The Talkhouse Inn in South Oxfordshire

Visited a couple of weeks ago and it was lovely, went back Saturday with friends and it was disappointing food not the best and one dessert didn’t arrive because the person who knows how to make it had stepped out ???

We visited The Talkhouse on a cold, wet, blustery February lunchtime and what a treat. A very attentive barmaid made sure we (granny, wife and me) got a cozy table with comfy seats. She made sure we got some drinks as she gave us menus...

Fabulous food again! We have started a Ladies Monthly Supper club at this pub and we have really enjoyed it! Last month we were 24 of us and this month 19! All the food was fabulous and cooked to perfection-4 of us had Fish&Chips and...

Yes heard a rumour one of Oxfordshire’s old pubs has had a change of management and menus so thought the Wife and I would try a Sunday roast. I sampled the lamb and the wife had beef. Very nice too. Generous portions and very well...

Visited with my sister today. Firstly we just sat by the bar to enjoy a pint and just comment on how fabulous the place is. Definitely can say it’s giving you experience of being in old, traditional British pub. Design in wood and stone is...

We’ve also been going to The Talkhouse for years, it’s a good half way meeting point for some of our friends, close to Oxford, walks and with plenty of parking. We found the proprietor very helpful and all the staff friendly without being familiar. The...

I big thank you to Graham and Penny for the warm welcome to the Talkhouse for our annual Xmas big group of friends get together (Children and adults). Good selection of beer and wine and great a service and good array of food, very happy and would recommend a visit.

The car park is opposite the pub so take care crossing. It's roomy inside with several choices of room/area. The waitress was not backward in coming forward and engaged in conversation from the word go. She had a sense of humour too. She had little to do as the pub was without a crowd and remained so. All the better for us and we took our time. We were not the last to come but were the last to leave by far and we were not hovered over to help us on our way.

Mi primo y yo tuvimos cena en el Talkhouse el martes 7 de noviembre. Ella estaba visitando nuevamente desde Canadá y es uno de sus lugares favoritos para comer. Uno no puede más que impresionado con la hermosa decoración tasetful y ambiente acogedor. Las dos tenían ancas de rana para comenzar. Yo tenía un pez espada y mi primo tenía el venado tanto muy bien cocinados y presentados y absolutamente delicioso. Mi primo tenía helado (siempre bueno y genial que sólo pagará por cucharada) y yo tenía un postre maravilloso que involucran una cúpula de chocolate, derretido en la mesa cuando la salsa caliente fue derramado. Servicio amable de Sophie coronó la noche. Encantador!

Nos detuvimos para comer. Excelente acogida de la camarera mientras entramos y nos llevaron a nuestros asientos. Nos hizo sentir especiales.

Dined here with work colleagues. Upon entry you will find a really nice old pub, tastefully decorated. I did find it a little cool when sitting at the table. There were only a coulee of tables of diners, so fairly quiet. Staff were friendly. My issue was that the menu is a little pretentious given that dish titles (e.g. De la Mer/of the sea) we in French and for each course you you choose petit or grand rather than having Starters/mains etc; just seemed a little all over the place.

A lovely warm welcome awaits you in this pub. Plenty of locals eating which is always a good sign. Perfect spot on a warm balmy summer evening. Food excellent, wine list good, setting perfect. Everything was beautifully presented.

I been there many time ( about 3 times)

the waiter behind bar , she is very rude ,from first second you feel welcome .

How can any self-respecting chef serve food like this? The calamari was burnt to a cinder; the frog's legs were likewise, and swimming in oil; the risotto's rice was overcooked, it was oily, and, as it looked like sick i a bowl, it was wholly unappetising; and the white crab mayonnaise and ahi tuna starters were insipid. Maybe they serve good beer here, but as we'll never return we will never know.

The set up is lovely, very countryside, mine hosts are very welcoming and the food is great - what more can you ask for?

Lovely pub in a beautiful setting. Atmosphere really very nice. The menu has changed since we were last here. Had a burger which was a little disappointing unfortunately and I think a bit overpriced for what it is (£14 ish). We will give it another go though at somepoint because in the past we have had some really lovely meals here, so may have just been a one off.

Comimos mucho alrededor de la zona de Oxford y tengo que decir que este lugar ha mejorado más allá de reconocimiento ya que el dueño (que es un chef) se libró de sus chefs antiguo y volví a la cocina a sí mismo. Ahora la comida es muy muy buena y los precios son razonables para la calidad. Así que hazte un favor y dar una oportunidad a este sitio, usted no será decepcionado.

Una visita a mark mis hijas y cumpleaños de mi esposa. Recomendado por una de mis hijas colegas. El almuerzo de domingo. Encantador pub antiguo. El asado de cordero era delicioso, el higo y ciruela greengage era perfecta y el servicio era impecable. No podía haber deseado algo mejor. Sin duda volveremos. Bien hecho Talkhouse.

Having stayed here several times over the last 10 years, this time we took my wife's parents with us as we rate it so highly. It seems it had a couple of dodgy years, which thankfully we missed, but it's clearly back to its best. Always guaranteed a good nights sleep, maybe helped by the good beer and food, and the rooms are always nice and clean. We ate here twice out of our 3 night stay and can recommend the steak, which was cooked to perfection however you like it. Hopefully the current owners are staying for a good while and we can't wait for our next stay when visiting the area.

