The Jolly Boatman Reviews Summary

Category: British restaurant

Address: 216 Banbury Rd, Thrupp, Kidlington OX5 1JU, United Kingdom

Phone: +441865377800

Rating: 4.3
based on 157 reviews.

Service

Pros:

  • "Table service is always swift with really friendly, accommodating and attentive staff - very impressed!"
  • "Fantastic service with a smile from Sam and Charlotte very attentive to my small children."
  • "Staff were amazing especially Olivia, nothing too much trouble, great sense of humour."
  • "The two waiters were very friendly & efficient."
  • "The staff were lovely and helpful and we're very welcoming."
  • "The staff were great, really friendly and nothing was too much effort."
  • "Very welcoming staff and landlord who took the time to engage our teenage grandsons in conversation."

Cons:

  • "Although it was quiet the service was slow."
  • "What let it down most was the service. Staff were abrupt, and made you feel like they wanted you gone as soon as possible."
  • "Asked to see manager 3 times before we got to see a very rude man."
  • "Rude service, Attitude towards new people not great."
  • "Complained to staff & their response was silence."
  • "The waiting staff were very nice people but very unorganised."
  • "Incredibly slow service (despite booking and it being relatively quiet)."

Location

Pros:

  • "Nice location by canal."
  • "Lovely pub on a busy road but the canal parallel with outside space and enclosed car park."
  • "Staff are great, lovely setting, easy to park."
  • "The outdoor seating is pleasantly close to the water but not so close its a worry!"
  • "A beautiful canal setting, perfect for a dog walk."
  • "Great location right by the canal. Lovely sunny spot."
  • "The canal-side venue is lovely with the barges chugging under the bridge, plus walkers and bikers enjoying the rare sunshine."

Cons:

  • "Only downside is the main road location."
  • "At times a lot of noise from the road which could be busy with fast moving traffic."
  • "May be a one off but bitterly disappointed to have booked a birthday meal for 2nd April to be told at 3pm on 1st that they are cancelling."
  • "Shame about the fella who lived in the boat on the canal."
  • "The kitchen extractors belch burning oil smells all over the outdoor canal side seating."
  • "Nice views. Next to a busy main road."
  • "The outdoor area at the back was unkept and needs to be refurbished."

Food Quality

Pros:

  • "Good sized portions of really well cooked wholesome grub."
  • "All the meat (beef, pork and gammon) was well received, good roasties and very good Fish'n'Chips."
  • "The shared fisherman's platter starter arrived after 35 minutes with tasty cod pieces, goujons etc."
  • "The food quality was amazing."
  • "Food was good, had chicken and bacon pie, in a proper case which is always a big bonus."
  • "The food was fantastic."
  • "Couldn't fault the food, was absolutely delicious."

Cons:

  • "Service was good wine was nice food was nasty."
  • "The veg was uniformly overdone and soggy."
  • "Food ruined my whole experience. Burgers were barely edible. Extremely dry."
  • "Unfortunately really sub standard food... Awful service. Shame as it is such a nice location!"
  • "Unfortunately mash was really dry. The pie crust was really hard and dry."
  • "I had scampi, which was really greasy."
  • "Food was over priced for the quality received! Over cooked and anemic."

Atmosphere & Cleanliness

Pros:

  • "Lovely ice cold estrella on tap with nice outside seating available on warm days overlooking the canal."
  • "The food was good, the place was clean and picturesque."
  • "Beautiful views with lovely food."
  • "Beautiful setting, the food was really lovely and the staff very friendly and nice."
  • "Beautiful location on a summers day to sit and have a drink by the river."
  • "Amazing and not long wait time even though it's been a busy & mega hot day."
  • "The food was very good & very reasonably priced."

Cons:

  • "Disabled access isn't great. Narrow corridors with small steps up and down."
  • "It was quite uncomfortable sitting 6 adults on one picnic bench style table."
  • "Staff were rude, too many tables in such a small space."
  • "I’m really not happy to just find out that the jolly boatman was given a 1 star hygiene rating."
  • "Wasn't overly impressed by the cleanliness of the pub restaurant, there was rubbish on the floor and the glasses were a little dirty."
  • "A disappointing mixture of dried-out-by-reheating and just-plain-cold food."
  • "The sandwich was terrible and very seriously over priced."

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