The Ox Cheltenham in Cheltenham

On the recommendation of friends I visited this place for a Saturday lunchtime treat. Never again. 1 x Sirloin, 1 x Triple cooked chips, 1 x large red = £65.56. Intriguingly, the bill generating system wasn’t working. So I just settled outright. It was only when I left that the enormity of how much I had been overcharged dawned on me. I did a few sums and realised that a single attendee, who had the bare face to enter the restaurant. request a menu and then place an order had added 12.5% to an already ridiculous bill. I have visited this - creditably lovely - venue twice in the last 5 years. The first time was post lock down and the limited menu at that time left me with a bad taste in my mouth. But today’s episode has convinced me beyond any doubt that I shall never ever return. To put Into context, I visited Gaucho in Manchester last weekend and had a far better steak, a dessert and a far better glass of wine and sublime service. Which still came in at approx £45 per head. Ox. Hang your head in shame. You are overpriced, and under deliver. Your food is ok (ish) but cut this nonsense of service charge additions. And get your prices into the right region. Or you will go under. I will repost this review frequently - you do not deserve the custom at the appallingly overpriced levels that you do.

I would highly recommend this restaurant to family and friends a little gem, the food was fantastic and the green pepper sauce with my steak was so good, there was a great choice of quality wines and cocktails and the staff were friendly and professional and Maisey made us feel very special on our first visit definitely worth a visit 5stars from me!

Very expensive despite 40% off before 7pm but then there is a 20% service charge. For what it was I thought it was very expensive

Best steak we’ve had for ages. The chips could just about have been enough for two actually and were really nice. The mac and cheese was brilliant. The only slight shame was the cost of the sides because we would have had some veg as well but had to draw the line somewhere. In hindsight they might have been ok to share

Great small plates & burgers, but the steaks are the star of the show, with a great selection of tasty sauces to choose from. I also highly recommend the charcoal mushrooms as a side. If you're in early (before 6:30pm I believe) the early bird deal is great value. Oh, and they have a selection of 'not the usual suspects" cocktails that are fun.

The best steak in Cheltenham! Had the fillet steak and a savingnon blanc, both amazing. Would definitely recommend.

Visited for the early bird special. I wouldn't usually choose rump steak, I prefer sirloin or rib eye but the rump here was excellent, not fatty or chewy, very succulent and tasty. Peppercorn sauce was lovely and rich. Would be nice to at least get a little rocket or tomato along with the fries.

Outstanding service (Ben put up with us all evening, he was a delight)! Food was delicious, we did the sharing board and everything was delicious. Also added on the bone marrow- definitely try it. Highly recommend!

Having visited the Ox Bristol )which is amazing !) several times was a bit disappointing. The Rib starters was 3 each and had hardly any meat on them felt like just bones with sauce and we did give a honest opinion of to the staff when they asked as was not the same as when we have had at the Bristol chain. The main steak however to be fair was great. It was only when we had paid the bill in full did the waiter ask again what was wrong with the starter - the management here didn’t seem that interested - shame as the Ox is one of our favourite steak restaurants so the lower rating really is for the starters and disinterested management not sure if I’d recommend this one on this basis .

I cannot fault the service, had a couple of dietaries and they were fantastically accommodated. Partners steak was cooked perfectly and the drinks were great (5*) Atmos only low as we and 1 other couple were the only occupants on a Friday evening. I prefer a bit of a buzz. Some may prefer a quieter night however so this is a reflection of my personal preference and this didn't influence my overall. However...do stick to things you know can be cooked fresh such as steaks and burgers and avoid dishes that require longer cooking times. The ribs I ordered were preprepped (I understand why) but they were then over cooked leading to them being TOO dry. They were then served pre cut as individual ribs rather than as a rack - odd - wouldn't recommend them at all. When I mentioned it, they were discounted and a comment was made that its not the first time someone had mentioned their dryness. IMHO if they aren't good, take them off the menu, serve what you are good at - steak. Will I go back? ...yeah...but only if pressured by the partner as she REALLY enjoyed the steak, but I wont be having the ribs again.

Our Sunday Roasts were tasty but the plates were cold so some of it was not as hot as we would have liked. Rather dark for me and on the noisy side but comfy chairs and pleasant decor.

Absolutely brilliant steak, service and atmosphere. Always love it here and we will be back! The food is always cooked to perfection!!