A friend and I had booked to have Sunday lunch here following a morning rambling, and it was such a beautiful day we ate outside in the Courtyard. The food was delicious, lots of choices on the menu, and the service friendly and efficient. A really characterful place and of note the ladies restroom was spotlessly clean and the decor really fresh and pretty. They have Jazz twice a month too, so well worth a second visit. Well done Talkhouse.

Went for a long dog walk and came across this place, after a long walk went here had a couple of drinks and a light lunch . We sat in garden on a beautiful day with our dog , garden was nice and tidy & dog friendly, staff were nice & helpful & prices were what you would expect for a country pub . Went to the loo before we left and they were very clean & tidy , definitely come back here another day .

Good varied menu with a passable wine list.Service by Sophie was good but have to say she seemed very busy as she was acting as waitress and serving behind the bar, if the bar had been busier we hoped there would be additional staff to call upon otherwise we foresee problems!My steak was good quality and well cooked if a little small and the chips portion needs to be double that served but what I had was very good.Our other meals were very good and therefore all we would return.

Three of us were all disappointed. Cod Hache uninspiring too vinegary and asparagus not cooked. Gnocchi - poor presentation and too salty. We did mildly complain about this - but had no response at all. Hake was just not very pleasant sitting on a bland ragout. When paying, I said we were slightly disappointed - but no response to this. I politely said I hoped to come back but I very much doubt it. Such a shame as it is an attractive pub.

My wife and I booked a table for Sunday lunch, it is a lovely old pub and we have been here a number of times over the years but as is so often the case places change and unfortunately after this latest experience we are unlikely to return. The best part of our visit was the service which was very good, my wife chose the pork which she found very fatty and her food overall was not that hot, I chose the beef and had 2 thin pieces which tasted ok but again not that hot. For desert we shared the Custard tart with Rum and Caramelised Banana for £5.50, well this was very disappointing, the pastry was like rubber, the tart itself was very small (The tarts we usually buy from Waitrose taste better and for the same money we could have bought 22 of these!) and they just chopped 3 small pieces off a banana to decorate the plate! you would think they could put a whole banana on the plate! and there was no taste of any rum?If a pub is going to charge top restaurant prices then you should expect the quality of the food to match, they offered Beef, Pork or Lamb at a fixed price of £14.10My wife asked for Apple sauce to go with the Pork and got a tiny bowl with 'Bought in' sauce out of a jar!This used to be a favourite of ours but sadly not anymore

My wife and I stopped off here for lunch while house-hunting in the area. We were warmly received, promptly seated and served. The staff were very friendly and the whole place had a very welcoming atmosphere. We shared a pot of cocktail sausages and a pot of baby calamari as a starter and then my wife had a risotto and I had fish and chips. The food was very good, although my fish was a little overcooked. The staff very kindly allowed my wife to charge her mobile phone while we were there wwhich was very useful as we were using it for navigation. I would strongly recommend this establishment.

A warm and welcoming greeting from the staff who led us to our table, had drinks while we chose food from the menu and as it was a Sunday declined the superb selection of specials and instead chose roasts which were as good a Sunday lunch as you could get, a delicious meal and followed by delicious desserts. The staff were welcoming and helpful. Enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in a very nice pub in a warm and welcome environment, a good beer a good meal and good company gives a lift for the spirit - thank you to the team

This is a wonderful place to eat! Interior is fantastic and has a warm feel. We had the steak off the specials and they cooked sauteed potatoes especially for my partner with a fish allergy. The chocolate pudding was lush!!

There were 11 of us and the food, as in past years was well up to standard. The serving staff were brilliant, clearly knew the menu and what they were doing and quickly took orders for drinks and meal choices. Top marks for the fish /chips and the venison dishes. Puddings passed the 5 star test especially the treacle one and the ice cream flavours. VERY WELL DONE TEAM. Many thanks.

went about 12.30 weekday 5/6 weeks ago. was moved from our desired table to else where. drinks ordered when we first arrived. we felt like second class customers, declined the food menu. nobody sat at our desired table. finished up at the four pillars, sandford. BLISS

The pub is a nice old building and the atmosphere was good . For a while no serving staff were to be found to place an order . the beer selection was good , the food adequate , there are worse pubs but there are several better in the area so ' average ' says it all really

I am not a fan of Sunday lunch out. I'm arrogant enough to think no-one does it as good as me! This pub / restaurant is FANTASTIC! Without a shadow of a doubt. Great food, great service, great location. Unfaulting.

My partner took me here in october, it has vastly improved from previous visits.We had really delicious food on a sunday lunch and the pub is really lovely inside, very welcoming and nicely decorated. Highly recommend sunday lunch.

