The Muddy Duck in Cherwell

Another fabulous evening meal in the Lodge at the Muddy Duck. Lovely cheerful staff, prompt service and great food served hot as it should be. This is still the best pub for miles around and well worth a visit. The only negative is (still) the absence of a lovely welcoming fire. The room is begging for it.

Came here for lunch in the restaurant and had the game terrine (£16) to start, along with the octopus (£18). Both dishes were perfect. We then had the halibut (£42) and the venison (£38), which were again absolute perfection. I also had a dark & stormy cocktail (£11.50) and we had a creme brule (£11) and the apple tarte tartin (£16) for dessert. We travelled from London for this experience and it was worth every moment. This is truly food at its finest, and the service was also excellent and the gorgeous surroundings were a delight to sit in. Service charge was automatically added. I understand the restaurant (not the pub food side of the business) will be taking a pause shortly while the hospitality industry recovers enough to support this place, so either get in quick before the pause, or give it a go when it returns. I for one hope it stays exactly as it is. It's not a cheap restaurant by any means, but you are paying for the quality of the ingredients, and the skill in cooking them perfectly and it being put together to create something wonderful.

We had a delicious Sunday lunch today, the roast beef was really tender and very tasty, as were all the extras. My partner had the vegetarian option which was lovely, as always. Today we tried the haddock soufflé for the first time. It was amazing and definitely a dish we will be having again! Yum, yum! A really lovely place for a Sunday lunch; very friendly and helpful staff, dog friendly with treats and bowls of water for your pet pals and a great ambience. We will be back soon.

Just returned from Muddy Duck, after having sunday lunch. Im disabled, and they had a accessable table ready for me, and nothing was to much trouble, the staff are a credit to them. Now for the food, i had the roast pork, my friend had the beef, it was lovely, everything fresh, you must try, you wont be disappointed.

This pub is in the relatively small village of Hethe and just happened to be the place we chose for a short walk before venturing in to the place for lunch. It was chosen at random purely as it was as convenient for my wife and I to meet up with my cousin and her husband. The interior is not enormous but big enough, and we were lucky enough to get a nice large table in the bay window that was in fact the last one available in what was a busy Saturday lunchtime. The service was very good and I was recommended the pork belly by the waitress and was glad I took her advice as it was excellent. I had 2 pints of the splendid Hook Norton ale which I thoroughly enjoyed and we all finished off with rum babas, a very welcome “blast from the past”! I must finish by mentioning the loos. I won’t spoil the surprise but suffice to say they are not what you expect (in a good way!). All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable lunchtime in a surprisingly lovely pub that I really cannot fault.

Absolutely blown away. My partner and I were travelling through the area and wanted to stop for lunch so picked a random pub off of maps and I cannot believe how lucky we were. The pub has an amazing, relaxed, cosy atmosphere. The decor is amazing, you can just see how much effort has gone in to it. There are so many small touches (like ducks in the resin on the bar!) Food was amazing too, we had soup of the day. The woman serving at the bar was really friendly too, I’m gutted I didn’t take her name for the review. She was really friendly and informative and even let us have a look around the rest of the place! I would 100% return here without a shadow of a doubt. Only downside is it’s 3 hours from my house!

I haven’t written a review for ages but felt compelled to come and say something here after what I can only describe as having had the most amazing evening and food last night. Words can’t do this place justice and it’s such a shame it’s having to close down temporarily (I can’t understand why as really they should have a good 3 month wait list to get in given the superb quality and experience). From the quirky decor inside, to the absolutely amazing staff and outstanding meals I don’t think I could recommend this place highly enough. We will be back once u reopen!!

We had such a memorable and enjoyable meal here last week in the ‘Lodge’ part of the Muddy Duck at lunchtime. I had read some comments previously about the decor which seem a little unfair - we thought it was amazing and were really wowed by it. So much thought and time has clearly gone into it. My daughter actually thought she was going to space in the toilet! The food was exceptional, so much flavour. Even my mother in law was raving about it and she’s hard to please! The price for our mains ranged from £14-18 which is not that much more than other places these days and the quality was much better. We found the staff pleasant, especially the main chef, and would recommend this place to friends

Really looking forward to lunch after hearing great things about The Muddy Duck. Unfortunately, waited over an hour for lunch to arrive, despite having a table booked and meals chosen prior to the day from the set menu. Set menu very limited- only two choices for each course! Staff slow to clear tables between courses. Decor over the top, slightly odd going from forest to space. Good food but nothing amazing, sadly went downhill with each course. Would I recommend it, probably not.

