Quick info
About The Oarsman, Marlow
On Spittal St in Marlow, The Oarsman combines a pub, bistro and wine bar across one address, with a menu of 43 dishes. The wine list includes an unfiltered house white, alongside starters such as harissa and garlic olives, charred sourdough with sea salt butter, and the Oarsman's beer nuts. The bavette steak is offered as a house special, and Sunday lunch brings a roast to the table. A back terrace provides outdoor dining, and dogs are welcome throughout. The entrance is step-free, suiting visitors with mobility needs, and free Wi-Fi is available. Reservations are recommended, though a bar area gives waiting guests somewhere to sit while a table is prepared. The pub opens daily. Parking nearby can be tricky at busy times, though a supermarket car park close by offers a paid alternative.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid parking lot · Paid street parking · Plenty of parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Menu & Prices
43 dishes · mains £4–90- Nv Harrow & Hope Brut Reserve No:9£16.00
- Champagne£10.00
- Charred Sourdough, Sea Salt Butter£4.00
- Harissa & Garlic Olives£4.75
- Oarsman's Beer Nuts£4.75
- Salame Spianata£7.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention bavette steak, beef roast, unfiltered house white wine and sunday roast lunch.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention bavette steak, beef roast, unfiltered house white wine and sunday roast lunch.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers consistently return for the Sunday roast, with several singling out the beef roast as tasty and succulent, while the Bavette Steak also draws praise as a standout house special cooked perfectly. Diners repeatedly describe the service as attentive and friendly, and the wine list gets called out as reasonably priced and well matched to the food, including unfiltered house white and wines paired for a Burns night menu. The terrace and garden seating come up often as pleasant spots for lunch, with several mentioning family occasions like Mother's Day and Father's Day lunches. Portions and value are noted favorably against other options in Marlow. One diner, however, found the food extremely salty with the fish barely enjoyable, and reported extremely slow service on the terrace, a notable exception to the otherwise positive service accounts. Another reviewer flags tricky parking near the town centre, though nearby paid parking resolved it. Several reviewers mention returning for a second visit within the same week.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers consistently return for the Sunday roast, with several singling out the beef roast as tasty and succulent, while the Bavette Steak also draws praise as a standout house special cooked perfectly. Diners repeatedly describe the service as attentive and friendly, and the wine list gets called out as reasonably priced and well matched to the food, including unfiltered house white and wines paired for a Burns night menu. The terrace and garden seating come up often as pleasant spots for lunch, with several mentioning family occasions like Mother's Day and Father's Day lunches. Portions and value are noted favorably against other options in Marlow. One diner, however, found the food extremely salty with the fish barely enjoyable, and reported extremely slow service on the terrace, a notable exception to the otherwise positive service accounts. Another reviewer flags tricky parking near the town centre, though nearby paid parking resolved it. Several reviewers mention returning for a second visit within the same week.
Featured reviews
- Jeff Frankling
“If you are looking for the perfect blend of a cozy, welcoming British pub and top-tier, Michelin-caliber gastronomy, The Oarsman absolutely nails it. My wife were on a day visit to Marlow in May 26. We stopped in for dinner and were blown away from start to finish. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance—sophisticated and beautifully designed, yet completely relaxed and unpretentious. Whether you're in jeans or dressed up for a special occasion, you'll feel right at home. The food was absolutely sensational. The seasonal, sustainable menu features incredibly clever twists on classic dishes. The execution was flawless—everything from the starters to the mains was packed with distinct, vibrant flavors. The service was attentive knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly without being overbearing. Marlow has plenty of great dining options, but The Oarsman stands out by delivering incredible quality with a wonderfully warm, community heart. We will definitely be back—highly, highly recommended!”
- Anne Cravero
“We recently went here for a Mother's day lunch, my son, daughter in law and baby and myself. It is a very characteristic place with a lovely little garden area at the back. Service was prompt, helpful and very friendly. The food was …”
- Jon Kerry
“Fantastic grub. Good wine choice at reasonable prices. Awesome service especially from the young girl with curly brown hair that had only been there a week or so. Attentive and engaging with well cooked and well portioned food, can’t ask for more!!! Walked out of the tap and came here instead…. Best choice”
- Terence Ayres
“Great little Gastro Pub with excellent service. The Oarsman delivers tasty food and represents good value in a town packed full of foody options, where you can easily pay more, for less. I can recommend the Bavette Steak, a house special, which was cooked perfectly. Great place for lunch after a morning shopping in Marlow.”
- Jasmine Power
“A little late in posting but I had to share my experience at The Oarsman for Burns night last Sunday 🏴🥃 Absolute unreal flavours from their curiated traditional dishes, and my fave - tablet! Such nice wines to pair with each plate and …”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Has great beer selection
- Has great wine list
- Has live performances
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Serves dine-in
Show more amenities
- Serves food at bar
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves beer
- Serves food
- Serves spirits
- Offerings· 3
- Serves alcohol
- Serves cocktails
- Serves wine
- Atmosphere· 3
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Crowd· 1
- Good for groups
- Dining options· 3
- Outside food allowed
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Popular for· 1
- Good for solo dining
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Highlights· 3
- Has great beer selection
- Has great wine list
- Has live performances
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Parking· 2
- Paid street parking
- Plenty of parking
Location
Bars near The Oarsman, Marlow
- The Duke4.52220.3 mi£10–20Reservations
singapore noodles, satay chicken, live music
- 2.4 mi£20–50ReservationsGood for kids
sunday roast, signature burger, beef wellington
- The Bounty4.51,4132.6 mi£10–20ReservationsGood for kids
only reachable by boat or foot, local beer selection, steak and ale pie
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Oarsman, MarlowReservations | 4.4472 | — | £30–80 | bavette steak, beef roast, unfiltered house white wine |
| The DukeReservations | 4.5222 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | singapore noodles, satay chicken, live music |
| The Golden Ball Pub and KitchenReservations · Good for kids | 4.3839 | 2.4 mi | £20–50 | sunday roast, signature burger, beef wellington |
| The BountyReservations · Good for kids | 4.51,413 | 2.6 mi | £10–20 | only reachable by boat or foot, local beer selection, steak and ale pie |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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