The Fishes
Public Houses in Oxford
North Hinksey Village
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX2 0NA
Contact Numbers
About
Only a couple of minutes from either the Botley Road or the southbound A34, The Fishes is a hidden gem. Quite a big gem too. The Fishes is an imposing Victorian building set in 3 acres of wooded grounds leading down to the banks of Seacourt Stream. On sunny days the gardens are dotted with picnickers, enjoying a picnic basket ordered from the bar, whilst the deck that wraps around the conservatory offers one of the few opportunities in land-locked Oxford to dine outside with an idyllic view. In recognition of this, the Fishes was named Al Fresco Dining Pub of the Year in 2006, as well as winning an award for its Sunday roast
Reviews
Rubbish, gastro-for-gastro-sake, waste of oxygen
Popped in the other afternoon after a day's extremely hard graft moving house. Reduced menu due to it being mid afternoon, despite it being a 'foody' pub... seemingly the best option for a hungry person was a steak sandwich, at £10.50 (no, your eyes do not deceive). I thought MY eyes deceived ME however, when half a small ciabata and steak, and some Brakes Bros special frozen chips arrived. Good to average, but certainly nowhere near great, along with absolutely ridiculously insanely exorbitant prices at least 30-60% more expensive than anywhere else in Oxford, nay the rest of the world. Our complaint via customer comments card was met with a vague apology via email and the hope we'd find it better if we try the place again. Good luck with that.
Simon Cole - 24/06/2009 | report this review
Best place to eat out in the Botley area
When I lived in Botley, one of the highlights was an occasional walk down the road to the Fishes. While it's possible to sit there all evening relaxing with friends over a drink or two, the thing that sets this place apart is the quality of the food. It really is excellent!Although I always walked there (and if you're on the bus you'll have to walk the last bit), car owners needn't feel left out, though the road is narrow and windy in places! There's also the opportunity of a post-lunch stroll into town taking the scenic route of the nearby (well-signposted) footpath.
A User - 10/08/2008 | report this review
A good choice for a classy meal out
The Fishes is a large pub with an extensive garden boasting a varied but seasonal menu. You have two options when visiting The Fishes; eat in the restaurant choosing from the normal menu or enjoy a freshly prepared picnic hamper in the garden. One of the unique features of the extensive restaurant menu is the “deli board†option. This means that you can choose from a list of ingredients, including cheeses, meats, salads fish etc to create your own Moroccan style feast. These dishes arrive, beautifully presented, on a wooden board and make an ideal sharing starter or light lunch. The rest of the menu is carefully thought out and cooked perfectly using top-end ingredients. I would recommend The Fishes as a sophisticated and tasty place to eat.
A User - 09/08/2008 | report this review
Great food, let down
We've visited the Fishes a couple of times in the last couple of months and have generally had quite positive experiences of it. I'll start by saying that the food at the Fishes is lovely, really well cooked and a varied and seasonal menu. They also do picnic baskets that can be enjoyed in their large garden. The kitchen is open onto the terrace area and you can hear the chefs talking to each other, just like you see on the TV. You really get the impression it's proper chefs doing the cooking and they know what they're up to. There were, however, a couple of little things that let down the quality of the food. The first time we visited, the table wasn't ready at the time of our reservation and we had to wait over half an hour for a table to become available. The second time, we were given a very dirty glass with one of our drinks and the service was so slow we had to leave before we could order pudding. It's a shame that these little things spoil what would otherwise be a very enjoyable dining experience.
A User - 02/08/2008 | report this review
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