Head Of The River

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Nice little place to hang out and have a drink or a bite to eat.

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.

fish & chips was alright.
nice location.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!