We booked a table for Sunday lunch for 4. A cold miserable day we got a very friendly welcome and a lovely fire to warm us up. Good choice of wines. Ordered a choice of pre lunch nibbles, all delicious. 3 of us ordered roast beef - with yorkshire pudding and 3 veg - perfect. Not much room for desert but we all shared bavarois with shortbread - excellent. Highly recommended

We held my fathers wake there back in October '16.The arrangement was to provide catering for 40 people as we wanted to keep everything to family and close friends.I managed to get a sandwich and a samosa, lord knows where the food went but it sure as hell didn't end up up on my plate. Some of the people there went hungry, my mother was one of those people....she was not impressed.The desserts, Christ what a joke, tiny squares of cake....not enough for 40 people.Yes bar prices were high, blah blah blah "we are a restaurant" blah blah...and? so? it was a wake!Supposed to be tea or coffee supplied as well, no idea where that was, answers on a postcard please.They did a head count, yep...they counted how many people were there (there were more than 40 but I expect they will accuse everyone of eating something or charge us for breathing their air) but not everyone was there to eat, they came to pay their respects to my father...perhaps the landlord/manager needs to look that word up "RESPECT" and yes it is in the dictionary....and now we come to the grand finale....they tried to get more money out of my mother, the woman who had lost her husband two weeks earlier after spending over 45 years together....the woman who had said goodbye to the one person she loved most of all a few hours earlier....and you tried to fleece her for more money, shame on you!As for the response to sixtyschicks review about "holding his wake in Wetherspoons", well that shows you what sort of person the landlord/manager is and to be honest if we knew you were going to behave like this we would have.

staff rude, food overprices as were the drinks - avoid this pub as the manager is as rude as his staff. They are only happy if they are overcharging you

We went for a romantic meal . Table at. 8pm. We arrived at 7.55 . We were home in oakley before 9 having had two courses (starter and main) served back to back . It was so rushed we couldn't eat the main course and we only had one drink each . It cost us more than £1 per minute to be there !! Very disappointed

I went here with 9 others one Sunday afternoon. There's a decent amount of parking and the views of the surrounding countryside are beautiful. We booked just in case but it was a nice quiet day and we were on a table out of the way. The staff were all super friendly and couldn't do enough for us. We all ordered roast dinners and couldn't fault them. The portions are a good size and there was just enough room for a scoop of sorbet for dessert! Absolutely delicious meal and lovely experience. Will definitely visit again if I'm that side of Oxford!

Wow what an awesome team! Excellent attention to detail. Food was superb ... for all 80 of us! Recommend the tower of avocado and devon crab with tomato salsa which melted in your mouth, and fillet of plaice cooked to perfection. Thank you for everything the meal and after party was amazing and you were too!

This is an beautiful pub which serves good food at a reasonable price. Staff were friendly and attentive. Stayed in one of the adjoining bedrooms. Quaint, clean and more than adequate. Good morning breakfast with as much tea-coffee and toast as you could eat. If we're in the area again we would definitely stop off. Thanks to Graham, Penny and your team.

The Talkhouse is now back with a new team and we enjoyed both a warm welcome and delicious dinner there recently. Good service and well presented dishes served in the lovely beamed restaurant. After the previous poor rating given under the old management we were delighted that this Inn is now back in form. We look forward to our next visit.

This totally delightful country inn has only 4 quaint rooms, but the host-owners treat you like family, calling you by name any time you ask them for something. We were staying there for a friends' wedding in the local church with both a rehearsal dinner and wedding luncheon at Talkhouse. Apparently they used to run an upscale restaurant in Oxford and clearly have taken their skills to "the country!" Dinners are fresh, innovative and reasonably priced. Breakfasts are delicious yet not just standard "English Breakfasts" (one option is for Salmon Benedict). If downtown Oxford is too busy or you want a getaway for dinner, definitely go to Talkhouse Inn, Stanton St. John.

Had the Guinea fowl as a main - tremendous! Couldn't fault it. Pleasant interior and atmosphere. Highly recommended.

We have enjoyed meals here several times and on every occasion without exception the warm welcome from staff, service and food has been very good and would compare very favourably with any London restaurant.

We booked a table 3 days before and booking was straight forward. Pub was quite quiet for a saturday evening considering weather was lovely. It a lovely old country pub lots of seating. Menu was very good lots of fish for starter's had some different choices like Octopus and Frog legs. Meal was nice and hot. Really nice evening and priced very well. Plus good service

me ha encantado, y hemos comido y bebido como los dioses, nos atendieron de maravilla y los precios son muy buenos

Seeing some of theses bad reviews makes me think people really don't have taste buds and I wish I could like Graham's comebacks to some stupid reviews,all the food at this restaurant/gastro pub is excellent better then chain pubs and better then most restaurants in the oxford area the chef Martin and Simon seriously know what there doing, the Sunday roast is a orgasm for your mouth (excuse the rudeness) graham is one hell of a chef and extremely passionate about his business the only disappointment is me and my partner ain't been up there recently but soon to change keep up the good work chefs Love pikey and Kim