The food and service was exceptional. I can't fault it. It's unforgettable and I really recommend it.

First time visiting since it’s major renovation. Staff are still very welcoming, a nice place for a quiet pint. I’m looking forward to heading back and trying the food!

Decided to pop in for a drink on a Saturday afternoon as understand they have re-opened after the last few years history. First time visit and was expecting an over priced pretentious place. Could not be further from that The whole location from the outside areas to the toilets are fantastically presented. We only had drinks in what was a modern trendy bar with high end furnishings. The drinks are well priced, if you want high end wine its available but you don't have to drink it. The service is impeccable I would rather go to a place like this every now and again than visit standard pubs regularly. Everyone has choices and options and we look forward to coming back for dinner in the next few weeks. Its great to have what is a really nice high end establishment nearby

We booked a table here for my husband's birthday. We hadn't been before so can't compare the current decor with the previous but it is certainly spectacular (if a bit OTT for my taste): fairytale style up in the bar and the main restaurant, 'moon' decor in another area and space age in the loos! It is only open Fridays and Saturdays as far as we know and I've been told there's a tasting menu on a Saturday but we went on a Friday. The menu is limited - 3 or 4 starters, 3 or 4 mains - which is often not a bad thing. We had amuses-bouches of little tartlets which were delicious. The bread was warm and fresh. We had the beef wellington, which most people seemed to be ordering and it was superb! We didn't have a dessert but they gave hubby a glass of something sparkling. The hostess was welcoming, they were clearly training new staff and there were occasional mixups with staff offering us food that was for another table, but the atmosphere was good and we enjoyed ourselves. We would bring our London friends here without question. The garden area looked expansive but sadly it was cold and rainy when we went so that's something to look forward to for a special occasion in the summer.

Firstly, the staff (as always) are great - this is not about them. We've been going the the Duck for many years, and while prices have risen, and the food has got more 'high' end, there has always been the ability to enjoy an informal drink in the bar area. Decor aside - which frankly looks like the designers from Disney's Rainforest Cafe have been let loose - the issue with the pub is best illustrated by the price of the mediocre crisps - £3.50 for a bag that retails (not wholesales) for £1. It's a reasonable expectation to get a snack to go with drinks and not feel like a second mortgage is necessary. Other great pubs nearby are £1-£1.50 for equally posh crisp offerings. We've been twice since the refit, and it's tragically quiet - the bar refit is OK, but it's become the kind of novelty place you visit once - and if you're relatively local there are other options that don't make you feel ripped off. My advice to the owners would be to keep grounded in the bar - some reasonable bar food options and snacks - and see if the restaurant takes off for those with the money and palate to appreciate it. I can only imagine you're taking aim at the Soho Farmhouse crowd to whom money is no object - but for us mere mortals, it's no longer viable.

An enchanting evening . From the moment you arrive you are greeted with warmth and enthusiasm and taken upstairs to the cocktail lounge , a birdcage in fact , to have a few Naughty cocktails or just a gin and tonic the choice is yours . it’s an escape from reality for the duration of your time here . We were shown to our table in the luna room and had a divine amuse bouchée of mushroom soup which was heavenly . The whole meal and service was splendid and would not hesitate in recommending to anyone . It’s not your classic fine dining experience , it’s so much more . Come with and open mind and escape reality for a few hours It’s an enchanting place . The food was exceptional and wine choice that was advised was spot on . We will be back . Thank you team at The muddy Duck

We looked forward to trying the new Muddy Duck so much. Sadly this was a pretty awful experience for us. We arrived at 5.35 as we hoped to get a table in the bar without having booked. Lucky for us ( or, as we were...

We had to stop by here after I'd recently seen it on the news where the owner was discussing staffing issues and the cost of living crisis (I noticed the place seemed really unique and saw it was on route to a town we were...

This is our first visit since they've made some wonderful changes. Our expectations were not set too high as we've been to other village pubs that think they can charge high prices just because some London restaurants do so but fail to offer the experience...