Had an absolutely lovely experience today at the Ox for my friend’s birthday, the food was delicious, very reasonably priced too! We had the early bird which included steak, chips, house wine for £20! I didn’t catch the name of the guy who served us today but he was absolutely delightful and so accommodating, we decided to sit outside and he happily assisted the move and was very attentive. The Caesar salad is the most delicious thing ever defo recommend!!

Fantastic restaurant. The service and atmosphere also brilliant. Highly recommend. Steak was delicious. Recommend the beef rob sharer.

Delicious food, best steak in Cheltenham and the chips are cooked to perfection. Extremely talented chefs who put their hearts into the food they cook. Friendly and professional staff, warm and welcoming atmosphere, great cocktails, good choice of wine. We love it here.

Steaks were fab, atmosphere was very lovely with classic and cozy decor. Staff were very lovely too, no complaints from me

The food was amazing and drinks , the staff was so polite mr Mellon made us very welcoming he had a lovely smile and great conversation too would definitely recommend and will be going back again great food lovely place 🙂🙂🙂 it's 5 stars from me *****

Amazing food and the staff were so polite the manger was amazing. Amazing drinks and delicious dessert would recommend to friend and co workers and family.

The atmosphere was very nice, and the steak was excellent! The cocktails topped it off, sat and had a delicious old fashion from Masie after the meal, great customer service!

Had a great time at The Ox, last Friday. I couldn’t decide what to choose on the menu but the friendly staff were able to recommend the perfect steak. I really enjoyed my time there with my wife, who loved the place as they weren’t worried about making her cocktails that weren’t on the menu, on top of the beautiful wine selection.

My husband had heard the Sunday Lunches were very good and the rumours were true. A generous pork belly roast with a good selection of vegetables and plenty of gravy. The medium D Rump was cooked to perfection and the heavenly mac n cheese was a great accompaniment. Our 7 year old loved the hamburger with fries. I thought it was a good burger too, at the age of 44. The brownie was deliciously chocolatey, without being too dense and rich. There was a good scoop of vanilla ice cream and swirl of white chocolate sauce. The staff were very friendly and accommodating.

To be fair, the ribs starter was good, and the ribeye steak was good too. The mushroom starter was too smokey (although that may be my personal taste) The fillet steaks were tough and chewy. Nothing came with the steaks - no garnish. Ordered fries and sauces. The service was not warm - very little eye contact or smiles. It was very expensive. I don’t mind paying these prices for food, but I expect better than this when I do.

Beautiful venue however the service is appalling. We waited 50 minutes for our main course. When questioned the wait time the staff were rude and didn’t seem to bothered. The food was good but definitely not worth the price.

Pouring down with rain very cold google maps got us there but we walked all the way round the block again, no signage, no indication it is down a basement, only drunken group of men coming out, one urinating on the fronts told us where it was, in asking why there was no signs the staff were exasperated they had asked the owners but they declined, thought it made it seem more exclusive. Rubbish, we won’t go again, we travel, been many steakhouses this one is underwhelming and needs decorating. Steak nice, nothing included not even chips so many add ons, very expensive even tip added you have no choice about it, plenty of better placed to eat don’t bother.

We were recommended The Ox by a member of staff at a central Cheltenham pub/restaurant as they were fully booked. On arrival, we weren't even sure if it was open as the outside seating area was deserted and the only entrance was downstairs and looked closed. On entering, it was like going into a speakeasy. A vast oak-panelled room, with a bar and further room beyond. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful as we foolishly hadn't booked. Sunday lunch is clearly still a bit of an institution. We were lucky to be offered a table and were glad we had, as both rooms were soon full. I chose the roast beef and Mrs LS opted for the Hake. The fish was beautifully cooked and was accompanied by a light velouté, hispi cabbage and frites. The beef was blushingly pink and was complemented by generous side dishes, including cauliflower cheese and even extra gravy. Price was reasonable and my only minor gripe was a lack of draught beers. Great find with a fantastic team – just remember to book for Sunday lunch

Been a number of times and food has been amazing but unfortunately this time food was no where near what it used to be which is a massive shame seeing as the prices they change are over what most restaurants in the area are. The place itself is also looking abit tired.

We ate as a party of 6 and everyone of us were extremely impressed. The food was fantastic and the service exceptional. Will definitely be back when next in the area.

Service and food were good however the roast beef was a bit chewy and the knives to cut the meat were blunt. Food on the expensive side for what you got although on the whole quite tasty.

Five of us had a fabulous meal. Steak is excellent. Recommend the shared platter as a treat . Not cheap but amazing food!! Try it .

