The Head of the River, Oxford

I recently visited Head of the River with a group of seven and had a wonderful experience from start to finish. I initially booked for the wrong date but was so glad I reached out to request a river view seat, the team kindly amended our booking, and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny spot with a stunning view. The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and accommodating, making sure all our requests were met with a smile. The food was excellent too!!! I had the roast lamb, which was perfectly cooked, tender enough to fall off the bone, and paired with a rich, flavorful gravy. Overall, it was a lovely visit, and I would definitely come back again. Highly recommended!

The Head of the River cafe in Oxford stole my heart! I was blown away by the ambience and stunning interior decor of the main restaurant, but it was the garden overlooking Folly Bridge and the riverside that truly took my breath away – sipping coffee on a sunny day felt like perfection. Situated just a 15-minute walk from the city center, it's an ideal spot for couples or families looking for quality time amidst beautiful natural surroundings. Whether you want to soak up the riverside views or enjoy the lovely garden, this cafe is a must-visit. Truly a lovely escape – I'd go back in a heartbeat!

When we arrived the terrace was very busy. We asked if by chance there was a table for two available, drinks only. The lovely young lady was so helpful and accommodating. She found us a table overlooking the river within minutes. We ordered our drinks and when we asked for a glass of ice for our drinks it was no problem at all. We did not eat there but the food looked amazing and people around us were obviously eating with great enjoyment. Lovely friendly place in a beautiful location by the river.

We had lunch here on a Saturday. The place filled up really quickly with all tables busy by the time we left. We popped by without a reservation and I think we were very lucky to have given a table. Prices are reasonable with main courses costing between 15 and 20 pounds. Service was friendly and the food arrived quickly. The dishes tasted good, but weren't outstanding. Toilets were clean.

The Head of the River is a great pub. As its name suggests, it is by the river so there is always something interesting to look at. We have been here many times over the years and it never fails to impress. It is a popular and busy pub but despite this, staff are unfailingly helpful and friendly. No mean feat. Jade and Naomi stood out as being especially helpful and lovely. |Our food was delicious. We went for small plates and chose asparagus and then koftas and brushetta. Great food, fabulous service and lovely venue. This is why, as Oxford locals, we come back.

Been here a few times over the years, booked a dinning patio table online, was quick and easy process. As there are different levels for outside dining and drinks. Love sitting out overlooking the river when the sun is out. Food was presented well and very tasty, a little on the expensive side, but I guess that's down to location. Service was good and our waitress was very friendly.

I love this pub - location is amazing. Food is always of great quality. Nice selection of drinks too. Highly recommend their Sunday Roasts!

The only good thing about this place is the location. Food was meh, extremely meh. Service was alright (especially this very nice young man), however sadly - i’d like to raise that there was this one extremely rude female staff that served us when we got the outside dining area table on Saturday evening 7pm 14th June. We ordered drinks from her. However ordered food from the QR core on the table - because 1) there’s a working QR code on the table with a line that say “scan the qr code to order”, 2) she didnt return after taking drinks order. Then she returned, my parents said theyve made the food order using QR code. She started getting pissed off and said you’ve ordered drinks from me, this is a serving area. My parents were like is this ok, and offered to rectify. She was like “no, its not ok” but then followed up with the order already came through so “there’s no point fixing”. So - it IS a problem, it is NOT ok, but “there’s no point fixing”? If there’s no point fixing why did she bother bring it up to the customers? Also, she could have been a lot nicer and more professional. That is NOT how you should talk to customers - we pay money to be there we dont beg for your food and services for free. Food came up, everything was meh. Then i found the inside of my chicken a bit pink. Not wanting to risk my weekend, i told the waitress (someone else, not the rude lady). She then said she’d bring my plate to the kitchen, and along her way she brought my plate to the rude lady, who then shrugged and smirked and said “ok” as if i was wrong for having an opinion about my own food. This isnt my first time here, i have been to this place every summer since i moved to Oxford years ago but im sure yesterday was my last time.