Why, when it is perfectly possible to buy good Provence rose for under £10 a bottle is it necessary to charge £15 for what would consider a small measure? Far too expensive bar drinks……

I left this place feeling as though I had been down a rabbit hole. If I had wanted a sensory overload I would have gone to an escape room or to a big city for something more exciting but, in a beautiful country village it...

I have just returned from an evening dining in the lounge at the Muddy Duck. We have eaten here as a family a few times recently and always enjoyed the food so when my friend suggested going out for a drink and a bite to...

Immaculate throughout and staffed by fantastic friendly staff who actually make an effort to interact and converse. I wish I lived nearer! The slightly limited choice at the bar did include both an excellent local cider and lager. We ate there 2 days on the...

Wow what a place! We had the opportunity to sample the summer menu and what an amazing experience. The food was simply stunning, the service was exceptional and the staff went above and beyond to be of assistance. This was such a joyful experience in...

Lovely quirky pub. Very friendly staff. Food was good and plentiful. Love the range of heritage tomatoes - really worth a try if you love tomatoes as we do. Not the cheapest, but a lovely treat for a family lunchtime. Pub menu as restaurant only...

A true gem in the gorgeous countryside. Came here today for a business lunch with a former boss. The refurb is amazing and the place is stunning. Attention to detail in every area reaps huge rewards as the decor, welcome and friendliness is endless and...

We visited on Friday night with a couple of friends who we were taking out for a long needed catch up and all I can say is The Muddy Duck lived up to all our expectations. The refurbished interiors are amazing, it leaves a smile...

As a close friend of Graham from Yarnton (regular on trip adviser) I have listened to constant praise of the muddy duck in Hethe and it's manageress Deidrie. So I thought I would give it a go! Well, The service starts the moment you book....

We loved the revamp, the decor was fantastic! All members of staff went above and beyond to make our evening enjoyable. We loved every course in the tasting menu, with our favourites being the lobster and the lamb. A visit to the loo is also...

I visited with my partner for his birthday and as we walked in through the door we were blown away! We were instantly transported into a whimsical wonderland and we loved it! Greeted with smiles from the staff, we were a bit earlier then planned,...

We visited the Muddy Duck for the first time after its refurb and as returning customers were treated to some fabulous food and wine. The 6 course set meal was a real treat, the food quality and service was first class. The atmosphere was amazing...

Called in on the way back from the Lake District ordered the pork belly which after a wait it arrived as a plate of fat no flavour and no crackling we were offered a round of drinks as a gesture of good will but as...

We visited the restaurant as a group of 4 for the 5 course set menu. As a note if there is something you do not like on the set menu the friendly helpful team will happily change it for you to something else of your...

You dont just visit the "muddy duck" you embrace the whole "muddy duck " experience. The food is exceptional ,even tho we only went for lunch ,we sampled delicious cuisine ......On entry we were transfixed on an indigo sky, flocked with glittering stars and then...

Staff are very friendly but inexperienced unskilled and don’t listen Tables are laid out well in the restaurant allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere but also retain privacy and comfort. The lighting in the restaurant is complex, unstructured and far too bright Somebody in the...

We heard that the MD had been refurbished, and was offering a fixed menu inspired by classic French cooking, and disappointed we were not! Great welcome from an enthusiastic young team. They may not get every detail right, but take feedback with grace. Found the...

Our first visit back to the Muddy Duck since it opened and what a treat it was. We have been waiting a long time but could see why when we arrived. I had a friend over from Oz and my husband and our son enjoyed...

As a regular over many years (See previous reviews Gemma) and big fan of the Muddy Duck I was so looking forward to the reopening with what was rumoured a first class restaurant. Popped in for a Saturday afternoon drink and some bar food Oh...

Met friends here for a walk and a spot of lunch. Wow! So quirky with lanterns, space themed toilets (which mesmerised our children), interesting tables (bullets for table screws) and ‘lock’ menus. The food was absolutely delicious. Service was a tad slow but they were...

