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Food - The Oarsman, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

The Oarsman

4.4 (58)
£25 and under
Gastro Pub
46 Spittal St, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1DB

Make a reservation

A photo of The Oarsman restaurant

The Oarsman

4.4
£25 and under
Gastro Pub
Marlow

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for fine wines
The Oarsman is a contemporary Bistro and Pub on Spittal Street in Marlow.

For lunch and dinner, we serve bistro style, seasonal dishes from the open kitchen and small plates from the charcuterie and larder counter.

Seasonal dishes are created by award winning Head Chef Scott Smith. Under Scott's helm The Oarsman has been awarded a Bib Gourmand from Michelin and features in the Top 50 Gastro Pub Awards as well as featuring in Square Meals Top 100 Restaurants

We have created an extensive list of fine and rare wines, as well as a wide range of wines by the glass. It might appear a bit bonkers, but that’s half the fun, there are over 300 wines, more than 200 grape varieties from forty plus countries, the quandary is, if we don’t list them, you can’t try them – so let’s be a bit bonkers.

We have a terrace at the rear of the pub perfect for a sunny spot to sit back, relax and enjoy a sun bathed lunch or perhaps an afternoon Spritz or Frozen Margarita.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Gastro Pub, British, French
  • Hours of operation
    Sun 12:00 pm–7:00 pm Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    01628 617755
  • Website
    https://theoarsman.co.uk/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Scott Smith
  • Catering
    The Oarsman holds one AA Rosette and it has been included in Michelin Guide 2022. Most recently The Oarsman won Newcomer of the Year 2023 by Top50Restaurants.<br /><br />We offered reduced a la carte menu in the Private Room or work closely with guests to create Set Menu depending on the preference and budget. Wine flights are available on request.
  • Private party facilities
    The Room Upstairs offers the perfect private dining space.On Thursdays/Fridays and Saturday, our resident Troublesome Lodger, Chef Simon Bonwick, offers unique dining experience in 'The Room Upstairs' at The Oarsman. Serving up exquisite tasting menu with optional wine flight. Contact : www.chefbonwick.com or call 07596 517 189 to book.
  • Location
    46 Spittal St, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1DB
  • Neighborhood
    Marlow
  • Cross street
    Parking is available at Liston Road car park behind the building
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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Menu

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Oarsman.

4.4

4.4
(58)
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 3.9Ambience
  • 4.0Value

Noise • Energetic

58 Reviews

  1. Jenna

    London8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 14, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Such a lovely evening with fantastic service! We spent ages catching up and took far too long to order, they were so patient and friendly. Sadly I didn’t get our server’s name but thank you so much. Only constructive feedback I’d give is that it’s strange having all the wines and a page saying how much we should try but they’re almost all bottle-only.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Tom

    Oxford23 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 24, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Very enjoyable lunch. Great food. Excellent pork chop and the side Chips are top drawer. We sat on a window table which was nice but rest of the restaurant was very dark. Good spot for a lunch meeting.

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  3. Sarah

    Hertfordshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 7, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience all around. Ambiance was perfect, staff attentive but not at all in an awkward way and the food was amazing.

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  4. Mike

    Berkshire13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 16, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Always a great place for lunch or dinner. Menu was simple but tasty, with a great by-the-glass wine list. Service was fantastic throughout.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Lucy Gold

    London23 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 13, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    I booked through OpenTable but they didn't have record of my booking. However the team found us a table which we really appreciated. Thank uou.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Charles

    London2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 12, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Food is quite good but the service was so incredibly slow. 1.5 hours for a weekday lunch for just a main course and dessert - when clearly dressed for an office! I'd had slow service before, but on a Sunday, which was just about acceptable - but not mid-week.

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  7. Sharon

    London11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on November 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Love the Oarsman! Cosy and lively. Great food (roast pork was outstanding), excellent no-fuss service. Guitarist was a bonus.

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  8. john

    New York City5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on November 9, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The website makes the oarsman look like a rope end pub restaurant. It is not. It is ok fare. And ambience but was not particularly special. The people next to us had to send their food back as it was cold.

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  9. chelsea

    London6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 19, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service and atmosphere was lovely. The food was amazing, great portion size and very tasty. Absolutely will go again and recommend others do

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  10. Kiran Gold

    London13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Second trip to Marlow and had booked an evening dinner. Felt unwell and called ahead to move to next night and they were fine with the short notice. Lady was lovely who I dealt with. Turned up next evening and given a lovely table. Surrounding are great lots to look at. Books and bottles of wine, cosy snug to sit in. The food is incredible. Genuinely loved it more than the Hand and Flowers down the road. The potatoes are out of this world and the fish main and the bavette steak was delicious. Will definitely be coming back. Very dog friendly too which was amazing. And excellent friendly staff.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Gastro Pub, British, French
  • Hours of operation
    Sun 12:00 pm–7:00 pm Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    01628 617755
  • Website
    https://theoarsman.co.uk/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Scott Smith
  • Catering
    The Oarsman holds one AA Rosette and it has been included in Michelin Guide 2022. Most recently The Oarsman won Newcomer of the Year 2023 by Top50Restaurants.<br /><br />We offered reduced a la carte menu in the Private Room or work closely with guests to create Set Menu depending on the preference and budget. Wine flights are available on request.
  • Private party facilities
    The Room Upstairs offers the perfect private dining space.On Thursdays/Fridays and Saturday, our resident Troublesome Lodger, Chef Simon Bonwick, offers unique dining experience in 'The Room Upstairs' at The Oarsman. Serving up exquisite tasting menu with optional wine flight. Contact : www.chefbonwick.com or call 07596 517 189 to book.
  • Location
    46 Spittal St, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1DB
  • Neighborhood
    Marlow
  • Cross street
    Parking is available at Liston Road car park behind the building
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Gift card

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FAQs

Portions at The Oarsman are satisfying, guests note a “great portion size, ” and sharing plates such as a starter-for-three are described as perfect for the table.

Sunday is the standout day, guests consistently praise the Sunday lunch and roast; if you prefer a quieter lunch, Saturday lunchtime has been described as not busy.

Yes, The Oarsman works well for a special evening: guests report anniversary dinners and a cosy, music-tinged atmosphere, while the restaurant’s extensive 300+ wine list supports thoughtful pairing.

Yes, dogs are regularly welcomed here, with guests noting a dog-friendly bar/restaurant and staff seating them at dog-friendly tables.

Yes, The Oarsman is dog-friendly: guests describe it as welcoming to dogs and note staff quickly show dog-friendly tables.

The Oarsman feels cosy and welcoming: an open kitchen, divided dining areas (main room, snug and bar), a roaring fire and live music at times, plus a sunny terrace for outdoor dining.

Yes, The Oarsman has a rear terrace/garden that guests enjoy for sunny lunches and relaxed drinks.

The Oarsman is often quieter at Saturday lunches and in early weekday sittings, while special events and peak visits (for example Burns Night) create a livelier, more celebratory atmosphere.

Smart casual, polished but relaxed, and many guests say they feel comfortable in anything from jeans to dressing up for special occasions.

The Oarsman is a lovely spot for a relaxed Saturday lunch, guests specifically note Saturday lunch was not busy, while Sunday lunch also gets praise for being excellent, making either a great choice depending on whether you prefer quieter or a classic Sunday meal.

Yes, families are welcome: guests have dined with a baby, the menu includes a kids' meal, and the team has successfully hosted large family gatherings.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Buckinghamshire
  4. Marlow
  5. Marlow

Make a reservation

A photo of The Oarsman restaurant

The Oarsman

4.4
£25 and under
Gastro Pub
Marlow

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
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