The Perch in Oxford

Went to The Perch for the first time for the rugby. Really good atmosphere and staff. Ellie was so good behind the bar and so helpful, very quick getting our drinks and helping us pick each round.

A lovely pub, hidden by the Thames, down a country track, but only a short distance to Oxford. Super location, staff and great quality food.

great night out amazing live music

We visited The Perch on one of the first warm and sunny days of the year, so naturally, it was incredibly busy with plenty of people making the most of the weather. Despite the crowd, we managed to get seated without too much trouble, which was a pleasant surprise. The pub itself is lovely—full of charm, with a great atmosphere and a fantastic setting. The only drawback was the slow service when it came to getting our food. The servers were clearly aware of the delays and did their best to keep things moving, frequently checking in and pushing the kitchen along. Eventually, our food arrived, and thankfully, it was well worth the wait—great quality and well-prepared. Overall, it was a very enjoyable visit. While the service was a bit slow due to the sheer volume of people, the staff handled it as best they could, and the experience was still positive. Would happily return, perhaps on a slightly quieter day!

Visit for a Sunday roast! Since there is no public transportation, you have to walk or drive from downtown. However, it is worth coming and eating, and the scenery along the way is nice to see. Sunday roast is delicious, but cognac-based cider is especially delicious.

Great place to enjoy the green oasis of port meadow and have a coffee, drink or food.

The food is superb. The atmosphere is very good. We sat outside and ate. It has a wonderful garden, those with dogs are welcome. Sit outside when it's nice and sunny. I will come again in spring and summer.

Wow this place looks so good, only stopped for a drink but received excellent service and such a beautiful atmosphere.

Reserved a table for the Sunday roast on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Ordered steamed clams, Sunday roasts (beef + lamb) and finished the meal with a peach crumble. Liked all our orders just find that there's too much potato on the roasts and wish there's more of the roasts itself. Otherwise, the service is good and the restaurant is very lively.

Loved it from start to finish. Thank you for being so welcoming, food was lovely, and our waitress Geraldine was very patient with me being indecisive! Will definitely be back again. Very dog friendly.

A very characterful pub with a thatched roof, delicious food and excellent service! A wonderful location for a walk before or after food as it’s right by the river. Highly recommend!

Excellent pub and wonderful food. The location is amazing close to river Thames and the service was wonderful. The pub allows dogs in the dining area.

We made a special request for our table weeks in advance, specifically asking for a romantic setting as my partner and I rarely get to spend quality time together. Unfortunately, our request was not honoured and we regretted selecting The Perch as our lunch stop. Instead, we were seated at what was essentially a corridor table (I don’t think it should even be a table in that position), with patrons and staff constantly passing by, making it feel like the worst table in the restaurant. Throughout our meal, we had people walking past us, and at times, we were uncomfortably close to staff members bottoms as they moved around. This was not the intimate, special experience we had been looking forward to. We politely shared our feedback directly with the team, but they did not respond (which seems a theme from other reviewers on here), which was disappointing and has resulting in me writing the review here as they clearly don’t care. While the food was good (though expensive), the lack of consideration for our request and the poor seating experience overshadowed our meal.

Amazing delicious hearty food (inc vegetatian squash for the roast) 😌10/10 Cosy and homely atmosphere with lovely staff!

Decent rather than memorable food but the quality is always consistent, I've never had a poor meal here. Staff are selected, or trained, to be friendly without being intrusive and what a difference that makes to a special meal out.

Another wonderful lunch at The Perch. Great service and beautiful food. My steak was perfectly cooked and my wife's braised beef melted in your mouth. Puddings we're delicious, especially my apple and plum crumble.

A beautiful place to eat - the food was fantastic (recommend the mussels, venison pie and risotto), as were the drinks. The service was great as well - after I was halfway through my beer, a waiter came over to replace it with a fresh pint because the original one had come from the end of the keg and was cloudy (I didn't even notice). It's a bit pricey, but well worth it.

