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Hours
Sun
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Mon
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Tue
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Wed
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thu
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Fri
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sat
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
features
Is this restaurant good for business meetings?
Details
About
The Talkhouse is an instantly recognisable, pretty-as-a-picture inn built of Cotswold stone. Locally renowned for its excellent food, fine cask ales and relaxed atmosphere, it's a great place to stay if you're exploring Oxford thanks to four sumptuously appointed rooms. With real roaring log fires and comfy sofas throughout, The Talkhouse is one of Stanton St. Johns' best pubs to enjoy a cosy drink in the winter. In summer, our garden and outside seating areas make it a perfect place to soak up some sun. If you're looking for somewhere to stop for lunch on a day out with the family, The Talkhouse is family friendly and we welcome children of all ages. Why not stay for a family break? All four of our lovely guest rooms boast their own spacious ensuite, along with little extras like CD players and TVs. Enjoy a relaxed stay in these charming surroundings. We look forward to welcoming you to The Talkhouse!
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
92 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
9
Average
7
Poor
7
Terrible
3
Emma J
St. Asaph16 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
We parked at the village hall, put the car on charge (Pod Point), and took a short walk through Stanton St John to the Talkhouse. The village walk was delightful – a picturesque stroll past charming thatched cottages, made even better by the beautiful autumn day.
We started our visit with drinks in the garden, which was a nice spot to enjoy the sunshine. The menu offered several vegan options, which was a pleasant surprise, and we found the service prompt and friendly throughout. The atmosphere was great, and the staff added to the welcoming feel of the place.
Prices were reasonable, and there’s plenty of parking available at the pub itself if you prefer to park closer. All in all, a lovely experience – highly recommended!
Written October 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard N
Andover196 contributions
Nov 2024 • family
Booked as it seemed like a safe option for Sunday lunch. Wasn’t expecting what we found. A big car park with loads of space. A comfy decor which was warm and inviting. Very friendly welcome and the staff were excellent throughout. Lovely roast dinner, we had turkey (one had beef) with huge Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and well prepared veg. One of us had the burger and it was a little pink for her liking. Was no problem and a fresh one was cooked rather than bunged in the microwave. Apple crumble and vanilla custard went down a treat. Was expecting an average experience but got so much more. Wouldn’t hesitate to return. Thank you.
Written November 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kvasir
London1289 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
Recommended to us by friends, and just off the M40 and less than five miles from Oxford, we stopped for lunch in this quaint traditional English country pub. Service was impeccable . . . welcoming, unobtrusive yet responsive (Ashley not only talked us through the menu, but also offered suggestions on places of interest in Oxford, Stratford and around the Cotswolds.
All dishes were fresh, tasty and attractively presented; and the seabass was simply scrumptious. Good selection of wines and cask ales. All very reasonably priced. Ample free parking.
We'll be back!
Written July 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Hi,
Thank you for your review, we are always glad to hear of the good experiences our guests have. We have passed your praise on to the kitchen and front of house team who are very happy to receive your praise. We are glad that you enjoyed your lunch with us and we can't wait to see you again soon.
Many Thanks,
TheTalkhouse Team
Written July 29, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
smith9875
7 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
Family visit & ordered 3 roast dinners. The vegetables in a terracotta bowl that accompanied these would have only just fed 2 people, so definitely not the 3 of us!
I had to ask for more veg & was told that there would be a charge for this. Really I replied, we ordered 3 roast dinners & there’s only just enough vegetables for 2 people. The waitress returned with a very small bowl that contained a few vegetables in it & said this is as much as I can give you without charging you extra.
Within a few minutes the table of 2 next to us had the same sized terracotta bowl of veg put on their table proving my point that we had only been given a 2 person portion.
After waiting for ages to pay the bill while the staff were just chatting behind the bar I made way to them to explain that I wouldn’t be paying the 12.5% service charge added to the bill, nothing was said in response and in-fact I should really have asked for a reduction in the bill. Won’t be returning, much better service can be found nearby!!
Written March 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WITMOL
London17 contributions
Dec 2023 • family
Went for lunch last Sunday with my family and generally, we were all a little disappointed. Service was very slow throughout and needed to ask for our order to be taken for some drinks, then again for the food, then again to pay the bill after being presented with it.
Those of us who had a roast (3) all commented that the food was warm at best. However, my biggest issue is with the prices versus portion size, or more to the point, the portion size of the meat. I had roast turkey, which was £18. I haven't got an issue with the £18 cost, as everywhere has needed to increase prices to survive. What I do have an issue with is being charged £18 for 2 very small, very thin slices of turkey. I would usually expect roast turkey to include stuffing & pigs in blankets, but if you wanted these they were £5 & £6 respectively......which would bring the roast turkey meal to £29!! TBH, I would have been happy with just a fair size portion of turkey meat.