Head of the River sits like a magnet upon the River Thames, drawing everyone into its spacious, river-adjacent, outdoor patio. But watch carefully and you'll understand this: all of the seats closest to the water are reserved for diners. The massive number of people coming here to drink are relegated, understandably, to tables further back. So I ate and enjoyed the proximity to the Thames. The food I tried (Burrata, Club Sandwich) was good enough but service was wonky. I watched as my server flirted with a co-worker paying no attention to my attempts to get my bill or pay it. The problem was solved by leaving my seat and approaching her and, last I checked, that's not how "service"* is supposed to work. Head of the River is a lively, popular, crowded spot. Come for a drink, certainly, or get a little something to nosh on from the better seats and cross your fingers for service better than what I experienced. * A 12.5% service fee is automatically added to your bill. The receipt says this is only for parties of 8 or more but it was added to the tab for my party of 2.

We stayed at the Head of the River in Oxford and also ate and had beer there. As an inn,t he place is good but the rooms are a bit cramped and in warm weather are stuffy. Our bathroom was nice. The rooms have some elements similar to the Counting House in London, another Fuller's pub/inn, like nice fixtures in the sink, a night light and nice tile in the bathroom, but overall the rooms are not as nice as at the Counting House and much more cramped. Breakfast was excellent with good-quality ingredients (standard ones for Fuller's pubs) but, again, there was no fried bread unfortunately. The terrace outside on the river is nice, the excellent Fuller's cask ales were very well-kept and for beer lovers they seem to have cask Gale's HSB regularly(they had it when I was there), which is not too common. Food other than breakfast was also excellent, as is usually the case with Fuller's pubs. The location is excellent for exploring Oxford since it's an easy walk to most places. For fans of Morse and Lewis, this pub, specifically the terrace seating by the crane on the river, also featured in a Lewis episode.

Review for "BC (before covid) summer 2019: What better way to spend a warm sunny day than by the river just as 'alice in wonderland' may have? I appreciate the many outdoor dining options available along the river and also just in front of the main entry. Ordering is made inside so if traveling with others, one of you can 'hold' the table. With its riverfront views and location just at the entry of the city, it is easily a destination for travelers. Food... larger portions than I expected, and neither fantastic or poor

Great meal! The sauce on the chips was excellent. The view is gorgeous and you can often watch boats go by on the Thames. Their drink selection was nice as well.

We were in Oxford to sightsee. This restaurant was recommended. Great atmosphere, right be the river. Busy when we went, so service was a bit slow, but waitress was great. Fish & chips was GREAT.

Always a great place for a drink. In good weather, the place is super busy. Food is good with generous portions. Their Pimm's Cup is delicious!

We went to head of the river after a long day at work one Thursday night and we were asked to sit wherever we wanted and told to order at the bar. I left my bag in the table with my sister and proceeded to place my order. Then i came back to watch over the table and bags while my sister went to the bar to place her order, however, she was told that the kitchen had closed one minute ago and they could not take her food order. She told them that i had just ordered food less than two minutes ago and we were supposed to be having dinner together and it was unreasonable to serve one of us but not the other but they would not budge until they called a manager and he said that "of course" we could have dinner together and instructed the staff to take her order which they did begrudgingly. When the same server that refused to take her order brought the food out it was a bit awkward because she didn't seem to be very happy about it. I had the fish and chips which were decent and came out hot and fast, my sister had a soup and a vegetable dish that were both bland and unappetizing. The location by the water and the ambiance is pretty cool, but i the whole experience was a bit weird with the staff.

Every year we have a conference in Oxford, and every year (2016, '17, '18, and '19), we've come to this place for an evening meal and gathering. It's at a beautiful location, with picnic tables and open air seating to allow you to take in the view of the river (see photos). The food is pretty good--not extraordinary--but the main draw for me has not been the food, but the scenery and conversation. And those two, this place can offer.

For an authentic pub eatery. For hotel, not so much. Dated and musty. Scary shower/tub. However, employees are superb.

Had lunch here with my family. The staff were polite, helpful, and chatty. The food was good overall, but not spectacular. They forgot to serve the salsa with my salad, and only realized and brought me some after I enquired about it.