My partner and I visited the Talkhouse for dinner tonight and were immediately greeted by the warm and hospitable staff behind the bar who we later found out to be the landlord and his daughter. We were made to feel very welcome and served drinks promptly. After a short friendly conversation we were shown to our table. In most modern restaurants, the tables are so close that you feel like you're part of the next table's conversation but not in the Talkhouse. We ordered the scallops and venison carpaccio to start although everything looked really appetising! Both dishes arrived promptly and were equally delicious. Starters were followed by the rib eye steak and venison medallions, again cooked perfectly. We had the cheeseboard to follow which was the perfect amount and made up of some delicious tasty cheeses. The service was excellent and not too obtrusive. All in all a perfect night. We will be back, thank you very much

We went today to meet a friend for lunch - he had travelled from Morden in London we from North Worcestershire (a meeting more or less in the middle) the three of us have been before and enjoyed it, on one of the previous occasions there was a funeral wake here but we eventually got to the bar and were found a table - today 22.3.2016 the car park was overflowing and you literally could not get in the door let alone ask about a table for a nice lunch. Sorry management I hope your takings on the bar compensated for three lost lunch and bar takings just because you could not be bothered to put a member of staff on the door to manage the funeral lot for 15 minutes when they were all arriving still I suppose you survive on your funeral business as the crematorium is just up the road.

We ate lunch in here recently and was left very underwhelmed. I had the fish n chips, fish was greasy and chips overlooked, partner had the burger, this was also overcooked and devoid of any flavour. Sadly we won't be back.

We visited on a very cold day. The restaurant looks attractive with many added touches like flowers and candles. It was extremely chilly inside as was the welcome from the staff. No warmth, no banter, no chat.Two fireplaces but neither with a fire lit. A radiator that didn't work so an ugly industrial type electric heater was brought to take the chill away for a few minutes.We ate here one month before and really enjoyed the food, hence our re visit for my birthday.This day the choice on the menu and the quality of food and cooking was very poor and very overpriced. There were four adults and two children in our party so a service charge was added on. What a cheek. We asked quite reasonably for it to be removed. Maybe some training on customer service might be a good idea.Pity, we won't be going again.

We visited this inn yesterday lunchtime to give a disabled friend the treat of a birthday lunch. I had booked a table that would be convenient for someone walking with a frame and this was ready for us as promised. One of the two very helpful girls serving assisted us with a different chair and some cushions for our friend.The meal was extremely good. We started with the mini[ while you are waiting] snacks and chose olives,sourdough, padron peppers, crudites and aioli. This was delicious and covered the wait for our main courses. Between the three of us we chose duck, guinea fowl and the seafood linguine. All of us were delighted with our choices. The service was discreet but friendly and both girls were charming. The pub was very busy so we advise booking. A great local find. We will definitely be back.

We went here for a birthday treat (not mine) I was first impressed with the warm welcome and very nice atmosphere of the place. My eye was drawn to Tom Kerringer's book nicely displayed near the tables - a good sign in my world as I really like good pub food. The menu was really nice with a good range of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes.We had nibbles to start with from the "whilst you wait" menu - which everyone enjoyed and then we ordered our mains. It was with some delight I heard the lady serving us comment that it would delight the chef to know that I wanted my steak cooked blue - I always order it that way but very rarely is it served as it should be - normally it arrives overcooked and is so disappointing to someone who really knows his food. Not so here the steak and all the food we ordered was simply superb. I would recommend this place to anyone - it was beautiful food. beautifully presented and served properly hot - just delicious

We visit the talk house on a regular basis - food is awesome, the staff are lovely and there is a great atmosphere. We have also visited with family of 15 and all enjoyed the food. Recommend the while you waits they are a nice touch!

We've eaten here before but not regular trip advisor posters , this time we had to write something . The Brixham crab was tasty with a salad and toast accompaniment ., while the duck duo which was a croquette and slices of smoked duck was interesting. While foodies will say its hard to ruin a steak those that know will accept its easy not to get a Bearnaise sauce right - well they get it right here. The service is just right as well - attentive put not pushy. This is a really cosy place to eat on those wet windy winter nights. Well done team

Called in for a Saturday lunch. Attractive and inviting inside and out with pleasant staff. Unfortunately the food did not live up to the setting. The venison pie starter was a venison version of a pork pie (so I'm guessing bought in rather than home made) cut in half on the plate. It was dry,as was the pheasant main course which was served on a bed of lentils and cavalero nero which was bland and frankly boring to eat. My partner ordered the shepherds pie which was in pastry, simply plonked on a plate with some broccoli; no real attempt at presentation despite the £15 plus price. Both it and my daughter's burger were described as "bland". Had we ordered puddings and a bottle of wine the bill would have been well over £100 for three.This place has the appearance, menu - and prices- of a gastropub offering a fine dining experience. Sadly it was unable to deliver it.

On our way to a meeting so not a lot of time. We selected from the 'While you wait' menu, I had a starter and my wife had a light meal i.e. omelette . From the while you wait had the small sausages well cooked and had flavour (unlike many pubs seem to serve) and I had the snails and chorizo - great combination in a herby tomato sauce, v good. Good range of beers too

We visited for dinner with another couple on Saturday night and everything was brilliant. I've been here twice before to eat and, whilst it's always been good, this visit was the best yet. The staff are a real credit to this place and the ambience is just right. The menu reads well and the food is delicious. All four of us had 3 courses and with 6 pints, a large wine, a soft drink and a tea it was £171. Incredibly good value for fresh and delicious food served in a very pleasant atmosphere by staff who care. We will return as we only live 10 mins away - sadly not in walking distance!