The other guests all felt the same about the portion sizes of the main ingredient, with the exception of fish & chips. Even the burgers were very small!!
If you're going to charge these prices, you really need to look at your value for money offer and your service speed. Especially if you're going to automatically wack on 12.5% service charge.
Written December 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Hello,
Thank you for your review, we can only apologise for your disappointment in the pricing in proportion to food sizes. These concerns have been passed on to our kitchen team. Pricing is something we do take seriously as we know the sort of quality that is expected from the prices we charge and we are sorry that your experience did align with this.
Please be assured that all concerns have been raise with management staff and we would love for you to come back again to see the improvements for yourself
Thank You,
The Talkhouse Team
Written December 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simon N
4 contributions
May 2024 • couples
Stopped off for Sunday Roast and this looked perfect. It wasn't busy so that was a bonus. We both ordered the Pork belly roast which although didn't even come with crackling and was obviously a child's portion, was nice. However the Roast potatoes were not very good and even had a hint of spice (curry) on them. The vegetables was a poor show and again tasted like they were drained from a curry. Thank god we had a £5 saucer of cauliflower that saved the veg. All in all a poor Sunday Roast. I think we had Yorkshire pudds on the plate.
Then the bill came and I was horrified that they had added 12.5% service charge. It was optional but it makes your feel guilty if you take it off. The actual service was good it was just the food that was appalling. It was overpriced and not value for money. I only wish that I had not paid the service charge. If they cant pay their staff properly then the staff shouldn't work there.
I would avoid this place as there are a lot of other lovely looking places around.
Written May 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iain M
5 contributions
Oct 2023 • family
Stayed at the pub on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October 2023. All seemed well when we checked in and the room, number 1, was very nice and comfortable. We were asked if we were having breakfast on the Sunday morning to which we said yes and filled out a form. Cost £12.50 each which isn't cheap. Breakfast was served at 10:00 which is very late compared to many other places. The breakfast was very poor. The scrambled eggs were very dry and bitty like saw dust, the bacon was like leather and the fried eggs overdone,hard, burnt a little round the edges with bubbles in the whites. Expected much better for a premium price.My partner couldn't eat the scrambled eggs and bacon and complained. She asked if she could have another sausage to which the reply was there weren't any left! There was only one other table occupied in the room with 4 or 5 people!!!!. We were told that a refund couldn't be given as there was no management about! We had decided to get breakfast on the Monday elsewhere which was a good job as the pub was closed and didn't open until 12:00 which we weren't warned of on the Saturday. Also a good job that we weren't looking to eat there on the Sunday evening as the pub closed at 17:00. again something we weren't advised of. Luckily there is a separate access to the rooms behind the pub but it would have been nice to have been told about the closure times. We thought we would provide feedback at checkout on the Monday morning but yes, you've guessed it, the pub was closed and no one in sight. Re the room, there was a very annoying clicking, tapping noise coming from the bathroom pipes that kept us awake. Most frustrating that all of this could not be voiced to any management. A Messenger text was sent to them about our experience when we still there to which we received a generic automated response which included making a reservation for food lol! We have still not received a proper reply today Thursday 12th October. The pub looks very nice inside and out but the owners/management clearly have no interest in being accessible. This is very poorly run and we would not recommend it to anyone. Can see it going out of business very soon.
Written October 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to review your stay here.
We are very saddened to hear that it did not meet your expectations. You should have been informed about our Sunday hours at check in and we can only apologise that this did not happen. Opening hours and necessary information about your stay are written in the guest handbook, however, since your review we are reworking the handbook to make this clearer.
Again, we can only apologise for your negative experience with us and we would like to assure you that we are taking all steps necessary to ensure that we grow and improve from here.
Many thanks,
The Talkhouse Team
Written October 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Judy M
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • family
Awful experience! Booked a table for 1.30pm , 20 minutes later had to seek out a member of staff to take our order…..food arrived 45 minutes later..food was cold so asked for it be warmed, came back cold again. Non attentive staff…not at all welcoming..left without eating the food…..such a shame as have been here several times before and had a good experience…seems something has changed.
Written December 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to reach out about your experience. We are sorry that it was not consistent with previous good times with us. We have passed feedback about your experience with wait times and food temperature on to our core kitchen staff with a directive for an immediate improvement.
Concerns about service will also be raised with our service team to ensure that an experience like this does not happen again.
We would love for you to come back again to see that improvements have been made!
Kind Regards,
The Talkhouse Team
Written December 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
K T
Salmon85 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
We stayed here for two nights while exploring Oxford (parking at Thornhill and bussing in) and Blenheim. We celebrated water pressure, hot water, room-based thermostats—all in an old thatched-roof inn. Our dinner was really nice, and bar service impeccable in a firendly pub. Ask for room 4 if you want to sleep before the pub does. Breakfast is either late (10am) or continental. To bump brekfast up a notch, we would suggest exploring mini quiches, in-room microwaves, yoghurt, and ditching the wheatabix. Beds are comfy, but could be a scoach bigger.