Our first pub food in the UK. We were lucky to have a gorgeous day. They considered it a tad hot, but we'd come from rainy Atlanta (appears the seasons switched on us this year), so we found one of the few open tables on the patio overlooking the Thames. We soon learned the British SOP of order inside, then take your drinks outside, but make sure to have a table number first if you're getting food. The staff was nice enough to sort of explain that to us. Most of the tables had been occupied, but I found one with only dishes and gave that number. Once we sat, it was 5 or so minutes before they came to clean the table. Jimmy got a pint of the Fuller's London Pride for £3.80, I had London Pride battered Sustainable Haddock and chips with mushy minted peas and tartar sauce for £11.95. I wish I'd asked for vinegar, since the breading on the fish was a little heavy and could've used more acid than the tartar sauce had to offer to cut the grease. The chips were good. The peas and mint provided the pallet cleansing, and I don't even like peas. Jimmy had the venison burger with Oxford blue cheese, cooked tomato, cooked mushroom, onion rings, and chips. He said he enjoyed it and it was quite a lot of food for £13.95. There's wifi (password is hanging over the bar inside). Grab a pint on a beautiful day and enjoy the sunshine.

Head Of The River is a great linger spot. Hugh patio out front on the Thames. Inside is also nice to have a look around of old photos and have a cozy sit in. This place is a crowd pleaser when it comes to real ales. They also have a wide range menu for a pub. Love to grab nibbles like calamari - their onion rings and fries are awesome. Great lunch spot on a nice day.

It takes awhile to get used to the lack of table service at pubs but once you realize that's the norm, you can fully enjoy. This pub has a beautiful terraced patio with lots of seating, ping pong and cold drinks. We were there on a beautifully warm day and the patio umbrellas were a welcome addition. We enjoyed a pitcher of Pimms and sat for a few hours. The nice thing about no table service is that nobody is rushing you out for your table so you can sit and waste the day away enjoying the sun!

A beautiful location, right along the river where the university boat clubs are rowing by. I could see how the outdoor seating would be perfect on a warm summer day. We chose a cozy spot inside as it was still a bit too cold to take a seat outside, even with the heat lamps. It's traditional pub fare - meaning not very imaginative or healthy, but the hunter chicken on rocket was tasty. The Sunday roast was nothing special, but made my boyfriend happy with the huge portion size. The service wasn't great and our food took a long time. The wine selection as with most pubs, wasn't great.

Lovely setting and fun to watch boats, etc. going by. Visited here for real ale while visiting Oxford a couple of times - afternoon and evening - walking from the river towpath & Christ Church meadow. At night, when the summer evening was slightly cool, it was still pleasant to sit outside as they had heaters going. The inside seating looked cozy and attractive too. Staff was friendly and efficient. Fine for a lady traveling alone - no worries.

Tried to still enjoy the lovely outside area of this pub, despite the rain. But even though there was shelter, it was a losing battle as the rain got stronger and stronger, pounding like a drummer on the optimistically erected parasol. The inside seems pretty nice too though, but this is surely a pub for a nice summer day. Serves the fullers range of beers at slightly over the odds prices.

This pub has a great location by the river. On a sunny summer's day, the outdoor section can be packed with tourists and locals a like. Food here is generally higher quality than your average pub meal, but it is more expensive than other pubs in the area. Except for the outdoor area that is great with good weather, this pub is nothing special.

I've only been here for pints, never tried the food. Come to think of it, I have never seen anyone try the food. They have wine too, but this is a beer place first and foremost. It gets 4 stars for its great outdoor seating right on the river where you can watch boats go by, punters, bikers, and walkers. It just is great fun to sit outside (when it is not raining) and have a few pints and while away the time.

This pub is located by the river in oxford. Its really nice and cozy on the inside and they have a fireplace. Last time we went there they had a live band playing and it was rather pleasant. The service was a little bit slow. We went with a group of 10 people and they had messed up our reservations so we had to put two tables together ourselves. Once we ordered we waited a long time for our food. The burger i got was a little bit dry and the kind of small for the price we paid. The fries were delicious. We ordered dessert as well and that took even longer than the meal to arrive. I got the apple crumble custard (and just a fair warning english custard is different than american custard) but it ended up being delicious. They have a good variety of beer and ciders available as well as blue moon on tap which is very rare in the UK.

Location, location, location...and what a beautiful site this is. On a not rainy day, sitting outside is such a joy, and as the crowd swells you can still have a good time as the place fills up. And the fodd and drink on offer are great, too. Hearty fare, lovely thirst quenching libations, and friendly service. What's not to like? Enjoy!

I visit Oxford every couple of months(sister in law lives there)and this pub is great fun.On a summers day find yourself a seat out back and while away a few hours with good beer ,good bar food and the river Thames.

