The Hart of Harwell in Vale of White Horse

Booked a table for 5 adults and 7 children for my wife's 40th surprise birthday meal Saturday 22nd February at 1800. We all had starters, mains and deserts with of course a mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The starters and mains were all pre ordered, all of the meals both children and adults were faultless, hot, served very efficiently by the waiting staff who were very polite and helpful. We left the table at about 22:30, the food, atmosphere , the whole evening was fantastic whith only positive comments and feedback from everyone that night and morning after. An oustanding evening, a big thank you to Pete and his team both front of house and kitchen staff (great cooking chef) What a transform, just what a village pub needed.

So happy the Hart is back open and with the same warm atmosphere it had pre-covid. Visited for drinks and the rugby and lunch - incredible sandwiches and the chips and aioli were brilliant. Staff were so friendly and welcoming and lovely to our dog, looking forward to visiting more over the summer!

Staff look unprofessional in jeans and a dark jumper joung staff pulling up there jeans as working doesnt really appeal ...would benefit from a uniform bar staff leaving the bar area unattended ...I ordered fish and chips ...fish over cooked and batter dark brown.would of love light and crispy batter mushy peas could of come in a ramakin rather than on the plate as it just looked a mess ..ordered salad cream no salad cream ...came with hot lemon which with fish you would like a nice fresh cold piece of lemon to squeeze over your fish to bring out the flavour ordered mayo turned up in a pot with a dessert spoon sticking out of it ... a other lady ordered coffee with oat milk or soya milk didn't have either ...decor of the place very bland no character...little changes this place could be a real nice place as its in a good area Owner / manager new.... it's about making people happy and making them want to come back to pub is where you get revenue it's all about the experience and good service good food , and first impressions sadly are not good. I will not return ..

We visited for our first meal since it reopened for thier Valentines menu. Me and my husband both had different things from the menu and it all was really nice and superbly cooked. Every element of all the dishes was very tasty. The waiter and waitress was very attentive and waited on us very well. The pub was nicely decorated for Valentine's with balloons which all contributed to a lovely meal. We also came for Christmas carols and pub quiz previously which was lovely atmosphere and made to feel welcome by the owners and staff. We are happy to have a great pub in the village and look forward to seeing what the new owners plans for the pub.

Vegan 'fish' and chips (tofu wrapped in seaweed). Now, this is what I call a decent sized portion. Perfectly cooked and well presented. It was delicious! The tartare sauce was so good. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I'd definitely recommend this place for vegans

First time we have visited since it has changed hands. So much better than before, super friendly staff, great atmosphere and was lovely to sit by the fire with a glass of wine. Could have quite easily stayed longer as felt that welcomed and relaxed but hubby was driving. Definately be back more often and to try out the food next time.

Delicious Sunday lunch with more food than we could actually manage (who leaves roasties?!) Nice relaxed atmosphere, staff friendly and efficient and we didn't feel rushed. Will definitely be back.

A lovely, relaxed atmosphere begins as soon as you walk into the bar. Pleasant staff and friendly greeting before being shown to our table. The food was excellent, well prepared and presented. Pete, the landlord, is very chatty and welcoming.

Good beer, pleasant staff. Didn't eat but food looked good.

Fantastic to have the village pub back.

1st visit used as a halfway meeting point with a long lost friend. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and shown to our table. We were given time to choose our drinks and food as busy chatting. Service and food was fantastic. We moved to the comfy sofas where the open fire had been lit, and I got to keep it going (I love an open fire). We spent 5 hours catching up, and there was no pressure to keep buying drinks. We had a lovely chat with the owners too. I can't wait to bring my husband here, it's well worth the 90min round trip for me. Thank you everyone for our welcome

The food is amazing The atmosphere is great

Sorry, the original review on your pub should have been for the Hilton at Chevley. We found your pub excellent in all ways.

I recently had the misfortune of visiting The Hart of Harwell under its new management, and I can confidently say it was a dreadful experience from start to finish. The place is incredibly dated and dirty. The food was terrible, almost inedible. The waiter looked dirty and unkempt, and the so-called "chef" had an unhygienic appearance with an awful long beard. The rest of the staff were also dirty and unprofessional, some even wearing joggers. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Avoid at all costs!