A class act.....unique and excellent.....expensive but good.....great value...;and i part with money VERY carefully even with a 12,5 service charge and 28 quid wine i left as happy as larry having eaten a real chef prepared chicken wings and pork belly....roll on the pension increase

If you are looking for a boring county pub, then this isn't the place for you. If you are looking for something quirky and brilliant then you need to visit. The staff were super friendly and helpful, the food was amazing and the pub is...

Having heard the muddy duck had reopened we had to visit. Honestly I wish we hadn’t. The new decor looks a poor imitation of Rain forest cafe with cheap bird sounds as you walk in It is nothing* like it was and very down market....

It was such a treat to return to the Muddy Duck following a major refurbishment. The decor is brilliant and creates a real sense of fun and excitement. And don’t even get me started on how fab the toilets are! The food…was …sublime; we had...

We have just visited The Muddy Duck for the first time since its reopening. The decor is amazing, quirky but comfortable and inviting. The staff couldn’t have been friendlier and the food was plentiful and delicious. My partner had the vegan dish which looked so...

We were really looking forward to visiting the refurbished Muddy Duck on May 19th. To our complete disappointment the place has been converted into a jungle. The original duck theme which made that pub to unique is now gone and the menu is definitely nothing...

Hurrah! Lockdown is eased and we celebrated with a dinner for two at the fantastic Muddy Duck. The Tasting Menu was even better than last time and at the amazing price price of only £45 for 5 courses (and we sneaked in an addition shared...

The tasting menu was absolutely amazing. Each course was special in itself, ingredients were fresh, flavours were great and presentation was excellent. The staff were friendly and service was quick. The environment was lovely and we would definitely return.

My wife and I visited tonight Ed, truly exceptional, the best vegetarian food in the last 4 years since moving to Oxfordshire! Well done to everyone involved

We visited a week ago and sat in the room with the fireplace. Everything from the food to the service, to the wine flight advice, from beginning to end was brilliant and extremely reasonable. We had the Chef's Menu and can't wait to return. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

First time visiting this relatively local pub/deli/resturaunt. Despite a mix of purposes this place knows how to deliver fantastic food, prepared by someone who obviously knows what thye're doing! Each course was well balanced, creatively presented and beautifully cooked. I can't wait to return and at such a reasonable price I will do so very soon!We didn't opt for the wine flight instead opting to buy a reasonably priced bottle of Sauvignon. I really recommend this place, it is a hidden gem where most local pub's attempts at being a gastropub fall flat this place sets the bar.

Tasting menu accompanied by wine flight, well executed. Lovey staff who are delighted to talk you through the great food (and wine if you choose) that you are served.

I have eaten at the Muddy Duck several times and wanted to book a table for 10 (from two households) for a 50th and 21st birthday celebration. As half of us live in London and the other half in Birmingham this has historically been a good place to meet. However, when I called the restaurant to book, they said they weren’t taking bookings and that we’d have to turn up early on the day to try and get a table together. I explained that one of the family members was disabled with dementia and partial blindness (in his eighties) and that we couldn’t just turn up but they still refused to help us. I am sure there must be some disabled people’s rights to stop this kind of thing happening but beware if you are in a similar situation to me!

Lovely lunch from a great menu - not huge choice ( expected) but all options sounded and looked delicious and all 6 of our party very happy with options made. Felt safe and great idea with red and green cards on tables indicating if sanitised or requiring cleaning . Tables well spaced and protected by huge teepee

My wife and I visited the Muddy Duck for lunch during the last week of the "Eat Out to Help Out month". Even though they were running a reduced menu the food was top notch and well priced before the 50% discount. I also have to say the service was excellent, probably the best we have had for a long time. 10 out of 10. Oh and if you have a dessert the Caramel Tart was outstanding.

We frequently drop in, friendly staff, much cut down menu if you have not visited for a while probably best to check what's on offer..We had the burger which was great and the scotch egg starter and chips all really nice possibly nicer than I remember ..Nice little shop there as well worth dropping in if you are close by

First time visit to The Muddy Duck, nice seating area outside but we decided to sit in the pub, nice greeting at the door and shown to the tables, on each table was a green card to say that the table had been sanitized and when we left we turned it over to red so they knew it had to be cleaned. Menu was limited Pizza, salads and a few other bits. Pizza was very nice and we finished off with a Banoffee Tart which was amazing and was recommended by one of the staff. Staff were very friendly, attentive and followed social distancing rules. The shop that is attached to the pub sells a wide range of Bread, fresh meats, fresh veg and Deli products to name a few is well worth a visit. Would definitely return.

very good pub over all, good place to socialise but quite a small space. food is lovely and well prepared, the staff are lovely and social.