Definately one of the best pubs in Oxford. If it is a sunny day this place will be heaving! A great place to meet after work or lunch for a nice cold pint and a bloomer bread sandwich with some chunky chips! Tried and tested as a place to go to impress someone, and with great results! The relaxed atmosphere and the view of the river will help with those nerves!

Wonderful hotel and pub in Oxford. Staff including Ben and Elle were kind and considerate. Would recommend highly!

It gets one star for the stunning location but, frankly, you're better off buying a bottle of lager in an off-licence and sitting on a bench by the river if it's the view you're there for. The Head of the River seems to exist solely to take tourists for a ride. Its prices are extornionate, it serves barely edible food, and it often gets so busy it's trying to move people off tables to seat others (in a restaurant, maybe, but in a pub?). On the few occasions I've been in there I've been served poorly-kept ale in dirty glasses by staff who couldn't give a damn. With some care and attention this could be one of the finest pubs in Oxford but instead it's an unpleasant, over-priced rip-off.

Loads of space with a famous beer garden next to the river. This seems to be used as an excuse to sell overpriced beer and average food. This wouldn't be so bad and certainly isn't unexpected, but the salt in the wound is that the service is usually crap too, as almost every other reviewer testifies! Unfriendly, slow and occasionally just rude. Yes, you can pass a pleasant summer afternoon there, but that has nothing to do with the pub and everything to do with drinking beer by a river. Frankly, there's more than one way to do that!

I'd heard a comparison of Head of the River to The Folly and I had to find out why they marked Head of the River so low and The Folly so high. I know now. Head of the River is a Pub. The Folly is not. You can't fairly compare a pub to a wanna-be high-end restaurant. When I dined at Head of the River, I chose their Roast Pork Loin with Roasted Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Braised Red Cabbage and Yorkshire Pudding. It was divine! Even though I was eating in a pub, the food was on par with pricier restaurants in the area as well as London. The pork was succulent, the vegetables perfectly cooked with the roasted potatoes having a crunch on the outside and tenderness on the inside that many a cook would give their left arm to be able to accomplish. The only negative I could have about my meal at Head of the River, is the Yorkshire pudding was a bit greasy for my liking. It didn't make it bad, just not as good as it could have been. Suffice it to say, I did not leave here disappointed or still hungry. Good service, good food for a fair price and a relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely go here again if I'm ever back in Oxford!

Good pub with extensive outdoor seating. Great location. Good, though not quite traditional, pub food (where else can you order a venison burger?). Chips are top notch.

What a great, cozy pub right on the river. It must be lovely to sit outside in warmer weather. I came here with a group to watch the Oxford vs. Cambridge boat race, and of course it was packed - but we were thrilled when we managed to snag a table in the perfect spot in front of the TV screen. Drinks all around, naturally. The TV seemed to be muted as we couldn't hear the narration, but it didn't matter because we had a rower in the group who could explain everything. When Oxford won by a long shot, the pub erupted in applause. Fun times!

This was fun! We were fortunate that it was a nice day and it was gorgeous outside. A few drinks outside with the view was simply lovely.

Although this pub is graced by a great location, it is a shame that the staff, their service when busy, and the quality of the food let it down. The organic honeydew is delicious, sitting outside in the summer is great, so this place is still well worth a visit and a great complement to the selection of pubs in Oxford.

Really not one of my favourite pubs. Perhaps it depends when you go, but on a Saturday afternoon it's really crowded. If it's sunny, there are loads of people there who've come in from walking round the meadows or watching rowing; if it's wet, everyone's squished inside. It does the job, but there are loads of better pubs in Oxford. The food is basic, it's hard to sit down and the staff look like they're really not enjoying the job.

A top notch pub. Particularly good if you are sitting outside along the river. Great for punting to, having a beer and then punting back to magdalen bridge. This is probably my favourite pub in Oxford.

This is a great pub in summer. it is easy to get to its near to town and its superb position by the river makes for a great setting. Of course, when its raining you will be inside - when it looses a little of its attraction, but is still nice.They have lots of traditional ales as well as all the usual, and some limited food. The chunky style chips are great and taste home made. If you are a visitor to Oxford in the summer then you cannot beat this pub. Even though it is in very close proximity to a main road - it is very peaceful by the river. Take a camera.