I recently had the misfortune of visiting The Hart of Harwell under its new management, and I can confidently say it was a dreadful experience from start to finish. The place is incredibly dated and dirty. The food was terrible, almost inedible. The waiters looked dirty and unkempt, and the so-called "chef" had an unhygienic appearance with an awful long beard. The rest of the staff were also dirty and unprofessional, some even wearing joggers. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Avoid at all costs!

Food excellent service excellent will return

Didnt have food was just meeting old friends. Lovely place and highly recommend you visit.

Went to Hart of Harwell last Thursday to meet a friend of mine, and the atmosphere was really nice. Bar staff and manager was very helpful and quick in service. Nice ales on tap .

Very friendly staff. The place has the appealing atmosphere of a traditional pub

I had a lovely birthday meal with my family that live in Harwell. The Menu has lots of choice so there is something for everyone. I had fish and chips and although I was too full for a dessert they looked amazing. We will definitely be returning.

Sunday Lunch. Forgot to take photos as we were too quick to get stuck in. Roast Pork and a Roast Beef. Delicious and large portions. Great value and such a warm welcome from all. Will def be back.

Great new ownership lovely food friendly staff

Came here Sunday to try the roast, have to say I wasn’t disappointed the food was delicious, staff were welcoming and very attentive. The atmosphere of the pub is lovely and we will continue to visit. Well done Pete, Teresa and all the staff!! Your hard work is paying off!!

I popped in with my husband to check out the pub as it is under new management. It was 4.45pm on a Saturday and it was buzzing! We received a very warm welcome from the new owners who were very friendly and had a great understanding of what our village wants and needs out of our local. We are booked in for Sunday lunch soon and we can’t wait. It is fab to have our local back.

I heard The White Hart was under New Management and visited for Thursday lunch. The pub is now very clean and tidy and the new owner & staff welcomed me warmly. I had a Cask Ale served in perfect condition in clean matching glassware and chose the slow cooked pork belly from the lunch menu. This was tender and juicy, served with spectacularly light crackling (I called it Popcorn Crackling), a selection of autumnal vegetables which were perfectly cooked and a delicious Potato Bon Bon. A wonderful midweek treat, I'll return very soon!

Lovely pub, local ales, tasty food! I'll be visiting at least once a week now.

We visited on Wednesday and the place was humming - fabulous evening. We went back on Saturday to eat and the food was amazing. One of our party had food sensitivities and the staff were all over it. The landlord is also supporting locally brewed guest ales as well as GK regulars - one was from Milton - very local ! Great pub.

Note that the pub is under new ownership since October 2024 - so previous reviews relate to a very different experience! Its good again!

A new landlord has taken over the pub (Oct 24). What a difference already, a lovely atmosphere and welcoming place to visit. Thankyou!

Good roast, very good staff. I would recommend this place if you are around Didcot and you want to have a nice meal.

Under new management and newly opened (October 2024) they do an excellent Sunday roast. This village pub had deteriorated over the last few years/ great to have it back with the lovely Teresa and Pete running it successfully

Reopened under new leadership, also due to go back to being the White Hart. Food good, staff good, beer great (Greene King, Luv Beer, Loose Cannon) great to see the place buzzing again!

Reopened under new leadership, also due to go back to being the White Hart. Food good, staff good, beer great (Greene King, LoveBeer, Loose Cannon) great to see the place buzzing again!

The pub is under new management thought it would still carry the same vibe like it used to be was very empty and food was limited to just indian was hoping to see a green king menu but no . looks semi tidy just needs a freshen up outside as doesn't actually entice new costumers inn unless you been before well off to another pub now what a shame

Just stopped for a pint of Tribute half way through a long dog walk. It was quiet, the staff were polite and very friendly. The dog was welcome and enjoyed sitting out in the garden. I returned to sample the food and the chicken jalfrezi was great.

Fantastic Pub with amazing service. Can't wait to try the new Indian Menu!

I’m not usually one to leave bad reviews but in this case I feel I have to be honest. Sadly, it was an absolutely awful experience visiting. Poor service, poor attitudes, and the place seemed generally badly managed. I was really looking forward to having a pub in harwell again but sadly my expectations have just not been met at all, or even come close to what I’d hoped for.

Lovely indian food, great atmosphere.

The pub is under new management and the new go-to for our Friday night curry. Great service, authentic dishes and no clearing up! Why would we stay in for a takeaway when the pub is down the road! We wish the new team every success.

Came for the barbecue. One chicken piece per person they used thighs and cut them in half. If you don’t like majita don’t go!!

Beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon and the pub is dead, food was woeful, clear they have bought the cheapest of cheapest ingredients. Apparently new management but they are not going to last long. Go here for a drink and relax if passing through but do not expect decent food. Even the ketchup was given in the cheapest sachets

Indian delicacies are available here, we enjoyed it very much, Along with Indian food, Italian and other countries are also available

You can see that the owner has changed. No one knows how to cook. the worst burger in my life. You can eat better burgers on carboot. I DO NOT RECOMMEND.

Only just opened so very quiet at the moment but the food was very nice with good service. Needs a bit more time but I believe will be a fantastic pub shortly.

New ownership, so hopefully better than before.

This pub has deteriorated. They had almost no drinks in stock during their grand opening, which was a disaster. The pub has a bad smell, dirty glasses, and the carpark is a mess with rubbish piled up everywhere. This place has the potential to be a gold mine, as the village and a large number of locals want a good pub with a good selection of drinks and quality, well-cooked British food. The temporary landlord should be embarrassed that the once great pub has now become an abandoned and badly run establishment. What a dump—I wouldn't even bring my dog here!

We popped in on our way back from the Harwell Feast event for a drink to see the “grand opening” of the new management. The pub was empty, dirty, and there were no local ales on tap. The bar staff were unfriendly and challenging to communicate with. The lights were turned off halfway through our time there (yes, really…), and there was no lighting in the toilets at all - which was actually quite dangerous. The whole pub looked tired, uncared for and the food options were so random. Really disappointing.

We popped in on our way back from the Harwell Feast event for a drink to see the “grand opening” of the new management. The pub was empty, dirty, and there were no local ales on tap. The bar staff were unfriendly and challenging to communicate with. The lights were turned off halfway through our time there (yes, really…), and there was no lighting in the toilets at all - which was actually quite dangerous. The whole pub looked tired, uncared for and the food options were so random. Really disappointing.

Booked lunch online for 10th Feb, entered all contact details as requested when booking online including telephone number. Received email confirmation of booking also. Family arrived at the pub at 1pm, to find a scribbled note to say opening at 5.30 pm! Surely good customer service, would be to make contact with myself to say the booking could not be catered for. Shocking. With service like that no wonder you need to close.

Nice Sunday lunch. Good menu options and portion sizes. Nice decor, and only marked down on atmosphere as venue was unusually quiet.

Really really nice lunch. Steak baguette was delicious. Nice relaxed atmosphere and a nice Tim Taylor on tap so can't complain.

Staff could be more welcoming and cheerful, Sunday roasts were average, a bit disappointed with frozen roasties.

Uncomfortably cool temperature. Same can be said about the barman/waiter. This is the hospitality industry after all, so try being more hospitable! I went to the bar and was greeted with a very gruff "Yes!" I stepped back in surprise, never having been spoken to like that in such a situation. I noticed he was far more amenable to the men at the bar, and he used his attending to them as an excuse for his rudeness. Sorry, sunbeam, no excuses for that. Avoid the garden burger. Impossible to eat in the bun because it just squeezes out the side and plops on the plate in a very unattractive mush. Take your own toilet roll, ladies! Only one of the three had anything left on the roll. We obviously don't matter...

Lovely setting, very clean. We use to come here for a roast on a regular basis but it has massively dropped in standards. There is NO VEG! Frozen parsnip and a portion of dried up carrot. Where is the VEG? The young girl serving was very helpful and sweet, the ‘manager’ was very gruff. I appreciate it’s his personality but please try to be just a little bit more polite and friendly! Such a shame because the chicken the chicken, potato & stuffing was great, but how can you serve a roast without any veg? There was broccoli last week but not this week. There is a reason why this place was ‘packed’ a year ago, but empty on a Sunday now!! How do the owners not see it….

Terrible. Get rid of the landlord!

Large portions, reasonable prices but food is nothing special.

Rude and inadequate service start to finish. Food was fine but we will never be back

Just had Christmas dinner with my wife and mother in law and must say it was one of the best experiences I’ve had. The staff were so attentive, polite and welcoming, the was brilliant and the atmosphere was lovely. Would highly recommend it and we will be looking at going back next on a regular basis. 👍

Très bonne adresse : tout est parfait du service au contenu de l assiette. A recommander.