Great for a treat. Good variety and good quality produce. The steak box was good value, although they don't make it entirely clear that the wine is not included (it's not), however they did call me to clarify this which I thought was good service. The quality of the steak and the sauce was excellent and lots of other items in the box.

We drove for almost an hour in eager anticipation. It was not to be unfortunately. Really disappointing as the restaurant and pizzas used to be first rate. Difficult times we know, but the pizzas were burned on the bottom but the dough was still like liquid flour and water. The toppings weren't hot. All that said, we will be back in hopefully happier times and wish them the very best

If you buy online steak box the pictures are miss leading it doesn’t come with the wine or chips a bag of potatoes to cut your self there was not a option for the wine and was not listed what was in the box ,I rang to to ask about the wine and was told it was £10 more for the wine

Open Table sent me an email informing mr the The Muddy Duck was no longer a restaurant.... so why are they now asking me to review it 🤬🤬🤬

Visited The Muddy Duck for lunch today and was very disappointed. When we arrived no one came to greet us and we had to go to the bar to get the menu. Then again when we wanted to order we had to call the waitress over. We felt the choice was very limited. I ordered the Thai curry which looked nice but something in it tasted very bitter which spoilt it so the waitress said I could order something else. I ordered Fish & Chips which was nice. When the bill came they tried to charge us for both meals! Overall we felt the service was poor and the food average.

We had a wonderful evening and the ambience was excellent. The food was gorgeous. We will be going back again.

We’ve been to the Muddy Duck 3 times now and this time we went for my birthday. The service was amazing as always and our waitress had great knowledge on their Gina and beers. Recommend the Cotswolds gin with pink grapefruit tonic! Our food was lovely, as expected, the duck breast was amazing and the pork crackling sticks are delicious. Everything about this pub, the decor, service, food and atmosphere is wonderful!

A group of girls getting together from Abingdon to Bedford, so a midway point. Absolutely loved it - great service, lovely atmosphere, and those crackling nibbles..... wow

Excellent pub food if you’re ever in Bicester village. We had the roasted duck and shepherds pie. Highly recommend!

Perfect! Excellent food, excellent service!

Sad to hear that the restaurant is changing, but looking forward to the new concept and hope the food remains as good as always. Look forward to the next tenyears

Amazing service from start to finish. Food was fresh and delicious! I like the fact you can see the chefs in the kitchen, bar area lovely! Tables are well spaced apart! Would defiantly recommend!

Four of us went here today for lunch, this was our second visit.We really like this place the staff are excellent and the food always good. Today we were offered a special of Pan Fried Halibut with Fondant potatoes and samphire. We all decided to order this special as it sounded so good and Halibut is a beautiful fish. When it arrived it was nicely presented but sadly the Halibut, which was basically three small pieces, was overcooked and extremely dry. The fondant potato was also hard. There was one Scallop served with it and this was beautifully cooked and tender. The price of this Special dish was £32 (which we weren't told at the beginning). This is a lot of money for a mediocre sized portion of poorly cooked food. Such a shame. The starters (two whitebait and one calamari) were lovely and the desserts (one pistachio Creme brulee, one brownie and one plate of assorted petit fours) were also extremely nice.

First time we’d been here in years & it didn’t disappoint! We went for my birthday lunch on a Monday. All the food was delicious & service spot on. Love the setting & all the duck references. Will definitely return

I’m a big fan of the Duck and routinely recommend it to others but this trip was disappointing. Something was different on our trip today and it wasn’t as enjoyable as normal. My main course arrived too early (we were still eating our starter) and the waitress was not keen it take it away. When it re-appeared it was clearly the same piece of fish, not freshly cooked and the mushy peas crusty and tartar sauce oddly warm!! Normally the fish is fresh and hot; my meal felt re-heated and at £16 felt overpriced. Ps mushy peas and tartare now new recipes...sorry but I loved how you used to take!

