Restaurants

Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant

Bardwell Road, Oxford, OX2 6ST, GB

Rating: 4.5 ★ (1609 ratings)

Details

A late-Victorian working boathouse on the River Cherwell, dating from 1904, houses this Oxford institution. Here, you can enjoy fine dining with an award-winning wine list, featuring modern English and European dishes crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients by Head Chef Paul Bell. The family-owned restaurant offers a serene atmosphere with views across the water, perfect for a special occasion or simply a delightful meal. Al fresco dining is available on the decked terrace, allowing you to watch the punts glide by. The Cherwell Boathouse is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience, combining excellent food with a charming, slightly eccentric, and quintessentially Oxford pleasure.

Beyond the culinary delights, the Cherwell Boathouse is home to Oxford's largest punt station, with over 80 handmade traditional punts available for hire from mid-March to mid-October. Whether you're a novice or an experienced punter, gliding along the Cherwell offers a unique perspective of the city's stunning architecture and lush landscapes. You can leisurely make your way upstream towards the Victoria Arms pub or downstream past the University Parks, perhaps enjoying a picnic on the river bank. This iconic spot, tucked away down a small lane off Bardwell Road, provides a timeless and idyllic escape close to the city centre.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: 12:00 – 2:15 PM, 6:00 – 9:00 PM; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday: 12:00 – 2:15 PM, 6:00 – 9:00 PM; Thursday: 12:00 – 2:15 PM, 6:00 – 9:00 PM; Friday: 12:00 – 2:45 PM, 6:00 – 9:15 PM; Saturday: 12:00 – 2:45 PM, 6:00 – 9:15 PM; Sunday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 6:00 – 8:45 PM

Contact

+44 1865 552746

Comments

Lucy Davenport
22 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
An incredible setting to host an event!
I had the pleasure of photographing a wedding at Cherwell Boathouse this season and it was beautiful. A waterside setting, with the bride and groom punting in for their arrival, a fabulous wedding breakfast in the marquee followed by an epic party in the lower boathouse.
Highly recommend this venue for any private or corporate events.
Myrna Rickards
15 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
We had a fantastic anniversary meal here last week. The food was delicious and the staff were lovely. The tempura prawns starter and the Coley dish were outstanding. Our table was outside right by the river which was so special. The atmosphere was great. Highly recommend!
Kiran V. Patel
11 Feb 2026
4.0 ★
Good location. Good food and drinks selection. Parking an issue. Lots of people using the punts on a good day, so footfall while dining. Understaffed. Good service when served. Delays in taking orders and delivery of food and service. Our 3rd lunch here as mid way between London & Birmingham.
Mark Girling
8 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
Several months ago I organised to eat at this venue - we were 34 in total. The pre-order was online (great idea) this mean no confusion on the day. Service was excellent, even had some great Christmas decorations up. Food was great - no mean feat with so many covers at the same time. Would return.
Letícia Ventura
10 Jan 2026
4.0 ★
I had quite expectations of visiting this place. They park space is tiny and was full (weekday dinner), had to look for a space outside to park which had restrictions of the amount of hours to park. The place is nice, with good view and option for panting. The main dishes are small, I ordered the lamb option, very tasty. The best dish for me was the Waterloo cheese ordered, well presented and tasty. Coffee was not the highlight, none of us were happy with the coffee after the dessert, opportunity to improve here.

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