The location is what makes this place. It tends to get very crowded, especially in the summer, and can also be a magnet for tourists. That said, there's something very pleasant about cycling there and enjoying a cold beer while watching the punts! As others have said, this is a pricey place. I'd go so far as to say it's very pricey. On one occasion, a pint of lager and a pint of orange juice cost us £9! If you're an Oxford resident, then you already know it's worth popping in here for a summer beer. If you're a visitor - well, you'll pay for the privilege but it's a great place to go.

This is ok if you want to sit by the river but locals typically don't frequent this pub. It tends to be catered more for tourists with the prices etc but great location

We used to moor our speedboat here many years ago when going from oxford to abingdon along the river and enjoy a leisurely drink. Over the years the decor has changed but the atmosphere hasn't. Still a lovely place to sit and watch the views, especially during the summer evening.

One of Oxfords best pubs without a doubt. Located on the left hand side of the Folly Bridge (walking/driving from the city centre) and next to the River Thames it has an exquisite setting. On a goods summers day it would be extremly rare to find a table. Due to its heating system, it is possible to sit outside and feel reasonably comtable. With a large range of traditional ales and quality food to choose from it is a must for anyone living or visting Oxford.

this is a popular pub on the river in oxford a great location in the summer just a stone throw away is the river side and a nice walk in the countryside and then stop and have a drink in this lovely pub. nice atmosphere and great friendly staff this is a great pub with a family feeling to it.

Great pub and a fantastic location. If you are into punting this is a great place to stop off for a beer. Attracts quite a few toffs, but come on, this is Oxford!

Great location. Distinctly second-rate food and service. Had to wait while five surly members of staff milled about behind the bar, avoiding eye contact. Was eventually served gristly steak, on which I exercised my molars next to the river. Won't go there again if I can help it.

Pricey, but location beats it all.

Great location next to the Thames, but very expensive and the Manageress really is a stroppy old woman (don't dare to sit on the table just inside the entrance...!) It gets VERY busy when the weather's good and you can wait ages to get served. When the weather is poor it's empty and there's little atmosphere. So, despite one major plus point, there's enough negatives for me not to recommend a visit. Shame!

The Head of the River' is a very popular pub in Oxford. It is sitting right on the river bank, so the setting is very picturesque. The main attraction of this pub is the outside seating on the terrace right next to the river. When the weather is nice, it's hard to find seating space, especially at the weekend. I sometimes go there for a Sunday lunch, The food is very good, but it can be considered pricey for a pub. The service is OK, but at the busy times you'll have to allow extra time to be served. The chicken with chorizo and vegetables is particularly good. I was appalled by how dirty the toilets were. The last time I was there it was in really bad condition. It made me think twice about patronising this place again. I believe the cleanliness of the customer toilets reflect the hygeane standards of the whole place. I wonder how clean the kitchens at the back really are. The drinks are pricey. I believe we are made to pay for the setting too.

Great place for a drink outside in the summer, but can be put off by the prices which are generally there for the tourists. NOT a place to go in the winter, it's too cold!

Love this place, relaxing atmosphere and great food. Can't beat sitting by the river with a nice pint and a quality meal every once in a while.

The charming bar tender was a moonlighting teacher who called me my love. Very pleasant, recommended the cottage pie. Pub itself full of ale drinking student types. Not unpleasant Muzak on in the background. Really effective looking kitchen round the back with a mean grill. A local place.

Poor. Great for tourists wanting a drink on a summers day but not one for the locals. Expensive and impersonal -the opposite of what a British pub should be.

My son is a grad student at Oxford, rows for his college, even, and we thought this place would be a good spot to get a few drinks while visiting him, and the UK for the first time, over the Christmas holiday.While it may have been obvious that we were both American and tourists, we didn't expect to be treated poorly as a result. The rail thin busboy type was constantly staring at us with a smirk and making some disgusted gag-like utteral sound whenever he removed a glass from our table. We kept our hopes up for good beer, nonetheless. Unfortunately, The waitstaff didn't know what an IPA was, however, so that was a good indicator of the quality of their beer as well. Despite paying for a decent tab, as we left and held the door for a group coming in, we were referred to as stupid Americans and silly American tourists (for holding the door for someone?) I would strongly advise any and all "American tourists" to steer clear of this smug and disappointing establishment.