We keep coming back as the food is great and staff attentive

Been here a few times, beef is the stand out as you’d expect. Sunday lunch was very good but unfortunately was barely warm when it arrived. Sides were decent. Cauliflower cheese could be cheesier. With one of their special offer vouchers it is good value and would have been 4 out of 5 (very good) if food had arrived hot. Waiters were so efficient you almost felt rushed.

Only a 5 minute walk from the brewery quarter but easily missed,i recommend anyone visiting Cheltenham to eat here great food

We visited The Ox on a cold Sunday afternoon. The roast was really good- generous portion, beautifully cooked and reasonably priced. It’s a nice setting and the staff are welcoming and attentive. We will certainly be coming back!

Delicious steaks - just perfect for celebrating a special birthday. Thank you ❤️

Hard to find in the dark as it is not well lit or sign posted! We received a friendly welcome, waiting staff were lovely, drinks good, steak excellent and cooked to perfection, sides were fab, especially triple cooked chips😋 highly recommend 👍

Nice place to eat, plenty of atmosphere and good food, not super fantastic but bad bad

perfect for sunday roast. truly family friendly. they did everything to make our 3yo happy :) thank you!

Really nice , friendly service, the food was excellent. Lovely wine choices. Very nice atmosphere. Highly recommended

Went to the OX Thursday evening the steaks were first class and the service was very friendly and helpful highly recommended.

Wow! By far the best place for Sunday lunch. I will back to try the steak. Staff were great and lovely vibe. Just what we needed 🙏🏻 only gutted I hadn’t discovered you sooner. Thank you 🙏🏻

Highly recommend this restaurant!! The food was amazing and the service was spot-on! The staff was very helpful and very quick at serving you!!

We had a delicious meal here. My part ordered steak which was perfectly cooked and I had goats cheese. It was excellent. The service was great, very attentive. Wine lovely, so nice to have a good French Chardonnay. We found it the ambience and music added to the experience

Had buffalo Wings as a starter which were ok. Steak and chips for main was nice. Staff were pleasant but had to wait for service as we were outside and they kept disappearing to the bar.

The sides are pricy considering you have to pay for them separately but the food was really nice and the service was good too.

Best steak and date night atmosphere.

Misschien had ik geen vis moeten pakken bij een restaurant met de naam Ox. Was goed te eten maar had een ondefinieerbare smaak. Het duurde tamelijk lang voordat eten op tafel stond.

Just lovely. Greeted warmly by the staff. Arrived 15 mins early, not a problem. Wine rather expensive £35 for house rosé. Had breads for starter - marmite butter a new experience - divine! Both ordered beef beautifully cooked. Green veg lovely as was cauliflower cheese. Roasties good too. Plus huge yorkie! Staff definitely go the extra smile service charged added but happy to pay as all of the girls were lovely, attentive, smiley and recommended other bars we should try. Rather expensive £90 for two but we had a great time. Thank you Ox.

Well.. as a steak lover, I can confidently say, this place is next level. The steak was simply mouth watering (Bone In Rib) The service was just as good. Thanks team. As a new to be, Cheltenham resident, I will be likely your new regular. Looking forward to our next visit 🙏💯

It was quiet but a great atmosphere. We were there for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. I particularly liked the espresso martini but thought the glass was a little small. The food was really tasty and the service was brilliant

Good service from attentive staff. Atmosphere a bit flat and a bit dark inside. Food okay, but nothing special.

Cant beat the food ... outstanding

Even though we were quite early and we were the second table there, we felt looked after the moment we sat down. We didn’t know the woman’s name, but she was very attentive and personable. I didn’t finish my steak as I was so full, but she took the time to ask if anything was wrong and made sure our experience was brilliant. Compliments to the chef as the béarnaise was phenomenal !!!

For starters I had the chicken wings which were soggy and the ribs with a bbq sauce that I didn't like. For mains I shared the Chateaubriand and I wasn't impressed. For dessert I had a blob of ice cream and a shot of espresso. That maybe concidered classy but it's just rubbish. I honestly had better food in a hungry horse for a fraction of the price. If my mates want to go again I'll have the burger and buy a bar of chocolate on the way home.

Great Sunday dinner, not the cheapest but worth every penny.

Was really looking forward to eating here as had heard good things,sadly I and most of my party was very disappointed. The setting disappointing dark and tired, cutlery looked like it was from a car boot sale.Staff very friendly but the food took over an hour to get to the table,no explanation given.Steaks ok but 2 people had sirloin’s and both were very grisly and sides triple cook chips bearly warm.Pointed out to staff who not really concerned. Shame May have just been an off night, but overall thought over priced for experience.

