Highly recommend

The meal was delicious and presentation was beautiful. The staff was responsive and welcoming. The lady who worked the front of the house was so kind to our family. We enjoyed our experience so much we came back for lunch later in the week. Highly recommended.

It was lucky that we had planned a leisurely lunch for our recent visit, as the extraordinarily slow service didn’t really bother us. There was an incredibly long wait to order and an even longer wait for food. Top-up drinks were required while we waited & we wondered whether they had lost all their trays since drinks were all brought on separate journeys. When our food eventually arrived an hour and a half after ordering we were delighted with the bowls of shared veg but aghast that the ‘roast potatoes’ were, in fact, (wait for it)…….. deep fried potato chunks that tasted of chips. Soooo disappointing since the rest of the food was pretty good. Also, as we left, we noticed all the other tables had Christmas crackers - strange that our table was missed off on the cracker distribution round.

We and our friends had excellent meals and wines with friendly and attentive service in this cosy restaurant. I couldn't fault a single thing. We'll definitely visit again next time we visit the area.

It is one of the most welcoming place. With gorgous food and very well presented. Staff were very attentive and friendly, especially Rina. As soon as you got in, you will receive a very warm and friendly welcome. Its a most recommended place for couples and family alike. Looking forward to the next time.

Never been here before but what a wonderful place. There is nothing that is a negative. The place is beautiful, warm and welcoming. The staff are friendly and very engaging. The food was exceptional with a few additions. I strongly recommend people go to this delightful pub.

We booked in for Saturday lunch as this was a convenient location to meet a freind. Greeted warmly and shown to our table the menu arrived - a compact range of dishes , which in my experience is always a good sign - huge choices always mean a good few come directly from the freezer. Food was wonderful - three courses of culinary delight, all served with a brief explanation of contents. An enterprising kitchen at its best - and very good value. We will be back.

Had a steak fillet with ox cheek yummy

Tremendous lunch again. Dairy Cow Fillet of beef with Ox cheek was fantastic as was the starter of smoked trout. We’ve been before and will be back

Fantastic food superb service and very friendly staff highly recommended 👍😄

A nicely & tastefully renovated pub, with a very cosy, friendly ambience. The menu is quite narrow, with a choice of 3 mains but the produce for each is locally sourced, seasonal and beautifully put together. The belly pork was one of the nicest I've...

Would absolutely recommend. Lovely place and lovely people. If you want great food then this is the place to go

What a wonderful surprise Left the motorway on our journey home and found this gem. Good food, wine, beer and service. Highly recommended.

The food here is always delicious & innovative. Beautifully executed with skill & style. Yet again, we had a wonderful lunch today with friends. It is always a pleasure to dine here. This is not only because the Chefs excel themselves but also that the...

Excellent location Amazing food Dog friendly Welcoming atmosphere

Mushroom Wellington like I’ve never know. The potatoes… roasted to perfection. I can see why everyone is talking about this place and the new ownership is doing bits.

Came for Sunday lunch. Three courses for £35 - incredible value for such good quality food. Highly recommend!

Booked for our anniversary. Was supposed to be at the bar (as normal bookings were full), but they had a table for us, which was the first nice surprise. First visit with the current owners, who seem to have really moved things up a notch...

Excellent family Sunday birthday lunch. Five adults and a child. My grandsons menu was a good sized pizza which he enjoyed with lashings of ketchup. The Sunday roasts were all good sized, well presented and reasonably priced. I have driven past here many times now...

Gorgeous little countryside gem with delicious seasonal food and great service

Absolutely fabulous meal here last night. Would highly recommend to all. Delicious food and excellent value. Fresh ingredients and a chef who clearly knows what they’re doing! Thanks so much to all at the Duck on the Pond!!!!

Arrived beautiful ambience, had 2 x drinks , 2x chips , my daughter had a special packed lunch which we brought in with us as she has alligeons to food , to be told we wasn't allowed to do this inside the pub , it made us as a family feel unwelcome. My daughter was upset , we had our food and drinks and left ! It's such a shame what a nice pub all it needs is a happy atmosphere .

Had a great meal here with some close friends. We all had a mixture of things from the menu from the pate to the salmon, the soup to start, all was delicious. A nice selection of beers and wines are available, and the atmosphere is great. The staff are super attentive and look after you well. Can recommend highly.

We were passing by and stopped at this pub for a quick break. Our daughter had packed lunch, and we ordered chips and drinks. We were quite taken aback when we were told our daughter was not allowed to eat food brought from home. We explained that she had a special dietary requirement, but the server didn't say anything and left... The place is nice and clean but it has no atmosphere or ambience. Also, it's quite expensive compared to other similar places we've visited in Oxfordshire.