First time at this marvellous pub. Great staff and lovely building with food to match. We loved it!

Me and some friends from abroad visited while in the Oxford area. The venue, service and food were of top quality, and I will definitely be returning. Shout out to our host for the evening, Geraldine, who was top class 👌🏻

Top top quality food. Roast pork was perfect. Textures, tastes, accompaniments. Perfect

Staff (particularly the bald manager) was really rude to us, and we felt very unwelcome

I found the ricotta starter bland, the risotto undercooked, however the others very much liked the vegan wellington and ox cheeks, so I guess I was unlucky in my choice. Great service, great atmosphere, but I whacked my head on the beam - watch out!

The Perch has a lovely location and great staff, but be warned. the prices (which are high) do not match the standard or quality of the food. Here's a description to help your choose, - Pies sold out - Soup great - Wild Mushroom & Tarragon Pâté on Toasts - just weird, A small slather on crackers with no garnish, chutney, pickle - just odd and bland. I do better for my midnight snack - Burgers - ordinary - Pan-fried Shetland Sea Trout Fillet - delicious, fresh and well presented - Cotswold Pheasant Breast, leek & potato rosti, sherry braised lentils & crispy parsnips - both were dry, crispy, small and sitting on a plate of cold flavourless lentils. A ready cooked packets of lentils are more interesting. No garnish - Confit Celeriac Steak - so poor it's hard to put into words. The sauce was gloopy and looked like it was made by Bisto - Crumbles - delicious, but luke warm - Drinks great - The food didn't deserve 1 star It should be noted that I have directly contacted The Perch about the meal but they failed to respond, so I can only assume they don't care. I'm gutted we didn't say anything at the day but honestly we were all so embarrassed about how bad it was we didn't know where to start. The place can't be all bad as it was packed - maybe they had a bad day, so good luck on your visit

Ridiculously good Sunday roast. The Lamb the best. The atmosphere is relaxing and beautiful.

Absolutely delicious food, so many great veggie options and our waitress Geraldine was very friendly and made us feel right at home. Perfect atmosphere - will definitely come again!

What a beautiful location the Perch is at. The day we came it was very misty and cold, so you couldn't see over the fields..but made the whole atmosphere even better. It was very busy, and we were lucky to get a table for 2 in the pub. The pub has more of an atmosphere than the restaurant part, but it is still very lovely. I had the Venison Pie. It was amazing! My other half had the burger and wasn't as impressed, especially for cost. For the cost we feel like you should at least get ask how you would like your burger cooked..of which he didn't. Overall we had a lovely meal there, and would definitely recommend.

The staff were lovely and very nice. The food was delicious. We are definitely coming again 100%

Very nice roast. More expensive than a lot of other pubs locally, but that's not unexpected given its location.

Very nice pub!! Very tasty food and kind staff!! I would go again!!

After a week traveling around England I can definitely say that the best Fish & Chip I ate here! Great pub to stop in if walking along the Thames outside Oxford! Super recommended

Cool pub and nice walk to get there from Oxford

I'm fortunate enough to have a boat close by so I get the opportunity to eat here regularly. The service is always excellent and the food is top quality. If you can afford it treat yourself to a superb dining experience and a warm by the fire

Lovely family meal, great staff, best chips I've had in ages - crispy with a fluffy centre.

Food was very good we we rushed through our meal as they wanted the table although we had booked also very cold in the verhanda

Went for Christmas Eve. Everything was good, but not superb. Would like to go back. Incredible location and vibe.

We had a very good lunch, the pub was full and a good atmosphere. The staff were helpful and attentive. Would definitely go again in the spring or summer to enjoy the garden and outside area.

Extraordinarily busy when we visited for a Family Gathering lunch ...but the noise was overwhelming ...very slow service as expected.....