Written April 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Hello, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Your praise has been passed onto the relevant staff members. Due to the size of our rooms, micorwaves and larger beds are not a viable option for us at this time. Your other breakfast feedback has been taken into consideration. We are glad you had such a positive experience and hope to see you again soon!
Many Thanks, The Talkhouse Team
Written July 29, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CJTapUK
United Kingdom4 contributions
Dec 2022 • none
I wanted to log a compliment, complaint & observation about my recent stay at The Talkhouse, Oxford
The Compliment:
On arriving, the welcome was warm & friendly, with clear instructions & directions, the food served for our evening meal and our breakfast was delicious. The room we stayed in was cosy, warm and well furnished
The Observation:
Both the wastes from the bathroom sink and shower were very slow to drain, talking 5+ minutes to drain, meaning you were standing in dirty water in the shower tray and any water in the sink was left standing as it drained
The Complaint:
Whilst the service was fair to good - it was not exceptional. Good service is what a pub, dining & accommodation should provide as standard. To this end, adding 12% service charge to our evening meal and breakfast meals is really not acceptable and actually quite outrageous. Serving food in a polite & timely manner is what should be normal service. I would suggest you would be better off just adding 12% to all your food prices - though of course many people would then question the value of dining with you
As so typically British, I didn't voice objections at the time as to be honest it was only when I look at the bills properly afterwards that I noticed - so bad on me for not checking
I won't be staying at The Talkhouse again and will not be able to recommend it to anyone
Written December 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue G
London40 contributions
Jan 2024 • family
We held my mother in law’s wake at The talkhouse. Every thing about the experience was fab. From initial contact and booking emails to the buffet on the day were faultless and the service provided by the staff was top notch. Would throughly recommend.
Written January 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write a review!
We are very glad you enjoyed your time at The Talkhouse.
We hope to see you again soon!
Thanks,
The Talkhouse Team
Written January 11, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nick Pykett
Oxford47 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
Pros - Beautiful pub, fantastic service, stunning gravy, crispy outer potatoes
Cons - Parsnips hard, potatoes hard in the middle, pork belly very fatty (and I like a fatty meat), chewy crackling,
Overall an adequate roast with some great bits, but also some howlers.
An expensive roast allows little margin for error, you cannot serve a singular parsnip with a £19 roast which is undercooked, or 2 potatoes which looked great from the outside, but were still hard on the inside, regardless of how sublime the gravy is/was.
I also think it's criminal that if you're charging £19 for a roast, then asking customers to pay an additional £5 each for Cauliflower Cheese, Stuffing and Pigs and Blankets. Stuffing and Cauli Cheese should be staple with any roast, particularly one you're paying an arm and a leg for.
Certainly won't be rushing back, which is a shame.
£90 for a man and wife, a 7 year old boy, with no alcohol and lots of mistakes.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew N
Hazlemere189 contributions
Oct 2023 • business
Big group dinner after a meeting so not a test of the à la carte menu. Coped well thought the waitress allowed the mask and smile to slip from time to time when trying to herd cats and get a consensus especially towards the end of the evening. Food was good pub standard and service was crisp despite the numbers.
Wide variety of choices even for big group and everyone was happy with their options. Burger was great and the steaks seemed palatable. Starters were decent size and deemed tasty and desserts standard British pub fare with minor twists.
Would eat there again when in the area.
Written October 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Thank you for your positive review, we are very glad that you enjoyed your food and had a good evening. Everyone is human and we appreciate that our waitresses work hard
We hope to see you again soon when you can have a taste of the a la carte menu!
Thanks,
The Talkhouse Team
Written October 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sonya L
6 contributions
Jan 2023 • couples
We wanted to try this place as we drive past it often and it looks beautiful, welcoming and cosy from the outside. The inside didn’t disappoint, the staff were smiling, kind and helpful, nice soothing music playing and although the place was full, it wasn’t noisy. We both had the vegan ‘mushroom and leek pie’, which looked homemade and was delicious. Only 2 suggestions for improvement - our meal, although lovely, was really salty. And we both had the pie as it was the only vegan main course on the menu. Another option or 2 would be great. Would definitely go back though 🙂
Written January 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
neil h
6 contributions
Dec 2023 • friends
A number of old workmates meet regularly a number of times throughout the year and The Talkhouse is ideal. We generally meet at lunchtime during the week and have a convivial meal. The food is always great and there is a good choice. The staff are always friendly, helpful and nothing seems too much trouble. Like everything these days prices have risen but it’s still very reasonable as quality doesn’t come cheap. Definitely to be recommended.
Written December 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Duval
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to review your time with us, we have passed the thanks onto the staff and we hope to see you again soon!
Thanks,
The Talkhouse Team
Written January 11, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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