Fantastic night to celebrate my 60th birthday with my adult children. Amazing food and service and lovely surroundings. Thank you Julie and Hendrick.

Lovely restaurant. Expensive but the food was worth it. Really nice food. Beautifully cooked and exceptionally well presented. They grow their own veg and you know where the food comes from. Garden was full of butterflies around the pond. Decoration is very tasteful. Will go...

A great place to eat. Fantastic service, great staff and welcoming management. The food is tasty and exciting. Fresh out of the garden in many cases. The wine selection is excellent as well.

Tasting menu was one of the best I have had. Really great staff, we weren't the easiest customers with a new born baby - so they were great with delaying the next item on the menu!

Nice atmosphere....with Ritz class food.

An unexpected gem! Beautiful surroundings as you’d expect from the area but the food was unexpected. Fantastic quality and the flavour combinations were amazing. Wish the prices were a little lower just so we could visit more often.

Lovely and chilled place. Dog friendly too.

Incredibly good Sunday afternoon roast, will definitely be back for an evening with friends.

We booked for 9 at short notice for lunch on a Saturday. The staff could not have been more accommodating. The food was outstanding and the whole experience made us very happy our original planned venue let us down. Highly recommended!

As soon as we walked in, we knew we were in for what I call... a proper restaurant. The tables, chairs and ambience, set the scene for what was a superb evening from start to finish. The staff were a credit to Hendrik the chef...

Really enjoyed lunchtime meal. Good choice of menu with gluten free options. We'll worth another visit

Three of us had an early dinner here after spending the day at Hidcote Manor. It was the end to a perfect day. Wonderful food for us all, beautifully prepared. Dietary restrictions must be a nightmare for chefs. Or maybe they look upon it as...

In Banbury for overnight stay. En route back to Portland I chose the Duck 🦆 on the Pond, after researching online, to stop for lunch. Great choice. Lovely setting. Super staff , Smiley Emily was our waitress. Unexpectedly served with delicious Amuse Bouche to begin....

Fantastic food and amazing service. The appetisers for Starr and chocolates at the end were such a lovely touch. The manager and her staff looked after us so well ...really impressed. We both had the fillet of beef which was fantastic quality and extremely well cooked

Multiple menus with same items made it a bit confusing to choose from, and overall not much variety available. However, the food and ingredients felt like they were good quality and service was immaculate. The garden to plate (0 mile) aspect of our meal really did make a huge difference to us, we loved knowing that we were eating locally produced food. We had hoped the outdoor seating tables would have better placement and views so as to not be next to the car park, but nevertheless it was quiet and pleasant there for a Saturday afternoon.

We went here for a birthday dinner and it was perfect from start to finish. The beer and cheddar soup starter is the best soup I have ever had - don’t miss it!! Staff were very nice and the restaurant itself is beautiful. Absolutely can’t...

Absolutely fantastic from start to finish! Lovely service, just right… amazing menu with the food miles provided. Great use of local produce and producers. Beautiful setting with a relaxed feel, yet we were made to feel special. The food was absolutely delicious but the desert...

Not eaten yet, only ever had a quick drink in the garden. But everything seems lovely. Always a smile from the staff etc. Would.lovento try the place out to eat as I've heard great things and the food I've seen looks great.

9 for lunch and it was fabulous. The Beetroot cured trout was one of the best things I have ever eaten. As it was a Sunday we mostly had the roasts, belly, pork, chicken or beef. One of us had the vegan option which was...

We have been 5 times since Julie and Hendrik took on the pub and always enjoy the Sunday lunch.

A wonderful lunchtime pub set in beautiful countryside surroundings. Enjoyed a fabulous meal with my family sitting outside in the sun, but under a parasol. Enjoyed a varied choice of great food from the 3 course set menu - absolutely delicious. Wine was delicious too. Not too expensive, and a super memory of a special family lunch - thank you!

What a fabulous discovery. We ate off the 3 course set menu which was great value. The food was excellent, tasty, good portion sizes and different. We sat outside on the patio area with a parasol covering us from the sun. It was an idilic...

fantastic meal - sunday lunch menus can sometimes be formulaic but this was varied and delicious. it was the best sunday lunch out i think we've ever had, and we go out alot! we like to try out different venues so very VERY rarely does...

Very good Martini, lovely food - vegetarian food was full of flavour. Good reasonably priced wine list and really good service with a smile.