The Gardeners Arms, Plantation Rd

The Gardeners Arms became my local pub when I moved to Jericho after living in Oxford for about 4 years. It was the first pub in Oxford that I was really sold on and I quickly adopted it as my first choice for food and drink when going out.

Although I'm not a vegetarian myself, the menu is fantastic - varied, interesting and tasy in a way that rarely seems to be the case with vegetarian menu options in pubs (and most restaurants for that matter). I have quite a few vegetarian friends who all really appreciate having a venue where they can go out for a meal with friends and not be stuck with the same old limited offerings. They always do a nice curry of the week which is excellent, though my enduring favourite of theirs is the mushroom pie.

As a pub it has great atmosphere and the staff are always friendly and welcoming. There's a nice mixture of locals and students and both feel equally welcome (which I can say having been both there). Brilliant selection of ales with at least one guest ale every few weeks. They have a good selection of music playing and the walls are decorated with classic album vinyl covers which particularly won me over when I started going there. Their Sunday pub quiz is superbly good fun, it has an imaginative theme every week and doesn't try and take itself overly seriously (whilst still being a good competition with admirable prize money).

Overall, I have to say that I think it is the best pub in Oxford and even though I've moved, I make a point of going back there whenever I'm in town.

Ben K (Unverified), 18/11/11

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Cosy, friendly, relaxed pub tucked away in the heart of Jericho. Have been visiting it now for about three years and have found it consistently excellent. My partner and I regularly make the trip across town to the Gardeners Arms because we love the ambience and the food is fab, particularly the burgers which I would happily eat every night of the week if my wallet (and waistline) would allow it. Best burgers I've had in Oxford by a country mile!

I've always found the service to be quick and polite (and accurate too - have never wound up with the wrong dish or drink), and they serve a great selection of real ales. The atmosphere is very welcoming and homely, with comfy chairs to sink into and while away the hours. A real gem.

SK (Unverified), 29/09/10

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The Gardeners Arms was recommended to me. Not being a veggie, I thought I'd give it a try. Well, what a fantastic meal! It was one of the best pub meals we had had in ages. I had the mexican platter - nice and spicy. My wife opted for the vindaloo and she was not dissapointed - it was really spicy too. The beer was also excellent quality. A great back street pub, well worth finding.

Boatman (Unverified), 05/09/10

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Went for lunch with a veggie friend at the Gardener's Arms today. It's a fair (but pleasant) walk from the town centre, but it's actually very nice to escape the bustle of Cornmarket etc. on a weekend.

First impressions: the Gardener's is a charming, characterful place hidden away down the tiny Plantation Road. It's a proper old-fashioned pub, with two small rooms and a small bar. This was all we saw of the pub itself, though, as even at 2:45pm all of the tables were taken, so we ended up sitting outside at the rear, at a rather grotty cast-iron table that I imagine must once have been white. This all adds to the character of the place (!), however.

Food orders were eventually taken, due to the queue at the bar. The Gardener's Arms serves exclusively vegetarian food, and this is probably one of its main selling points. I am not a vegetarian, but even I was surprised and impressed by the options on the menu. We both opted for the veggie burger (£7.50), and I especially liked the option to specify exactly what combination of salad and sauce you like on your burger.

We waited quite a time for the food (probably half an hour), though I kind of expected this since the pub was so busy. When the food came, the burgers were delicious - despite being veggie burgers, which have a reputation for being like cardboard, these were succulent and tasty, though impossible to eat without the salad, pickles, sauce, etc going everywhere. The chips were thin-cut, fast-food style fries but were very tasty indeed - I only wish there'd been a few more of them. Indeed, this is one of my major complaints - I'm not convinced that, for £7.50, the value for money is brilliant. The meals come served in baskets, which really don't hold that much. Two burgers and two cokes came to £20, which is really quite a lot for what you're getting. The burgers are of a reasonable size, but are by no means massive. I'm not saying they should be massive, but I think the Gardener's needs to tone down its prices, or tone up its portion sizes, though I suspect they get enough trade for it not to worry them too much.

All in all, then, The Gardener's Arms offers a nice meal, and it's nice to see somewhere doing vegetarian food that's not simply an afterthought. Will I rush back? No, because I don't think the value for money is as good as it could be. But I wouldn't rule out going again either, because the food, if the burgers are anything to go by, is good.

Overall: Food - good, service - pretty good, atmosphere - good on the inside, a bit grotty outsie, value for money - a bit poor.

WTD (Unverified), 09/05/10

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Nipped in here for a quick drink and bite to eat before the Cinema. Impressed by the choice of beers, and the menu was interesting, appetising and very good value. Great chips, nice atmosphere, will certainly be back. Recommended.

IgorStrav (DI User), 05/04/10

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A fantastic pub and well worth tracking it down. A nice relaxed atmosphere, good music but not too loud, tasty and unpretentious veggy food, a great pub quiz, a thoroughly friendly landlord and dog, and a lovely Scottish woman behind the bar. What more could anybody ask for? 10/10

Beealezebub (Unverified), 27/01/10

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For my money the best pub in town. Very well kept ales; couple of decent lagers; fine wines; amazing food.

There's a fantastic variety of food on offer, all of it veggie, catering even for vegans too. Mostly people tend to go for the burgers - just amazing.