Called at the last minute for Sunday lunch with Wife + 1.5 kids... Great service and a lovely roast.Very accommodating and meals and drinks were served quickly :)

This was our second visit and the best yet. The ales were great.... London Pride and Fire Cracker. The food menu was varied and freshly prepared. Service excellent and the staff attentive. The atmosphere was brilliant. The fish and chips, smoked salmon and the chicken were all excellent. Well done to the Talkhouse.

On our last visit I described this restaurant as our new favourite, unfortunately it is no longer the case.I invited my sister and brother in law to join us for a Xmas meal the week before Xmas.We were not greeted when we entered the restaurant, but were shown to our table eventually.We were then informed that we could not have the Xmas meal because we had not ordered it when making our booking.I have gone back and looked at the Xmas meal download and it does not mention that it has to be pre-booked.We were not asked if we wanted to book the Xmas meal when we booked the table. Surely if somebody books a table the week before Xmas and the Xmas meal needs to be pre-booked, wouldn't you ask if we wanted it?We asked a few people if we could have the Xmas meal and were told it wasn't possible. My sister rang the following day and was told by the manager that they would have been able to provide anything off the Xmas menu, so don't know why the staff that evening couldn't have been more accommodating.The manager said the Xmas meal was also meant for large parties, but again no mention on the downloadWe chose some "while you wait" options, sausages, anchovies and calamari, which were very good value.However, I thought the point of while your waits were to pass the time until your main meal arrived.We had finished ours before the waitress took our order. I actually had to leave the table and get the waitresses attention at the bar to ask her to take our order.My chicken burger was dry, as was my partners pheasant and she complained that the puy beans were under-cooked.All in all a very disappointing and embarrassing meal

A very warm welcome seemed a promising start to a night out with friends, in a great gastro pub setting. Sadly the menu didn't really inspire especially as half the offerings were not available in the evenings. Why give us a menu at 8pm that was half lunches only?The food was nicely presented, but on the economy side with the scallops cut in half, and quite bland tasting. hard to be enthusiastic about a revisit.

The staff were friendly, the food was delicious, good vegetarian choices too, and nicely presented.My only quibble was there was no local ale.

We visited the Talk House today for lunch. This place is now our new favourite in the Oxford area and we have tried many as my son and his daughter live in the city. Lovely fresh decor and a welcoming ambience. We were greeted warmly by the owners and their lovely labrador Otto. The food was excellent; a really interesting menu to choose from and the prices were very competitive for establishments in this area. We all (mum, adult son and his partner) had different starters and main courses and they were all absolutely super. We will return - soon!. Thank you.

It's strange how two reviewers can have such totally different experiences. I read the previous review and wonder if it is the same establishment?We visited for an afternoon drink and some snacks, and had a really enjoyable visit. We were greeted by the barman and the person who was almost certainly the landlord. Both gave us a very warm greeting, making us feel immediately at home.We were hoping for some chips along with our drinks, but, being mid afternoon, quite reasonably the kitchen was closed. We settled for some nuts and savoury biscuits. My decaf cappuccino was well made and nicely presented.The decor is really attractive, subtle yet sophisticated.We plan to visit here for a meal later in the Autumn. Recommended!

This pub is fairly new. The food was delicious, the service was very good and my husband loved the choice of ales.Unusual menu, quite creative. The bill was not too bad. We will go again.

Our first visit to this restaurant about two miles east of Oxford in a rural location.The building looks very Olde Worlde, with exposed beams and stone, and dates back 200 years. The walls are tastefully decorated with cartoons, and objets d'art.There are probably 20 tables in the restaurant, but as they are situated in various small rooms, it has quite an intimate feel to it.While deciding what to order there were a selection of dishes to chose from while you wait. However, along with the usual bread and olives are dishes such as Frogs Legs, Snails and Venison Meatballs, all for £3. We tried the Frogs Legs and Venison Meatballs and there were three of each in the portion.My starter was a delicious Thai Pulled Pork Croquette on a salad base with a chilli dressing.My main was Poached Plaice Fillets, topped with a poached egg on a mash base in Hollandaise Sauce. Absolutely delicious again.We were quite full at the end of the meal, but found room for a scoop of raspberry, and a scoop of elderflower sorbet, a perfect light ending to the meal.The staff were everything you could wish for, efficient, and welcoming.The total bill excluding drinks was £55 which is amazing value for two people when you consider we had four courses.

Yet another great recommendation from Emily from the Keepers Cottage at Woodperry Hill near Oxford. We had a great meal and the manager allowed us to try a couple of ales before we decided on one or was it two. The service was great and we had a lovely table. You'd think we were the only ones there, but we weren't. It seems very well frequented by locals and visitors alike. We enjoyed it so much we weren't back there for lunch the next day. E weren't disappointed. Well worth a visit.