One of the rudest owners I have ever met. I booked by phone, arrived with my girlfriend and was greeted by the owner, shown my table and we sat down. After about 5 minutes I had a phone call on my mobile from the owner reminding me I have a table booked and why I hadn't turned up yet, I said "I am already here, you have just sat me down" The call was then ended and I was sat there confused. Really nice food but ruined by hearing the manager ringing up everyone that hadn't arrived in time and lambasting them over the phone from behind the bar. I understand it must be really infuriating people not turning up once they have booked, but shouting at them over the phone is not going to make them want to come ever again.

Ok village pub, nothing special.

Great food, service, interior. Steak was medium, not medium rare.

Pub was empty when we arrived with a pre booked party of 13. Nice pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord and proper steak and ale pie for lunch.

Not been to the Hart for a while. We dropped in for a Sunday lunch. Very quiet and unlike previous visits, the barman was doing everything. Running the bar, serving food, taking orders, cleaning tables. I would not be surprised if he was also cooking. Everything was very average including the food.

The food was really nice some unusual dishes but what spoilt it was the attitude of the person who served us. I'm not sure if he was the manager or the owner but it was as if he was doing us a favour by even serving us. I've never been in a place and made to feel so unwelcome before. It's a shame as I would have definitely gone back for the food but not with that person serving us.

Just had an excellent meal. Food arrived promptly. Very good service. One of the best steaks I've ever enjoyed.

We went for an early Saturday evening family dinner, had great service and the kids meals were perfect, fresh chicken and sausages, the specials were great and a cosy atmosphere. Great value for money, very impressed for a local pub.

The Hart of Harwell is nice inside and has a couple of good outdoor areas, but often under staffed. The beer was good on my last few visits. Food used to be nice, but I have not eaten here for a long time, so can't comment now.

We had dinner in the Hart, food was very good, both the BBQ rib and the NY cheesecake. As for the service, the manager was very nice, he gently brought us to our hotel since taxi didn't arrive and it was time to close. 100% recommended.

Very late lunch, food was hot & enjoyable. Friends both had pudding, which looked good.

Lovely pub with very relaxed atmosphere. The food was very tasty, well presented, and the portions were large, accompanied by a good English beer. The personnel was kind during dinner, and the owner of the pub makes sure everything is ok. At closure time, he was patient to wait for the patrons to finish their drink and not usher them quickly out as happens in other places. And when we were stood up by our taxi, he event went so far to give us a ride to our nearby hotel! This extremely kind gesture shows how much he cares about his patrons.

Once again an amazing Sunday lunch - food fantastic. Service brilliant! Great to have this pub on our doorstep.

TOO LATE FOR PHOTOS; I ATE IT! This pub has a very well-kept secret that should be advertised more. I should have taken some pictures, but it was too late. I ate it, so I will add a picture on my next visit! It's a burger and a pint, but not just any burger. Hart's version is more like a giant gourmet burger as it has all the ingredients that make a great beef burger and a tasty vegetarian version fantastic. Just compare the burger you would receive at the Hart with many other burgers offered in the area, and you will see and taste the difference. It is served with very tasty fries, a well-seasoned salad and a pint of beer. Fantastic deal, fantastic price, fantastic flavours. Well done, Hart of Harwell.

Had a nice dinner, service good. Would go again.

Needs a bit more friendly service.

Very good, and very accommodating, managed to squeeze us in at the end of service

Lovely little pub, great food and friendly staff :)

Friendly and helpful, food well priced, good vegi option.

We made an impromptu stop during a long cycle trip. The menu looked appealing so we found a table. The service was exceptional from friendly staff who took an interest in our journey to get to the pub. The food was served promptly and was delicious and kept us well fuelled for the rest of our ride.

Nice pub for playing board games

Cozy and comfy is how to best describe, Food is great and is served quickly, portions are excellent. Highly recommended Sunday roast!

This was a birthday celebration with 4 friends. We were 6 in total. The meals were great and the service outstanding. Please use the lovely facility now being the only pub in our village. Use it or loose it!!!!

We had a lovely meal here whilst staying at an Air B&B down the road. We both had steak (mine well done, my partner's medium rare) and both arrived perfectly cooked. We had a bottle of pinotage with the meal which was not stupidly price. The staff were very attentive, polite, there exactly when you needed them but not fussing over you. It was a shame to see such a lovely pub so quiet, especially on a Saturday night, and I hope the locals realise what an absolute gem they have and support it as it deserves. Wouldnt hesitate to eat here again and would highly recommend it

Good food, nicely kept old pub, service a little slow at first, and the staff don't smile, I was cold sat near a draught, and mentioned moving seats but was told quite directly, no. We did enjoy our meal though, pricey. Wouldn't go back in a hurry.

