The Watermans Arms - CLOSED Sept 2010

I go here every now and again and won't hear a bad word said about the place. It's just a proper pub where anyone is welcome and no one's going to bat an eyelid at you. It does good homely food for a reasonable price and I used to come and have a good roast dinner on a sunday.

07/01/10

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The bloke running this place makes you feel as though he were doing you huge a favor when you try to buy a drink - and even then you have to wait for it. Points for character- though I got to admit that it made me feel uncomfortable.

JimmyBoy (Unverified), 03/01/10

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One fine September's afternoon as I was passing through Oxford I was persuaded by a sign on the main road to visit The Waterman's Arms. I discovered the place on the river bank down some back streets. The location and the bar accommodation made a favourable impression.

I entered and as I approached the bar I voiced my appreciation.

But to my order of a ginger beer shandy the barman's response was to question the existence of such a drink. A great fuss followed but eventually it was provided and I settled at a table to read a newspaper. I had hardly opened it when I was asked by another member of staff to move as "we are expecting a funeral party". I declined to do so and at her request left the place, taking my drink outside.

I was surprised by these events which expressed a quality of hospitality unsurpassed in my experience. Though I now assume that the barman's act was a legpull it is only on reflection that I do so.

But a stroll by the Thames was restorative. In the general scheme of things these are minor matters
but I hope that my account will prove useful to prospective customers in assessing and possibly enjoying the place.

traveller (Unverified), 26/09/09

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I've previously written a positive review of this wonderfully located riverside pub, but recent visits have been disappointing. One gets the impression that the landlord has effectively given up on serving food (turned away one minute after eight, "too busy" with just 2 other customers in the pub, "chef hasn't turned up", etc). Basically its become too eccentric - even getting a drink can be a challenge.

Mike (Unverified), 04/06/09

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A fantastic waterside pub littered with eccentricity and perfection. The food is excellent value, the beer excellent and I gather Henry takes pride in his wines - having seen the wine list I am not surprised - beautifully selected and excellently priced. It is the sort of place you can take friends and natter, or take a book and read - or even sit in a chair with your pint and watch the world go by. Fabulous! This pub is a good old English pub and well worth a visit.

Bones (Unverified), 16/03/09

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This place sounds great on paper - but because it's small and tables can be pre-booked, we only just about got our table for four on Sunday, then waited about 1 1/2 hours for our roast, which only arrived after we asked them for it again (even though we'd already paid) - and then looked rather like the very last scraps of meat available. They also mixed up our pudding order at the end of the meal. If you go there, my advice would be to pre-book - the lucky locals in the know who had clearly done so didn't seem to have any problems.

06/04/08

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Henry, former welterweight boxer and ex Dark Blues coach (1988 to 2003) is a charming and welcoming landlord. He will happily perch at the bar and chat for a while and believe me, he's got some stories to tell! The other bar staff are equally friendly and polite. The pub is cosy in winter and nice in the summer, when you can sit outside by the river. It's also good to see a member of that highly endangered species; pool tables in pubs.

The food is honest pub grub which is cooked well and freshly prepared. I had the liver and bacon which was exactly how my Nan would have made it - a compliment indeed. As delicious as it was, I failed to make much of a dent in it as the portion was massive. I intend to try the Sunday roast as everyone appears to be raving about it!

Oxford needs more pubs like this. Henry is doing his best to maintain good old traditional English pubs - help him out, cross over the bridge and pop in for a pint once in a while!

Dr Mukti (DI User), 19/12/07

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The landlord is delightfully eccentic and the setting is perfect for a summertime drink by the river. The best thing about this pub is the food. The roasts are the best in Oxford. Choose from lamb, pork, beef, chicken and garlic chicken (my recommendation). Truly home-made (not delivered from a lorry!), plentiful roast potatoes and veg, a whole gravy boat to share between two, meat cooked to perfection and the yorkshires come with whatever meat you choose. All for only £5.95! The puddings are equally delicious. One word of advice - dont leave it too late to order: the popularity of this pub means that they can run out of some roasts. All in all an excellent expeirience!

mojo baggins (DI User), 27/08/07

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For a pub that's right on the river, this place is usually very quiet. Don't be put off by the slightly eccentric ambience and impression that you're disturbing the bar staff from their reveries. This place will grow on you if you go more than once. The beer is fine and the food really good - try the liver and bacon or the lasagne - all fresh cooked and great value. A bar billiards and pool table are available.

Mike (Unverified), 12/08/07

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I expected this place to be a dingy old mans pub but was pleasantly surprised. It is carpeted in a head-achingly bright blue tone throughout but is generally bright and airy. There are plenty of pub games such as pool, darts and a quiz machine (though oddly no fruit machine) and there is a separate area to the right of the front door for dining. It seemed to be doing a good trade on both of my visits but regrettably I have one large reservation about this place and that is the over-riding smell of cooking fat. I thought it was a one-off on my first visit but then found it to be exactly the same on my second visit. It really is not very nice and stays with you long after you have left the pub!

Joe B (Unverified), 30/04/07

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