I’m utterly disappointed with my experience at The Perch. Despite booking in advance and reconfirming 24 hours prior, we arrived on Sunday afternoon at 4:15 pm only to find a practically barren menu. There was hardly anything left to eat, which is shocking for a supposedly reputable establishment. What we did manage to order was incredibly subpar: an oversalted, reheated risotto and a half-portion of a roast pork Sunday lunch, where the food was clearly sitting out for hours. The quality was appalling. When I raised concerns about the lack of menu options, the staff’s attitude was dismissive and apathetic, as if they had made enough money that day and didn’t care about our frustration. Their customer service left much to be desired. The only redeeming moment was when they removed the risotto from the bill after I complained about its inedibility. To add insult to injury, we later learned they “sell out early.” As we don’t live locally, there was no way for us to know this. Moral of the story: this Sunday lunch is for local people only, who know how to work the system! I’m baffled at how this pub has managed to achieve its 3,000+ glowing reviews. My experience suggests the opposite: appalling food, an indifferent attitude from staff, and a failure to deliver on their end of the agreement after I had done everything required to confirm my booking. I won’t be returning and would advise others to think twice before visiting……… Especially when you’re not local!!

Lovely little hidden , the food was delightful, and the customer service was top notch.

Fantastic Sunday roast in the atmosphere of a cozy country pub.

Excellent pub..great food.. decent beer and cider choices.

Came here for lunch with my Dad on our walk along the river. The staff were excellent and the food was brilliant. I would definitely recommend this place.

Amazing atmosphere! Both indoors and outdoors are very cozy. Mulled cider was great.

Absolutely lovely place to go and combine with a walk in port meadows. Amazing super friendly service, nice innovative menus and delicious food.

First time here & definitely visiting again. Food was beautiful. I had the venison pie & my friend had the confit celeriac. We shared a side of champ mash. Really good sized portions, well seasoned & we even left some of the mash.

Fantastic country pub with great food and excellent service. Can highly recommend the lamb Sunday roast. Beautiful setting too - and a lovely walk along the river.

Booked in for Sunday dinner during the time advertised for Sunday roasts, got there to be told very busy and almost no roasts left...also as Vegetarians only a couple of options available, but none that we fancied, so left...no real attempt to accommodate us, just lots of excuses and you should book for earlier...okay, but you should make it much clearer on your website, pretty much ruined family meal out.

We had the most wonderful lunch here today. Cosy autumn vibe with the fire and delicious mulled cider. We were sat in the conservatory section which has gorgeous views and loads of light. The food was delicious and the service was wonderful - we had Geraldine who was delightful.

Beautiful place , amazing food , very nice service. Best beef Sunday Roast I ever had ending with unreal dessert (Pear, Cinnamon & Dark Chocolate Crumble with Almond Custard) 👌🏻🫶🏻

We had lunch at The Perch yesterday. Absolutely perfect service, especially from lovely Umberto. However, food let us down. Venison terrine was decent, but rosemary bread served with it was horribly stale and had no trace of rosemary. Chips, which in the past were to die for, were very unappealing - soggy and possibly revived in a microwave rather than freshly fried. We had to discard quite a few mussels as they were not opening at all. On a bright side - nice coffees. I would rate the whole experience 5 out of 10.

delicious vegan menu and our waiter, jerry (?) took great care of us. well worth the half hour walk from the city centre!

We stopped here for lunch and had a great time. Geraldine was exceedingly kind and helpful and made really elevated our experience. We enjoyed the food and the outdoor walk to the river out back. They're also very accommodating of dietary restrictions. Would definitely visit again!

Delighted to return, having been around two and a bit years ago. On that occasion I narrowly missed out on roast beef, the last one going to the people next door, but this time we got there early with a table at 12.15 on a rainy Sunday. We were given a friendly welcome as soon as we stepped in from the rain and shown to our table. The atmosphere was just right - lively but not OTT. Our waitress was fantastic, going through the options and making sure we had everything (throughout, not just at the start). Much better and friendlier service than you'd typically get in London! The roast did not disappoint and I would definitely recommend it: generous amount of roast beef, tasty veg and a fine Yorkshire pudding. Dessert was plum sorbet grown in their own gardens. I wholeheartedly recommend a trip here, make a booking and if the weather permits go for a bracing walk before to build a hunger (or after to make amends for having too much!)