We love this place. Very nice food. Friendly atmosphere.

An ad hoc search of Google for somewhere to eat on our way back from Bicester to Southampton offered us the Hart of Harwell, amongst others. We liked the description and photos and so into the sat-nav it went. A pleasant setting with a reasonably sized car park. There was outdoor seating for eating but today’s weather ruled that out. The Hart describes itself as a gastro-pub and certainly the food was to a good standard. I would have liked a better choice of alcohol-free drinks - just two where on offer. Service was reasonably quick and Leonardo was cheerful and efficient. We would certainly drop in again when next in the area. Thanks.

Simply Fantastic. The team at Hart of Harwell accommodated myself and my team of 15 for a team meal with a weeks notice. We pre-ordered with ease a couple of days before due to our party size. The food and service we received was amazing all round. A big thank you from myself and my team for a fantastic evening and I’m sure we’ll be back soon!

Went for dinner. The menu choices were varied. Food was excellent as was the service but the restaurant was very cold. Could turn the heating up a bit.

Great spot for lunch, especially if you have a dog, so welcoming, food was delicious, great service and they even brought a treat over for the dog 🐾

Excellent main course beefsteak burger and uniq desert cheese cake with chocolate ice cream. Best meal ever. Great place, placement atmosphere and nice stuff.

I stopped here for lunch just before Xmas. Food was very good and fairly standard for what you expect from a more premium place. The menu is very much 'English' pub food. The price wasn't cheap but not really expensive either. Service was good from staff who were obviously trying to keep up with the afternoon rush. The venue itself was nicely kept and decorated - I didn't quite get that cosy feeling but it was fine really. I did like to see a lot of space which might sound bad but when families came in with pushchairs it really works and allows true access for everyone. I was glad the kids could run around the Christmas tree which you can't say about alot of places you eat in. Would I visit again? Maybe, like a few pubs in Oxfordshire their good but nothing out the ordinary. I guess Oxfordshire is just lucky it has so many nice pubs... Just none of them stand out for me.

Dinner with colleagues. Nice place

Business dinner - easy to book, great communication to ensure the dinner was a success, great food and drink enjoyed by all. Very highly recommended.

Relaxed Sunday lunch dining - meat & Yorkshire pud excellent, roast potatoes & veg disappointing

Dined there today with 4 family members and to be honest the chef needs to lift his/her game a little. Whilst the venue is lively, service excellent, the food left a lot to be desired. I had lamb dinner, the plates were cold, consequently the weak gravy was also cold. Roast spuds were roasted too much. Lamb was tough and full of inedible tendons. Just wish I had asked for a steak knife like my son and another lady had to, to be able to cut the roast beef. My sons beef was grossly under cooked so much so the plate was full of blood, but it did add to the colour of the gravy. The Yorkshire pudding was however delicious as we're the carrots, just could have been warmer. The puddings were all lovely and fully appreciated. Sorry if this review does not match previous reviews, it was probably just a bad day in the office. But won't visit again.

Like always we came back happily and we’ll always return, incredible food and table service, big up for all the friendly staff and kitchen team

Delightful service and excellent food. The Hart of Harwell has a compact but varied menu with some wonderful dishes to choose from. Service was prompt and the atmosphere cosy. We had a lovely early Tuesday afternoon lunch in the sunny dining room.

Went here for a birthday celebration lunch. Food was delicious with plenty on the plate. The children's portions were really large and both granddaughters (7 & 2) ate really well and thoroughly enjoyed their meals. The roast pork was fabulous and was topped off with tremendously tasting crackling - a terrific taste and a great snap. Service was attentive, friendly and polite and everyone in the party had a wonderful meal. Overall top notch for food quality and portion size and excellent service.

This is my local pub, I’ve always had friendly service and incredible food! not one complaint. The deserts are especially tasty and the Sunday roasts are fantastic! I highly recommend going. The hart is also dog friendly so that’s a bonus♥️

Wonderful relaxing Sunday lunch, great portions and the pork was beautifully cooked. Dessert was divine. Excellent service and atmosphere, they even had a treat for the dog.