The Abingdon Arms

We've just returned from the Abingdon Arms in Beckley and what a disappointing visit. Sunday afternoon the sun is shining and the terraces out back were busy. It was cooler inside which suited our party of five which included our 17 month old.

There was a high chair available which was great but that is where the praise stops! We ordered 3 roast beef dinners(two large and a medium) and a burger and chips. It took well over an hour for food to arrive and we were not given an indication of the waiting time. The burger was mediocre and cost more than the medium roast beef dinner.

All up we paid £72.20 for 4 plates, 2 beers, 2 ciders and 2 soft drinks and there was no offer of further drinks with our meal but they were very quick to offer the dessert menu or coffee. This level of quality and service will not warrant a repeat visit - OK I hear you say - but we won't be going again.

MissEllie (Unverified), 22/07/12

This pub has been under new management since October 2010 and is really back in with style. I visited with my family as a mothers day gift and service and food was great. I ordered the Wild mushroom toast which is creamy and perfectly blended, it was displayed immaculately with rocket and fresh parmesan shavings to top it off. For main, I had the Barbury Duck which was presented beautifuly on an oval plate and cooked to perfection.

My family all enjoyed the meal and as we left, I was given a special Abingdon Arms homemade cupcake for mothers day. We have been going back month on month since for our family outing and with friends and the place is going from strength to strength. It provided good value, varietey and pleasant service. The new menu is on www.abingdonarms.co.uk. They also serve Tapas on a Sunday night which is great when you want a light evening meal after Sunday lunch.

MaggieMay (Unverified), 14/07/11

I just love this pub. Beckley is a beautiful village, just a few miles out of Oxford. The pub itself is cosy and the staff are really friendly. The menu offers great choice for everybody and there are a few really nice seasonal specials on offer every day. It is not perhaps the best place for real ale enthusiasts - be it that you can usually enjoy a nice pint of Brakspear Bitter or Oxford Gold. If the weather is good, the beer garden offers fantastic views (last time we visited in mid-August there were too many wasps though). Getting to Abingdon Arms is a bit difficult if you don't have a car but a taxi from Oxford shouldn't be too expensive if you share. It's a trip worth taking!

dralbion (Unverified), 25/08/09

Over the past year I have taken groups of teenagers to this pub and we adore the place. The welcome is exceptional, the food is outstanding, the portion size is excellent and nothing is too much trouble for Michelle and her staff. The atmosphere is terrific and the locals are very welcoming.
I dont know of anywhere that offers such an outstanding evening at an excellent price.

Rob Hughes Oxford (Unverified), 01/11/08

Lovely weekday lunch time there - sitting outside in the sun with that very pretty view over Otmoor - pleasant atmosphere, relaxed. Unpretentious and good substantial pub meal. A few years ago this was a book only sort of a restaurant. Glad to see it revert to a less pricey and upmarket place. Friendly staff and a really good time. I don't know what it would be like at busy weekends though.

177 Godstow Road (Unverified), 26/06/08

We recently spent a very memorable Sunday in the Abingdon Arms, celebrating my Aunt's 60th birthday. Even though the pub was extremely busy, we felt very special and the atmosphere was buzzing.
The food is delicious, the decor welcoming and the staff extremely attentive. Best pub / restaurant food I've tasted in years!!!!

Andrea (Unverified), 12/05/08

This is a really top quality country pub in a small village past Islip. In several visits, there are always friendly staff, decent Brakespears beers and very good fresh cooked food, even on a quite weekday lunchtime. It's nicely decorated and well worth a visit. Why not take a walk around the nearby RSPB reserve at Otmoor before or after a decent lunch? Recommended.

Mike (Unverified), 14/08/07

My family and I decided that we would visit the Abingdon Arms in Beckley for Fathers Day Lunch. We have had good food and a warm welcome on previous occasions. Today the staff seemed extremely stressed as the pub was very busy. We had pre-booked a table for 2.00pm by which time they had already sold out of the Roast Beef!. We ordered the Roast Pork instead and were then informed they'd sold out of Roast Potatoes! .....offering new potatoes instead. The food did arrive fairly quickly however the Pork was undercooked and pink in places along with vegetables that had a decidedly bleachy type smell!! We were extremely disappointed and felt that such an established pub with experience should be able to cater for pre-booked numbers! Having said this my mother enjoyed a very nice Duck and Mango salad and the puddings were enjoyed by all.
We shall not be returning soon though I'm afraid, this was not value for money.

Sam (Unverified), 17/06/07