Privilege for local people, even if you are seated, you can't order a burger.

Lovely, cozy spot to enjoy Sunday Roast.

Great food and service. Came for a Sunday roast. Lamb was delicious. I recommend making a reservation because it gets very busy on weekends. Walked here from Jericho, was 2km - 30 mins and pleasant.

Beautiful place in any seasons.

My friend and I had a wonderful lunch at the Perch today. Our waitress Geraldine was an absolute delight. The food was amazing (love the vegan menu) and what's not to like about sitting in their gorgeous conservatory on a beautiful day like today.

We had a a large family lunch here Saturday 12th October to celebrate the 92nd Birthday of a loved one. We were all absolutely delighted by the staff, the service, the food, the pub itself and the atmoshere. The Bar Manageress and our waitress Geraldine were both particularly exemplary, so warm, welcoming and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. I would wholeheartedly recommend The Perch, it is stunning!

Great place. Nice, cosy and roaring fire. Good is good but slightly pricey. I would like to have seen a light bites menu.

Attended a wedding meal and party in the marquee, and it lived up to its reputation. Eclectic mix of delicious food in generous portions. Staff absolutely superb.

Went there for a friend's party in the marquee. It was fabulous.

A proper country pub on the edge of Oxford. Excellent wines and beers but the food, although tasty, is expensive for what it is. Dropped a point for luke warm chips.

The really snotty service ruined an otherwise nice meal in a pretty setting. Such a shame to have the place brought down by rude, indifferent staff.

Not that we go often, but they have always delivered a nicely presented and well-cooked meal, it is reassuring to find such reliability.

A gem of a pub! Great food and service. We went for a long walk after our lunch and look forward to going again!

Atmosphere has changed a lot, it's pretty stuffy, overpriced food which is pretty poorly cooked, we all agreed the "triple cooked" chips tasted like crappy oven chips. The place itself is lovely has a nice fireplace and a nice garden, lots.of outdoor seating but little indoor seating unless youve booked it for food... Honestly i wouldnt bother going for anything other than a pint, for food, walk up the river a bit further theres a much better place!

Great food and atmosphere! The quality of food is good however the quantity was not sufficient for one person considering the cost. Although great outside arrangements!

Really nice ambiance and good food but needs improvement on service.

The Perch hosted our son's wedding reception yesterday, brilliant location, brilliant service from all the staff , excellent food . Thankyou so much !

The burger (a pretty standard dish) was dry, dry, dry. I was promptly (too promptly) brought another burger which was equally as bad. At this point (very hungry) I would have been happy with a fast food burger (this, although not a fan, I would have eaten), however the very expensive Perch burger was the worst I have ever had. I explained that I would eat my chips but not the burger and so I would not be paying; this was honoured. However, I did not appreciate being told that the beef meet is much better in the summer….really!? If that’s the case, take beef off the menu from the end of August or don’t charge £18 for a burger.

Great food and even better service, thank you luis!

Visited on Sunday evening. Service was first class - Thank you, Lewis 😊 The food was exceptional, ale very well kept and wine superb. We are on holiday on a boat on the Thames and we were very relieved that we could moor on The Perch's private jetty. The walk to the pub is marked by arches festooned with fairy lights. Such a memorable evening. Thank you.

Everything was great from service, to food to atmosphere. Didn't quite live up to the 'great gardens that inspired lewis carol' rumours but their garden area is wonderfully kept Best Sunday roast so far in a 2 month UK trip

Sunday lunch. Good roast. Won derful setting. Excellent table service. Good bottle of Rioja!

Great old village pub. Friendly service with very good food!

Food and service excellent but refused to take cash

Excellent food, great rustic ambience. Tables at lunchtime during midweek was full for a pub outside the city centre, which comments to its popularity.

Great pub to rest and have a bite after a stroll along the river, has one of the best pub gardens in Oxford.