On top of that there's a pleasant garden (think this is currently undergoing some refurbishment) and a function room with occasional gigs/poetry readings. The staff are extra-friendly and the Sunday night quiz is the stuff of local legend.

If all pubs put this much consideration into what their clientele wanted, I don't think the industry would be in crisis. 10 out of 10!

Matt S (Unverified), 03/07/09

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Great pub, even if the prices are slightly higher then the chains you find in town. Looks like a converted house, and the covering on the way to their garden proves it. Even though I'm not a veggie person, the food was of good quality, and last time I went it was served by a pleasant girl, with a smile. 4 out of 5.

unknown person (Unverified), 02/09/08

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Had some food here recently and was disappointed with the vege burger. I am not vegetarian but usually prefer a vege burger to the normal meaty offerings in other places, but I found this one to be very greasy with no discernible flavour. The chips were of the french fry variety and were somewhat poor as well. I dare say other menu options may be better and I appear to be in a minority as far as opinions of the food here goes, but I think I'll eat elsewhere next time and just stick to liquid offerings at the bar.

Joe B (Unverified), 22/06/08

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What a charming little pub!! Do try it!

Cathy (Unverified), 02/06/08

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A pleasant little pub in Jericho.

The food is always served in a friendly manner and always yummy! However, beware of the long waits that can often occur, with no apology for the wait on arrival of the food! The Gardener's Arms is a great pub for vegetarians and vegans. Many of my friends are meat eaters and love the food too. Good all round! The 'build a burger' is a great choice of meal, allowing you to tailor it to your own taste. The Mexican chilli is very good too. I went in a few lunchtimes and had a very nice veggie brekkie. But they seem to have stopped that now - I hope they bring it back!

The bar serves a good variety of drinks, lots of cider and real ales. And some good lagers too, although I miss the Paulaner. The landlord is always very friendly. There are some lovely bar staff too who always chat and make it an all round good visit. I often go in on my own for a burger and Jennings on a Monday or Tuesday and find the staff very pleasant and obliging. It is worth visiting the bar even if you are not hungry. There is always a good atmosphere, particularly at the weekend.

gardeners fan (Unverified), 27/02/08

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I wish they'd do an Asparagus or similar Veggie Linguine! A few too many curries on the menu.

The Poet Laura-eate (DI User), 16/07/07

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If you want a really good pie, then go to the Gardeners Arms...

Aubrey Strawberry (Unverified), 10/05/07

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Unfortunately the Gardener's Arms stopped doing my favourite dish of theirs - the cherry tomato tarte with the duchesse potato base and vegetables, and I'm really not into faux Thai food and spicy stuff. Greek salads and veggie burgers I can just about manage to make for myself. A good veggie linguine or shepherd's pie though is hard to find.

Non birdseed-style veggie food is a great idea though and I appreciate the fact that it's trying to cater for the non-veggie eaters as well, albeit without compromising its principles.

The Poet Laura-eate (DI User), 24/04/07

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The Gardener's Arms is a big favourite of ours. The veggie food is superb, and in disagreement with the previous reviewer I actually think it is nice to get offered wholesome hearty winter food such as pies etc as a vegetarian. It doesn't happen often! The food is enjoyed by the meat eaters amongst us as well, so everyone is happy. The beer and the atmosphere of the place are great. Really, just a good pub to go to. Highly recommended!

Saffronya (Unverified), 22/03/07

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Had heard great things about this pub and I was not not disappounted when I visited last December. Probably one of the most authentic pub atmospheres in Oxford. It felt like stepping back in time and into someone's old sitting room. Pub was busy when I visited which added to the atmos. Didn't try food but even for a non-veggie like myself I was tempted. Will return even though a long way off my beaten track.

Joe B (Unverified), 14/03/07

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This is one of our favourite pubs in Oxford, and we try to go once a week or so.

We love the ambience (the panelling, the old furniture), which makes it feel like home, and the main staff are always friendly. We also love the food, the drink, the landlord, the chef, and the dog.

The bar and kitchen are run as separate businesses, with the bar serving some non-vegetarian crisps etc., while the kitchen is unique in offering only vegetarian and vegan cuisine. The food is unpretentious, and consistently good, although the winter menu is much better for those with a hearty appetite. Although the previous reviewer commented that a pie does not make a great vegetarian meal, I welcome back the Winter Menu and the famed medley mushroom pie (appeal to chef: do not get rid of this in the Summer - pie is an all year round favourite!), which will increase three-fold our number of visits this winter.

Lovely Woodnymph (Unverified), 02/11/06

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On first visit a couple of years ago, I was impressed to find a venue in the city that was genuinely veggie and vegan, let alone a PUB (at that time there were very few meat-free eateries in the city, the death of the Soundbite Cafe on Cowley Rd having left a gaping hole in the market which wasn't quite plugged by the Magic Café due to its limited opening hours).

The pub is a real find, with a green suntrap garden for summer drinking, two oak-panelled front bars (where some university societies seem to meet), a separate pool room and a regular music/poetry/storytelling night. They've also got a cracking range of interesting continental lagers and real ales.

On repeat visits, however, I must say that I've avoided the food, as it reminded me rather too much of the veggie options available in college hall (one step up from school dinners). Frozen veg and a pie doth not always a great vegetarian dinner make. The menu seemed not to change at all either.

A little bit disappointing on the food front then, but still a very nice place to enjoy a quiet(ish) pint.

Roo (DI Reviewer), 12/06/06

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