Birthday meal for two As always staff , food and presentation of restaurant and pub excellent.

Beautifully presented food. Very good and tasty food. Lovely environment to eat in

Food not as good as last visit Cold pickled red cabbage with shepherds pie didn t work Better to go for a Sunday roast

We’ve always enjoyed eating here and weren’t disappointed this time. Good food, good service and the company wasn’t bad either but... received an email sometime after saying that the restaurant was closing. Boo hoo. We shall miss you.

Third visit to this consistently fantastic pub. Again, the staff were excellent, the service is informative, caring and utterly professional, so refreshing!

The best Sunday roast in a restaurant that I have had . The very generous portion of beef was excellent,. The vegetables you could not fault. Great service , Lovely ambiance, with lots of family chatter around .

Beautiful food, very attentive and friendly service, lovely surroundings

The Muddy Duck was excellent, we took two friends who absolutely enjoyed themselves. The was very good and service first class. Would definitely recommend to a friend.

Awesome food and welcoming and engaging service! Great evening.

First visit here and very impressed! Great food and staff. Sadly though we were told that the restaurant part is permanently closing in March and the area is being repurposed 😞

Food and service great as always. Staff attentive but leave you to enjoy your meal. Plenty of choice on the menu

Had dinner for 2 at the Muddy Duck last night - best meal we have ever had there. The Thai fish curry was AMAZING - super service and good wine.

The food and service at the muddy duck on Friday night was absolutely first class

As I put on Trip advisor, good parking, warm welcome, timely & appropriate service & the food, FABULOUS, all staff engaging & friendly. Overall a great lunch spent with friends - thank you

My friend and I both travelled an hour to meet up half way, This is the second time we have visited The Muddy Duck and have been very pleased and made very welcome here. I think it will definitely be our meeting place for the foreseeable future. Very enjoyable.

Food was amazing as it has been on 2 previous visits waitress was very friendly, very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had about the menu. I have certain things I cannot eat and the chef adapted a dish for me which was amazing. I highly recommend the Muddy Duck and if we lived nearer would visit more often

We had an excellent Sunday lunch, really recommend the Beetroot Risotto.

The roast dinner was delicious. A bit disappointed that the Yorkshire pudding was a bit burnt. Other than that it was delicious!

We booked the muddy duck for boxing day and just wanted to say that it was one of the highlights of the Christmas break for me. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent and friendly. Just want to add that I have been many times in the past and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

I suspect I’m going to run out of superlatives during this review...

The best Sunday roast I’ve ever had ! Charming place and great service

By far our favourite place for Sunday lunch in Oxfordshire. We love going there!

The Sunday lunches are excellent. The plates are piled high and the meat was amazing. My kids ate up all of theirs too. Highly recommended

We've been here several times and the food and ambiance have always been exceptional . The staff are warm and welcoming and enthusiastic about the food. We arrived a few minutes early so had a drink in the bar first, it's a lovely and cosy English country pub at the front, Our waiter came and found us when the table was ready but there was no sense of us being hurried to our seats. The food is fantastic, a good choice of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes and everything cooked to perfection, in four visits I've not had anything I didn't love. The scallops starter was sweet and melted in the mouth, and the slow braised lamb shank was amazing.

Sunday Lunch. Good as always, was quiet as it was so sunny outside.

Perfect for a family lunch with 9 around a perfect round table. Vould not be bettered

Lovely family birthday meal. Food was good as always however I thought there could have been a better selection of vegetables with the Sunday roast. Service was excellent and ambience very relaxed anc welcoming

We usually love this restaurant for food, but unfortunately we had a poor meal with poor service last time we visited. I’m not sure if the chef has changed but the entire meal tasted of butter which was not pleasant. The usual main guy was not there that day so not sure if it is under new management or if he had the night off. It may be a one off, which I do hope. I was going to book my birthday meal there for 12 guests but that meal put me off as didn’t want to risk it being for a special occasion. Such a shame.

Just after Christmas I dined with my daughter and her partner and family at the Muddy Duck. It is a delightful pub in a small village with all the friendly atmosphere one could ask for. In spite of being very busy the staff were efficient and friendly and the food delicious. I opted for the Duck breast on a bed of celeriac after sampling the sourdough bread with homemade butter - superb!