What a disappointment. Food was ok but for the price ok isn’t acceptable! The service was poor, not sure there was a smile in the place! Definitely wouldn’t go back…. Plenty of other similarly priced restaurants in the area with impeccable food and service. The whole place needs some tlc!!

So disappointed , two medium rare fillet steaks @ £32.00 were medium to well. The sticky Toffee pudding had a nasty burnt taste to it. My daughters 18 birthday celebration meal memorable for all the wrong reasons . Never again.

Over-priced + not worth the money Starter -crab salad only found 1bit of crab in, wings better in our local pub. Mains -ok steaks priced at £30+ Wine list-cheapest house wine which started at £36 No you didn’t read that wrong £36! Bottle of Malbec £45! Venue was not very clean, mirror above fireplace filthy. The worst lager ever tasted + undrinkable! Will not be going back

Fish full of water (maybe from steamed vegetables) and smelled off. Steak well-seasoned but missing any char. Wouldn’t come here again.

THE best meat in town! Staff is welcoming and friendly, wine celection is huge, and the food is delicious. What else do you need for a perfect eat out!

Went to this restaurant this evening and I was shocked at the quality for the prices. Paid the gratuity but I really didn’t want to. There is no doubt for prices they charge there is much better elsewhere. My partner struggled to eat her dinner!!! If you want over priced low standard food this is the place for you.

Food was fantastic and tasted amazing! Definitely going again

I recently dined at The OX restaurant and had a mixed experience. The chateaubriand was definitely the highlight of the meal - it was cooked to perfection and had amazing flavor. However, the roast beef was just okay and didn't quite live up to my expectations. The service, on the other hand, was very slow and miserable. The staff seemed disinterested in providing good service, which made the overall experience less enjoyable. It felt like we were an inconvenience to them, rather than valued customers. In conclusion, while the chateaubriand was definitely delicious, the slow and miserable service really detracted from our experience at The OX. If you're looking for a great meal with attentive service, you may want to consider other options.

wow what a wonderful little treasure of a place ! the food was excellent!

Quite simply the best Sunday lunch in Cheltenham! Two of us had the roast chicken, and one had a steak. All beautifully cooked. The staff went out of their way to assist with a dietary requirement that could have made things difficult, but if anything made it even better. Can’t wait to return.

This was a return trip and was not disappointed, this time for a roast. Fantastic service like before very attentive and one of the best roasts in Cheltenham easily. Pork was pristine, gravy was thick, yorkies were crisp, greens were insane and roasties were great!

Excellent burgers, lovely staff!

Excellent Sunday Lunch. Late afternoon and all options available. Swift and friendly service. Looking forward to returning

Been here several times for a Sunday roast now and it doesn’t disappoint. Definitely the best roast dinner in Cheltenham!

Have to say that the food service ambiance was 5 star. Everything about here was just top class. Will be definitely coming back on our next trip.

Delish food, excellent service.

Amazing! Food was incredible, lovely atmosphere, staff were brilliant. Perfect place for a special evening out with family.

Food at The Ox tastes great but the high cost is what brings the score down.

My wife and I had the most amazing bone in rib eye to share. The Ox is a great steakhouse, decor as it should be, dark colours and leather. The staff were amazing and offered great service. Try he Manageress ( Felicity if I am correct) obviously has very high standards. This is my new favourite place in Cheltenham.

This was a really random find. We were staying in the Cotswolds and needed a place for roast dinner in Cheltenham. After a bit of Googling, we found the OX. It's a little hard to find and in a basement. The decor is eclectic -...

Really good food however service was a bit lacking and the atmosphere was odd.

First impressions count and the outside area & steps need a good sweep. Once inside it’s warm and cosy and the waitress who I know from other venues is friendly, welcoming & very attentive. Food for the most part excellent. My starter ribs are the...

Food was lovely, but atmosphere lacking. Not sure we’d rush back.

Lovely Sunday lunch, attentive service.

Great lunch at The Ox. Good vibe, comfy decor. Tucked away down some steps, you wouldn't expect this hidden gem to be so bustling on a Sunday. Fantastic roasts, with a smaller option for kids. Ideal for large family groups.

