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RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Bar, British, Pub, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options
Special Occasion Dining, View, Groups, Bar Scene, Business meetings
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Reviews (370)
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370 results
Traveller rating
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35
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Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
154
93
56
32
35
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All reviews liver brie sunday roast pork peas the pub lovely garden family lunch hunters chicken on tap booked a table lovely meal specials countryside ales
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Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

We’ve been to the pub a number of times with family or own never had any problems but over the last month when the lady in charge with the blonde hair who is really nice was not there on this occasion we had our French...dog we’ve us ask to sit on top sittings area as we done a number of time we’ve the dog was told not severing there anymore it was 5 30 in the afternoon so we had to leave and get a takeout 2 more times went to eat was told stop dinners at 6pm this was all on Sundays we said we wouldn’t go back again but gave it a chance as we enjoyed the food there but the staff were very poor once again standing at the bar taking about what time thay can get away we were ask if we like dessert we said yes but can you give us 10 minutes as we just finished eating dinner never returned half hour later we ask for the bill my wife had booked a table for midweek but cancelled it this all seems to happen when the tall lady with the blonde is not around apart from this the pub is nice just make sure you go when the nice blonde lady’s thereMore

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 9 October 2023 via mobile

We visited here for my dads 80th birthday. Food was lovely. All the food came out together which is good. Staff so friendly and service amazing. Roasts are lovely. Thank you for a lovely evening

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?2  
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.
Reviewed 24 August 2023

We often came here as a family years ago so had our mums funeral wake here. Staff were so friendly and accommodating. The food was fantastic and the surroundings perfect. Everyone comments were positive even though it was a sad occasion it made a good...celebration of her life to have it there. Thankyou so much 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?3  
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.
Reviewed 14 August 2023

What an amazing atmosphere! Fantastic staff and fantastic food ! I have never ate such a good chicken Caesar salad ! I tried this salad at many London places - and I can guarantee 100 % percent that Woodman makes the Best !

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 23 July 2023

Lovely garden and drinks, but food extremely overpriced. Priced as a top restaurant, but food bland and without sufficient accompaniments with basic presentation.

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 21 July 2023

Long time visitors to the Woodman, unfortunately today was not one of the best. We (2 of us) arrived just before 1:30. Was seated and ordered drinks. When drinks arrived promptly we made our food order for starters and mains. Starters arrived shortly after and...were delicious. However once we finished our starters mains were nowhere in sight. After nearly an hour we enquired about our mains and were told ‘we’ve been very busy’. Nearly 10 mins later they arrived. My mash was cold with lumps in, my veg (which is usually excellent here) were tepid. My pie filling was piping hot although the topping was overdone and had gravy poured over it - not to everyone liking. Wife’s fish was tepid likewise the crushed potatoes and veg. Poached egg was fine! It would appear we’d been forgotten. The fact no one enquired whether we’d enjoyed the food was equally disappointing. The staff were generally very good. We’ll visit again and then decide whether it’s worth preserving with. We’ve started to visit the nearby Rabbits, which is very good, so whilst we have a sense of loyalty to the Woodman we won’t ignore any shortcomings such as todays.More

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 21 July 2023

We have been to The Woodman many many times - pre & post covid, and have always had a good experience. Sadly, today was not one of those times! It started off well with the starters, but after that it all went wrong. After waiting...over an hour for the mains - with no staff coming to our table to explain the delay, I finally asked where they were. There was a look of panic, as it was obvious we had been forgotten (all we saw was desserts coming out of kitchen). When we finally got the meals, they were disappointing to say the least. Both were tepid and, in my husband's case, the pie crust was burnt, the mash lumpy & the veg cold! My fish (haddock, on the "specials"), was rubbery, the crushed potatoes tepid. The only 'good' bit was the poached egg - obviously just cooked. Tbh, we only ate it - as we were so hungry by this point!! The staff knew we weren't happy, as no-one asked us if everything was ok, especially when paying?? I didn't leave a tip (as would normally do), and the only reason I paid the whole amount was because we had had better times on previous occasions! VERY very unhappy!More

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 12 July 2023

lovely historic building. Great Location and great views with outside space. This place is a good all-rounder with a great British menu with a good variety. The staff are friendly and accommodating.

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 9 July 2023

Horrible fish and chips bones in fish chips and peas hard Lovely setting great service shame about fish and chips

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 7 June 2023

Wonderful staff with food that’s so good the views from the garden are so pretty and relaxing there is a menu with lots of choice with specials that change daily

Date of visit: June 2023
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 11 May 2023 via mobile

Been here a few times, drinks, lunch and dinner. We came on a Thursday and were lucky to get a table. Apart from the main menu there were several specials. The staff are friendly, happy to chat and happy to accommodate requests with food orders....We had the pie, lamb and mint, the meat was full of flavour and tender, the pastry is outstanding, veg perfectly cooked. I had chicken stuffed with Brie wrapped in pancetta which was gorgeous. They even accommodated a cheese board for my anti dessert partner. Can’t wait to come backMore

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 29 April 2023

Fantastic food, fantastic service. Very tasty food, good quality, Will certainly go back without a doubt. Price is OK for the amount of food and the quality. Highly recommend.

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?4  
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.
Reviewed 9 April 2023

Probably the worst Sunday lunch I have ever had. I could not even have told you the lamb was lamb, it was so tasteless and very fatty and gristly, also stone cold. 2 measly potatoes and a bit of veg plus a nice Yorkshire. The...worst thing was this cost £18 per person. Cauliflower cheese cost £4.50 per small portion and there was hardly any cheese if any in it. Shame because they have a lovely garden and a nice setting inside, just very overpriced for what it was. Unfortunately do not recommend.More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 6 March 2023 via mobile

Visited this venue for an event evening where they had Fil Straughn singing. We had a lovely table with very efficient staff looking after us. The drinks flowed quickly even though the venue was full and the food was very good! The whole evening was...excellent and I would highly recommend this venue if you are lucky enough to get a table. Enjoy Guys!More

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 27 January 2023

Went for lunch with her indoors and some other nom de plumes who ,like ourselves have eaten at the best of London's eaterys, my ,my what a pleasant surprise to find this little gem right here in river city.would highly recommend this atmospheric tavern ,small...select menu and wine list but seems about right .More

Date of visit: January 2023
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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.
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Questions & Answers
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shelagh p
16 October 2017|
AnswerShow all 3 answers
Response from steve d | Reviewed this property |
look up the woodman on restaurants, then click on write a review shelagh.
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Ray F
31 August 2015|
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Response from F3298GUkareng | Reviewed this property |
Hi are you referring to the Louis imperial hotel in Cyprus if so you do not have to hire any towels you are given them for a small deposit when you arrive and you can have them changed every couple of days hope this helps
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THE WOODMAN, Chipping Ongar - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Woodman

The Woodman is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 3.5
  • Atmosphere: 4