The Talkhouse is a beautiful pub currently being run by a lovely family. The food is fantastic and so far we have never had a bad meal since the pub changed hands earlier in the year. It's classy atmosphere makes it the perfect place for a romantic meal for two (especially if you sit in the 'snug' area) with a small elegant court yard to enjoy the small amounts of afternoon sunshine that the UK provides! The Talkhouse has a few guest rooms which i'm not sure if they are in use or not as we've never stayed. The staff including the owners daughter's are charming and very welcoming, nothing is ever too much trouble. The food is reasonably priced and the menu looks so tasty it made my mouth water before I had even ordered! I really hope that the people who are running the Talkhouse stay as they are the best thing that has happened to the place for a long time! We'll be returning and telling all my friends!

At very short notice we decided to celebrate A level results at 1.30 on a FridayA phone call booked a table for 2.15 and two of the party of four arrived at that time.Service was attentive and efficient with no pressure to order food until we were ready and the other two people had arrived-this despite the fact that last food orders were at 2.30Quality and quantity of food was first class.Wonderful fish cake and pork terrine starter and succulent battered fish and chips ( the best I have had for ages).Burger went down very well.Puddings superb-chocolate fondant generous and particularly appreciated.Portions generous and well presentedI frequently go to restaurants and this experience was exceptional-both in terms of service and quality and quantity of foodI look forward to my next visit.

Since being taken over by the present owners the pub has gone from strength to strength. A good chef combined with the friendly young lady front of house makes this the stand out pub of the area and brings it back to its heyday after a few disapointing years.Starters and desserts are excellent with the main courses being worthy companions. A few pub classics for a cheap night out to. The menu changes reguarly to use seasonal produce. Good childrens menu using fresh ingredients and not your usual processed fare. Sunday roasts very good talthough as with every other pub never enough roast potatoes(3)

We arrived here by chance Saturday lunch time whilst visiting old haunts. Very pleased to see Pub Favourites on the menu - we chose Fish & Chips, Burger & Chips, Sausage & Mash - all served quickly, presented well and all tasty. We sat in the courtyard which was lovely in the sunshine with a little breeze. We found the staff friendly and attentive, and the prices fair.

Lovely traditional pub turned restaurant. Surprised it was not popular on a Saturday night, but there are a lot of events on now. We ordered roast lamb and told it would take 20 minutes. No choice of nibbles while we waited except bread and butter or olives on sour dough. We didn't want a first course. One lamb was fatty and running in blood. We weren't given a choice about rare, medium or well-cooked. When it had been well cooked it was found to be delicious. The only vegetable on offer with it, other than a small portion of dauphinaise potatoes was 3 spears of asparagus - understandable as, I understand, the Manager also runs the restaurant at Rectory Farm, a pick-your-own farm nearby, but an alternative leafy veg like spinach plus another one like baby carrots, would have been appreciated. It was a small offering for £18.75, even with the roast garlic and rosemary jus. The desserts were nice enough but nothing memorable for around £6.In all the menu needs reviewing and perhaps pasta or rice dishes and a variety of vegetables added with chunky brown or granary bread offered.

I went here on a Saturday night to celebrate my boyfriend's brother's birthday... wow, this place is awful. The food on the menu looked incredible and we were really excited to treat him for his birthday. We assumed the price would reflect the quality of the food. Oh how wrong we were!To start, I had a pulled pork salad - the pork was SO overdone that it scratched my throat as it went down! 'Dry' doesn't even begin to describe how bleak it was. All wine glasses were left cluttering up the table - we weren't drinking any wine! Even the beer on tap was completely flat.The waitress actually asked us if we could 'hold off' on ordering our food because the kitchen had just received a big order... ?! Why could we not just order straight away so at least that way we could get our food ordered before everyone else coming in started to order theirs?! As expected, the food took ages to arrive and when our mains came more disappointment awaited. £10.50 for 'The Talkhouse Inn Burger' ... this came in a cheap, dry bun, the meat was so overdone that it was hard to swallow and was super dense. There was no salad in the burger, no mayonnaise or anything to compliment the beef.I just think this place is a shambles... the food is way too expensive for what it is. The only good thing about the menu was the dessert which was bought in anyway. AVOID!

Nice establishment, Good staff, nice meal. Well presented and good portions. The building was nice and clean, yes it even felt good to be in. Was well catered for by the friendly staff. If you want a "down point" it was that their is no history of this fantastically old building. car park is across the road so you do need to get a move on, but well worth the experience

After many years of seeing this great pub go downhill - it was great to see it being taken over by someone who actually knows how to cook (Graham)!We had a family Sunday lunch with our two children and can genuinely state that the whole meal and experience was fantasticWell done Penny, Graham and staff - keep it up and you will see the pub fill with happy and repeat customers :-)

My partner and I have stayed here on numerous occasions and returned recently to find that the previous landlord had left, we were gutted as always had a laugh with landlord and staff, always made to feel welcome, it was like a home from home.What a change, no friendly girls behind the bar, miserable staff who clearly didn't want to be there, what has happened to this lovely pub?? Such a shame!We thought give it a chance as menu looked inviting, but no! Just as miserable as the staff! Awful!! Sadly we won't be returning

When you order a roast lunch in a pub/restaurant on a Sunday it can be disappointing to be served roast meat that has suspiciously square corners - as if it's preformed and just come out of a heat and serve bag.... Nothing else on the plate exceeded my low expectations after that.

