The story
Cherwell Boathouse, at 50 Bardwell Road in Oxford, serves Modern British food on the banks of the River Cherwell, and The Good Food Guide lists it as Good for 2026. The Edwardian boathouse dates from 1904 and has been run by the Verdin family for more than 50 years.
The kitchen cooks to the calendar. In summer, the decked terrace might bring gazpacho with watermelon or Cornish mackerel with sauce pipérade, followed by Cotswold chicken breast with samphire, tarragon and pea fricassée. Winter menus lean heavier, with venison fritters, guinea fowl with walnut purée and wild mushrooms, and a hot chocolate pot with passion fruit.
Many visitors come for the wine. The list ranges from Old World producers of high pedigree to young names, and the shortlist starts at £19.75, with a standard glass at £5. Older bottles benefit from decanting, so the team suggests allowing an hour or more before you arrive.
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History
The prospect of chilling out on a hugely desirable decked terrace by the river Cherwell makes this enchanting Victorian boathouse one of Oxford’s great delights – and that’s before you factor in its glorious wine cellar and the added temptations of punting on the water. Dating from 1904, this beloved institution is also a good shout for capably handled food with noticeable English and French accents. Nothing is overplayed here, but the kitchen comes up with subtly creative ideas to match the seasons. Eating alfresco in summer, you might indulge in a bowl of gazpacho with watermelon or Cornish mackerel with sauce pipérade ahead of Cotswold chicken breast with samphire, tarragon and pea fricassée. Come winter, other treats await those who congregate in the dining room – an affable blend of wooden floorboards, bare beams and white tablecloths. Openers such as venison fritters with Parmesan purée and crispy kale might precede guinea fowl adorned with a festive harvest of walnut purée, wild mushrooms, roasted Brussels sprouts and bone marrow jus. For afters, hot chocolate pot with passion fruit is a perennial favourite – although you might prefer local strawberries with elderflower custard or tarte tatin with Calvados ice cream, depending on the calendar. For many, however, it’s all about the superlative wine list, an all-embracing compendium stuffed with mouthwatering global selections ranging from Old World aristocrats of high pedigree to the most fashionable young contenders. Mark-ups are kind, with selections from the 'shortlist' starting at £19.75 (£5 for a standard glass).
1 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
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