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Weddings

About

Set within a pair of beautifully converted 19th-century stone warehouses, this historic spot blends rustic charm with the laid-back elegance of a traditional English pub.

With its stunning riverside terrace and spacious beer garden, The Head of the River is perfect for informal pre-wedding gatherings, post-wedding brunches, or a relaxed wedding day celebration with friends and family. Inside, exposed brickwork, wooden beams, and cosy corners create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that’s ideal for memorable toasts and delicious food.

Our events team offers a flexible range of catering options, including pub classics, curated events menus, and versatile formats such as 3-course seated dining, buffets, canapés, bowl food, and sharing platters – all complemented by a broad selection of draught beers, wines, and cocktails.

The venue offers semi-private hire of areas both indoors and out, or for larger celebrations, why not hire out our inside bar. Whether you're planning a relaxed riverside reception or a lively get-together with your nearest and dearest, we’ll help make your event feel truly personal.

To complete your celebration, our 19 recently refurbished and stylish hotel rooms offer the perfect place to unwind, available to wedding guests at a special rate.

Head of the River is a Wedding Venues based in Oxford, Oxfordshire

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

Small hotel
Pub or restaurant
In the city

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Wedding coordinator

Other features:

Accessible facilities
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
Pet-friendly

Reviews for Head of the River

L
Laura Sent on 06/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The best anyone could ask for!

We really cannot speak highly enough of Head of the River! They were absolutely amazing from start to finish - very responsive and friendly throughout the entire booking process and the night itself. We got married at the nearby registry office and walked with our guests to the pub for a great drinks reception, buffet and party. Throughout the whole process, nothing was too much trouble for Head of the River and they went above and beyond to make our day special. They thought of every small detail and did such an amazing job of accommodating all of our crazy requests. We asked for a taco buffet station and they went out of their way to create the most amazing food. We booked up all the rooms which are also beautiful and a great place to retire to after the wedding! Also plenty of accommodation for guests nearby in central Oxford, and well connected.
We originally struggled finding the right pub venue due to usual layouts which can feel small and cramped, but this is a great pub for a wedding, with an outside terrace and an indoor area which is open plan.
A huge thanks to Kirsty and Jade who are both fantastic. Words just can’t describe how amazing this venue is and we would give a higher score if we could! Thank you!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.

Map

Folly Bridge, St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 4LB Oxford (Oxfordshire)

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