We arrived here and were surprised to find this placerather empty since is was a day that people go out to eat. The atmosphere was nice as was the welcomingstaff. It did take forever for them to take our order and for the food to get to our table, but we were not in a hurry but still the service was slow. I ordered the hamburger which I did enjoy, my daughter semolina gnocchi which she said was so good she wanted to lick her plate, my son-in-law stayed with the old favorite roast which he really enjoyed. I did find the prices to be higher than other pubs but over all it was nice.

This has recently been taken over so decided to pay a visit. We were rather disappointed. We had the seafood chowder and burger. The chowder was bland and tasteless. the burger was dense and not very tasty. There is no where to sit and have a drink now either, the pub is set for eating only.

Last Friday night 21 of us pre booked and ordered for 8pm Lovely venue and certainly the initial welcome was convincing All seted by 8.05 no starters by 8:30 we asked 3 times and finally they arrived at 8.50. No apologies in the interim no bread given or water on tables only drinks ordered.Starters were cold aOr barely warm . Bread asked for but no butter provided and nobody asked if our meals were ok .Mains finally arrived At 10 pm again no apologies excuses or other. sides were only 5-10 minutes behind .At the end I commented about the very poor service to the waiting staff again no comment given only Eyes lowered. I would not visit this place again and would urge others not to bother

A tasty Sunday lunch,with a friendly welcome from the new owners.We are so pleased to have our lovely local pub back after a long period of rubbish food and terrible service.

We dropped into the Talk House on a Saturday lunchtime only a week after the new licensees had taken over and were very pleasantly surprised. Delicious home-cooked food (mostly good versions of pub standards, though a few more original dishes) and a quiet but friendly atmosphere. Families are well catered for: there are high chairs available and although there isn't a children's menu, the staff were happy to provide smaller portions of the food on the main menu. Dogs welcome too. The pub is an attractive old building, very conveniently positioned on the Oxford-Islip road. We wish Penny and Graham every success with their new venture.

Ding dong that TWIT has finally gone. Penny and Graham from The Rectory Farm Tea Room have now taken over The Talk-house and we can all breath a sigh of relief and have our decent village pub back. Please book in again and support this amazing couple and our beautiful pub

Wish we hadn't gone. Its like eating in a transport café. Very pleasant waitress but food and ambiance sadly lacking.

The pub has a pleasant atmosphere and we were all well looked after. Service was prompt and the food excellent. There were 5 of us round a table and it proved an excellent evening. Despite previous reviews we all agreed it was good value for money. Great fish and chips and great steak done to perfection. Puddings were tip top too. All round great.

We have frequented this pub many many times in the past and it was great the pub itself if very nice and cosy and the staff are very pleasant BUT the food was horrendous and we mean horrendous. We took two new friends and a couple who had been several years ago and they could not believe how bad the food was. The scallops and black pudding were dried out and rubbery, the baked potatoe was microwaved and chews and the baked cheese was tasteless Two of the party has roadt beef which was chewy and the frozen veg was tasteless It looked like a dogs dinner when it arrived. Two of us had fish and chips. The fish was very nice but the chips were big slabs of tasteless potatoe. The chicken breast stuffed with black pudding was discussing. Would never recommend for eating Don't go there as there are kits of better pubs nearby. Wish I new who to contact in Fullers and let them know how bad it was

Were looking for somewhere to go for lunch called on the off chance to see what it was like. Very warm and cosy pub but felt £5.50 for 2 black coffees was OTT so went to a thai pub in Forest Hillinstead

Had lunch here and realy cant fault the place the food was fantastic and the girls behind the bar were very friendly and gave a great a service. Would highly recomend anyone to go there and will most definitly be going again.

Had a lovely dinner here with my other half for are anniversary the staff was friendly and food was beautiful I had garlic mushroom and lamb shank and my wife had a few tapas dishes which she seemed to enjoy Thanks for the wonderful evening

I have no idea what is happening at The Talkhouse.We live in neighbouring Forest Hill, and used to frequent this pub often, midweek and weekends. The previous management ran the pub just about satisfactorily, but they were never going to win any awards for charisma or customer service. The food was OK, wine was a bit pricey.Since the current manager took over though, we've noticed a recurring theme.First, we would turn up for food at about 8.30 and many times earlier, only to be told by the manager that the chef had closed the kitchen. This happened repeatedly, to the point where we just thought that they weren't interested in our business.Second, the appearance of a slot machine. Really? In Stanton St John?But third, and most importantly of all, THOSE CAR PARK SIGNS. The car park has indeed been resurfaced, and the outside of the pub had a little bit of a facelift - a new sign for one. Once completed, the car park was then finished off with some of the most aggressively worded car parking signs I think I have ever come across.The sign informs the potential customer that they are entering a 'No Leaving Site', presumably meaning that customers must not leave the site whilst making their way to the pub. Presumably, the manager has forgotten that the very first thing that potential customer must do is to leave the site in order to make it over to the pub, which is on the other side of the public highway.That takes me to the second part of the sign. I'm guessing in order to deal with those pesky morning infant drop-offs at the local nursery, which must totally fill the car park and force genuine Talkhouse customers to park on the road, the sign very kindly offers its use to those users. All they have to do is pay £100 per 24h or part thereof. Cheap at half the price. If they don't pay, I'm guessing they'll get clamped or something.So, in summary.1. Even if you park in the car park to use the pub, you'll be breaking the rules if you cross the road to the pub.2. If you have kids and take them to the nursery, you can park your car there for only £100.3. If you turn up for food, don't make it really really late like 8.30 pm.Stanton and the surrounding areas are small, but very wealthy areas. The pub is important to them and taking this very aggressive stance on parking, introducing slot machines that does not fit with the clientelle, all tells local customers all they need to know about where they should take their custom.This is such a shame. This is actually a lovely pub, but seems to be in a flat spin. We aren't going back until this appears to be a friendly pub who want our business.

