The Woodstock Arms — Restaurant in West Oxfordshire

We explored Woodstock on a Thursday and dropped by the Woodstock Arms for drinks. Impressed, we booked a table for lunch the following Sunday.

Our Thursday visit was delightful; the bar team were excellent, and the food looked appetising.

However, on Sunday, despite being shown to a different table than booked (initially not a concern), our experience took a downturn.

Ordering starters took approximately 25 minutes. We opted for the Cheddar & N’duja croquettes and Fried Whitebait, both delicious.

After another 30 minutes, we ordered mains, specifying rare and medium-rare for beef. When the dishes arrived, both were presented as "rare" and "medium-rare," though my "rare" was more akin to well-done.

Upon notifying the waiter, one plate was taken away, and the barman later explained the beef was cooked sous vide, limiting the degree of doneness.

We opted for a whole roast chicken instead.

The chicken, presented on a platter, and so followed several more platters of roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and vegetables. The table was full of platters of food, leaving us nowhere to put our dinner plates to eat. At this stage we requested condiments and cutlery, and that the gravy was missing.

Despite asking for a larger table, we were given an additional bar table to put the platters on.

The carving knife and fork provided were not fit for purpose and the knife was blunt, making it hard to carve the overcooked chicken. By the time the chicken was carved, the rest of the items were all cold.

When we pointed out the issue to the waitress, there was a lack of apology or concern. The entire meal was sent back.

The barman apologised again, offering additional items, but we had reached our limit.

Despite poor service and substandard food, the bill lacked any adjustment or removal of the gratuity.

We paid the bill, deeply disappointed.

Reflecting on the experience for a week, I decided to write this review, hoping they elevate...

Truly awful. Please do not waste your money eating here. I imagine that every local avoids the place like the plague. Lovely building/location / decor - everything else diabolical. No Guinness, limited beer and wine. My son ordered a coke - he was given the smallest most expensive bottle of coke rather than being asked if he wanted bottled or draft. Food even worse than drink shortage and staff attitudes.(which left us speechless). Burgers NOTHING like described/photo on website. Neither was any of the other website content - Almost like we’d gone to the wrong restaurant?!!! frozen cheap chips of random portion size chucked on the plates. Struggling to find words how awful it was, we've had much better food from road side greasy spoon and Asda cafe! Truly shocking they can get away with charging their extortionate prices. Borderline a joke if I’m being honest. We Asked for ketchup n Mayo for table of 6 and were given one side plate with one blob of each to share?!! They were most put out when we asked for more. My son’s burger was raw inside- they said it was how it came?! We showed them inside the other 2 burgers which were cooked?! They said it would be fine to eat?!! After challenging again they eventually agreed to refund the price. Toilets were sticky and dirty - like a build up of dirt that had been there some time! . One guy in bar got up, shouted an expletive (I can only image at his disgust too) and walked out. We had to ask staff to remove the 12.% service” charge. We paid and left as soon as we could - all a bit shell shocked.

Times are hard, people are struggling - if you’re looking to treat yourself to a nice meal out PLEASE DO NOT go here. We could have had something from out the freezer at home and saved...

Brunched (can brunch be a verb?) today at the Woodstock and the food was very nice.

Prompt service, good cappuccino (would prefer to be asked if I would like chocolate topping - I don't), good fresh zingy OJ and really friendly and attentive staff.

Bubble and squeak for her who shall be obeyed, and eggs royale for myself.

Great value and decent enough ingredients. The muffin felt a little budget, I would have preferred something homemade and a little more interesting but the salmon was plentiful and tasty, hollandaise tangy and silky (suspect it may have been jarred but I'll give the benefit of the doubt😜).

Bubble and squeak was really a potato cake, not terribly bubbley or squeaky, nevertheless tasty and filling. Accompaniments were nice, eggs perfectly cooked, black pudding delicious, spinach perfectly wilted and seasoned.

A side of crispy and fluffy toast of different varieties, hot and tasty with a generous helping of butter and marmalade. Butter is a let down, super dull. Good butter is the difference between a good place and a great place.

Biggest criticism is the plates. Weathered isn't the word. Battered? Umm. Forlorn? I don't know. The glaze was almost all gone, which has led to extensive staining and when I mopped up some escaping egg yolk I could taste dishwasher. Please please please get some new plates! Missed out on a strong four stars.

Oh, bring back the bacon bloody Mary. A fantastic USP and crowd puller. It was sorely...