Beautiful walk to restaurant along Thames from Oxford.

Amazing service and amazing food. Will recommend to anyone in or around ot going to Oxford.

Lovely venue. Parking was a bit of a pain as it was very busy. No steak on the menu, never been to a restaurant that doesn't serve steak but the food I ate was perfect and I enjoyed my meal

Definitely an outstanding option for a Sunday Roast. Great service, amazing food.

Absolutely lovely location. Superb food and service. The ale-battered Cornish fish and triple-cooked chips are gorgeous - best I’ve ever had!

Very good fish, perfectly cooked. On the pricey side but then quality. Excellent deserts and beautiful location

Typical english summer, needed to warm up in front of the open fire, with hot chocolate and coffee. Top marks for being ready for the river cruisers

The food and service here are incredible. I've been here lots and lots of times. The garden is lovely as are the staff. We loved it so much we even had our wedding here last year.

A beautiful location, lovely food and fantastic walks along the river to walk the food off. Great job, thanks to all the staff👍👍👍

Gorgeous pub, super staff especially the cheerful lady behind the bar at 17:30ish today. Great location and attention to detail. Will be back

Have eaten here quite a few times, food was way below par last visit, same for the other members of the party. Not as though there is a huge choice to get right.

The Perch is an absolute gem which is located in the middle of the Oxford countryside. As soon as you enter this historic pub you are greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that perfectly combines traditional charm with modern comfort. The surroundings are simply breathtaking with the river view and the garden which is an ideal spot for a lazy afternoon. The food is excellent, each meal is so skilfully made with fresh, local produce. Whether you are having a classic Sunday roast or one of their seasonal specials, each bite is a treat. The drink list is equally vibrant, featuring not only a variety of ales, wines, but also expertly prepared cocktails. However, the most outstanding quality of The Perch is the way they treat their customers. The staff are extraordinarily kind and attentive, making sure each guest feels at home and well looked after. They are way over the top and make the stay remarkable. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty dinner by the fireplace, a sunny day in the garden, or just a place to hang out with friends, The Perch has it all. I can't recommend it highly enough; it is a must-visit place in Oxford. I'm definitely going back!

Nice food at a reasonable price

Lovely place and attentive service. Food is alright. Definitely not 5 stars but pleasant.

Visited on a Saturday early evening. Was very busy and a good atmosphere, and the speed of service was good. The menu had a good selection with some of the usual pub staples. Would go again.

We approached the pub from the river and it felt like I had been transported to another fantasy realm. A realm full of lovely food and cracking booze all under fruit trees. Gorgeous pub.

Fantastic, beautiful place outside Oxford, good food, great staff, unbeatable location.

Lovely setting close to the river. The outside bar a bonus. Had a burger and fries, which was good. Would be keen to return and try more comprehensive menu inside the restaurant. Parking can be difficult on busy days.

Wonderful pub a short and scenic half hour walk from the centre of Oxford. Stroll along the river and down the wooded path to get to a gorgeous historic site. There are options for either a full gastropub menu inside, or, in the summer, more humble burgers from the outdoor grill. Plenty of options for ales, wines and soft drinks. Equally enjoyable keeping cosy inside during the winter, or out in the gardens in the sun or shade of the willow trees.

Stopped for lunch on a Sunday afteenoon when out for a walk along the river. My friend has ordered their lamb roast and I, nut roast. We had ordered cauliflower cheese for sides. We both thought the Mains was ok. Nothing special. The cauliflower cheese was barely cooked,, lacked flavour of cheese and hardly any sauce- in fact we asked if we could have some more sauce but were duly informed it was not possible. The dessert took almost 45 minutes to arrive. At one point, we even let the waiteress know that we didn't want it as we had to go but she said it wouldn't be much longer. The outside area is large and was very busy, where they serve burgers. The staff was fairly pleasant.

What a great meal we had tonight. The garden is delightful and Theo was the perfect waiter! We'll be back soon.