Pre-booked a large group and ordered in advance.Arrival was a shambles (partly our fault - we talked too much!)Starters arrived before everyone was seated and came out in dribs and drabs. Mine - scallops on black pudding was terrible - scallops were dry and tough - pudding was cold. Mains were delivered in the same manner - we were expected to pass them round the table ourselves!. Fish and chips - you don't expect mussy peas in a ramekin completely dried out. Nice bit of fish - but it had been standing far too long.Coffee came - delivered to the table - milk and sugar plonked at end of table so that we had to get up and serve ourselves.Service was a real shambles - understaffed in extreme.Good points - our friends, the conversation - and the car park

As a Stanton St John resident I am appalled at what has happened to this once gorgeous pub. The manager is so rude. We walked into an empty pub to eat and was told that it was busy tonight and we should have booked! It was an empty pub! He has also ruined the gorgeous setting of this pub with aggressive huge red signs dotted around the car park. We recently witnessed his very aggressive behaviour towards parents, who have been using the car park for 25 years, for the local nursery to stop them parking in the car park - this left several children distressed and in tears due to his behaviour. We used to use the Talkhouse regularly, but have now started to use the Abingdon Arms in Beckley - a much nicer atmosphere with managers who are very friendly towards locals and realise the importance of community spirit and plus the food is much much nicer. Such a shame that the Talkhouse has lost its charm due to bad management.

If you are thinking of having a wake at the Talk House - DO NOT. I visited the Talk House prior to the wake to make sure it was the right venue. The pub and the garden were lovely and John the landlord said that nobody would go hungry and there would be flowing teas and coffees for my guests. My guests were left hungry and we only received teas and coffees when we ask for them. The food was of extremely poor quantity and quality (chips, sandwiches, cocktail sausages, pork pie, pizza and salad). The pizza looked like it came from a frozen food store and the variety of sandwiches was very poor. There was certainly not enough for my 60 guests. I was told that there would also be cakes. We received treat sized brownie and lemon cake, not enough for one each and looked like they had been brought in from the supermarket in their plastic containers. At £10.95 per head I was extremely disappointed especially as this was the last thing I did for my father. It was a total of £657 badly spend. When I challenged John he did not see that he had done anything wrong. The staff left a lot to be desired too. I am sure that there other places that would do a much better job for you. STAY CLEAR OF THE TALK HOUSE

We walked here from a neighbouring village and had some lunch and a few drinks. The food was amazing as well as the staff and the atmosphere. We sat in the garden all afternoon. Would highly recommend this pub to anyone

After having read a number of negative reviews I was apprehensive about coming here last Friday night. I normally swear by Tripadvisor but have to say I'm glad we went against the reviews this time! Service was fantastic, food was delicious (had the chicken and blackpudding, and the red mullet) - couldn't fault the prices either! There were a lot of comments about an overbearing "patrons only" sign in the carpark, but we did not see this and even looked for it after being somewhat intreaged about all the fuss on here! Great pub, great garden too for sunnier evenings. Would definitely recommend.

Used to go regularly. Poor service. Staff on phones rather than being attentive. Fruit machine a bad idea. Car park sign. Nice looking place but that's it. Go elsewhere

We had been to Oxford and on impulse called in for lunch having eaten there a few times in the past. We found a table with a good sunshade and enjoyed an excellent meal with good relaxed service. The food was just as good as we remembered it and having Stowford Press cider available was a definite plus. Thank you

Been to this pub a quite few times in the past but our most recent visit was really disappointing. I agree with the other reviewer - the oddly aggressive sign in the car park was not an encouraging start. The quality of the food was significantly lower than on previous visits - I think it might be under new management.

I used to be a regular visitor to The Talkhouse for food and drink. It used to sparkle! Clean and polished.Candles twinkling, fresh flowers and friendly service. The food was great. Not now!It has no ambience, no friendly greeting and it smells of cooked chips!As I drove past today I noticed a very aggressive sign on the car park about it being exlusively for patrons. (underlining is the equivient of shouting!)I sincerely hope that this doesn't apply to the nursery and pre school. It would be dangerous for little ones to have to cross at the Talkhouse. It is such a blind corner and talkhouse landlords have always happily allowed parking there.What a sad demise of a once- fantastic pub.