Fantastic! I visited the Ox for a mid week treat and I was extremely impressed. Firstly, the service was great and the staff were all so welcoming and attentive. The atmosphere was wonderful, a quiet spot, fantastic decor and ambiance. We had some bread with...

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Just had an evening meal here and it was so disappointing, I really don't know how it gets such good feedback. The steaks were admittedly well cooked but they were so heavily over seasoned they were unpleasant to eat, £37 without accompaniments is just a ridiculous price. For an extra £5.50 we had the "triple cooked" chips, they were pale, not crispy, and dry. We declined sauce as it's not our preference, I see now why the server seemed surprised. I understand there will be a mark up on alcohol but £36 for a bottle of wine that retails at £6.95, and is very ordinary is grossly cynical. When we expressed our disappointment someone did come and speak with us, but we just wanted to leave by this point. We were told we'd be given a 20% discount, but £17.80 from £139.70 is not 20%. We couldn't be bothered to argue this point, or query the £19.60 "automatic gratuity" as we just wanted to leave. We shan't be back.

Overall the Ox had great staff, and a really awesome atmosphere... The food however we found to be very overpriced for the quality, unfortunately. Given the hype we had seen online, we definitely expected more. The starters were fantastic, but the main steaks were overly...

I thought I'd treat myself and a friend to a good quality steak meal, and despite the presentation of the food being very good, my steak lacked any sense of satisfaction, was overly stringy and grisley, and left me feeling largly underwhelmed and ripped off...

Great place to have a dinner. Great steaks with nice wine.

My company had its Christmas meal at the Ox and the menu looked amazing. But at the end of the evening i left disappointed and much poorer than i was anticipating. I'm giving this place 2 Stars max! The food was good, staff okay, management...

My company had its Christmas meal here and the menu looked amazing. But at the end of the evening i left disappointed and much poorer than i was anticipating. I'm giving this place 2 Stars max! The food was good, staff okay, management arrogant while the drinks are ridiculously overpriced! £42 for a bottle of mid range wine and £6 for a tin of IPA is unacceptable. Plus, drinks just kept coming, i don't even think we ask for half of them, we'd finish one bottle of wine and immediately one would magically appear. Haven't seen that strategy since my mates stag party at a club in Prague.... Just avoid or pay more attention to what they're bringing to the table and especially the price. I'll be avoiding Ox in the future!

Our first roast at The Ox and it was very good. Swift and friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere. Beef as expected was very tasty; everything could have been a little hotter my only criticism. Sticky Toffee Pudding was a fabulous indulgence

Lovely atmospheric restaurant with friendly staff. All the foot was top notch, except the steak, which was merely OK. Considering it's their speciality and this place is not cheap I expect more than the bang average lump of meat placed in front of me. Essentially...

Convinced four friends to join us for the dinner on the back of us having had a fabulous meal in March! Staff are pleasant, however the food was a let down and for the price I feel the need to write a review. Wine selection...

We called here for a Sunday lunch and wished we hadn't. Firstly the waitress glared down her nose at us when we said that we didn't want starters. The main course was a meagre portion of meat with a spoonful of veg each, following this...

Writing this is one of the hardest reviews I have ever done, for good reasons only. I must begin with saying we received such excellent service the whole night with good recommendations and such lovely table service. The food was exceptional, I had the pork...

Great for cocktails and steak....

My partner and I dined here last weekend as a last minute bite to eat. We took advantage of the early bird deal as well as some of starters from the main menu. Our steaks were perfectly cooked and tasted delicious. Service was exceptional. The...

Second visit this year. Tasty food, atmospheric setting

We went for the early bird steak offer but ended up having starters from the main menu too. My pork and pistachio terrine was to die for and Craig loved his mackerel mouse, both served with sourdough toast. The Steak and frittes were tasty and...

My partner and I stopped in at 5.30pm for the Early Bird course of Steak and fries with a sauce of choice. We had some starters prior to the steak. I had the mackerel on sourdough toast which was full of flavour. The steak was...

A year on from my previous review and I have to agree with some of the more recent, less favourable reviews. Triple cooked chips were pale, very hard on the outside - overwhelming flavour of oil. The steak didn't look particularly appetising (although it tasted...

Wow wow what a fantastic Sunday lunch. I had the beef and my wife Julia had the pork. We both agreed it was the best tasting Sunday lunch we have ever had.

We came for dinner yesterday and was left very disappointed - for a £150 bill we expected better. The steak was lovely, however the chips were horrible and tasted purely of oil...the cheesecake was like it was caked in jelly - just vile wont be...