Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fresh-chef">Fresh chef!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1042" height="1306" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Chequers-Berrick-Salome.png" alt="The Chequers Inn pub Berrick Salome" class="wp-image-200837" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Chequers-Berrick-Salome.png 1042w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Chequers-Berrick-Salome-638x800.png 638w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Chequers-Berrick-Salome-798x1000.png 798w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Chequers-Berrick-Salome-319x400.png 319w" sizes="(max-width: 1042px) 100vw, 1042px" /></figure>



<p>Not only did <a href="https://www.chequersberricksalome.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Chequers Inn</a> in Berrick Salome near Wallingford reopen with a slick new refurb and under new ownership back in November, but the team has also just announced the appointment of a new head chef. Berks boy Danny Thomas hails from Reading and spent two years under the tutelage of Gordon Ramsey at <a href="https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/maze-grill-mayfair/about/?srsltid=AfmBOor-bJj0tWWaehWDGXLANJAhWVXhtIxB7S-fp7ni7GgTUE-mWKBW" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Maze Grill in Mayfair</a>. He became head chef at <a href="https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/brsry-bristol-marriott-royal-hotel/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Marriott Hotel</a> in Bristol at just 22 and now, a decade later, he’s back in the shires and cooking up a storm. </p>



<p>His vibe is “elevated yet accessible” and his menus are short but sublime – just how we like them. His goal is to make The Chequers a real foodie hotspot. Another <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-gastro-pubs-fire-place/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosy pub in Oxfordshire </a>in which to linger away a long Sunday afternoon? They’re spoiling us. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arise-the-norman-knight">Arise, The Norman Knight</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="956" height="1194" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Norman-Knight-owners.png" alt="Matt and Katie Beamish The Norman Knight pub" class="wp-image-200820" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Norman-Knight-owners.png 956w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Norman-Knight-owners-641x800.png 641w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Norman-Knight-owners-801x1000.png 801w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/The-Norman-Knight-owners-320x400.png 320w" sizes="(max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Matt and Katie Beamish have restored The Norman Knight </figcaption></figure>



<p>Jan is a notoriously tricky time for hospitality businesses and pubs, so we’re especially joyful that there’s green shoots in local gastropub circles. Enter <a href="https://thenormanknight.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Norman Knight</a>, a boutique country pub with rooms on the Oxfordshire border in Whichford, which will open its timber doors mid-month. Headed up by the team behind the award-winning <a href="https://thekinghamplough.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kingham Plough</a>, <a href="https://crowninnenstone.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Crown Inn in Enstone</a> and <a href="https://themiltonhare.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hare</a> in Milton-under-Wychwood, The Norman Knight is all Cotswolds stone and vintage wallpaper, not to mention sensational food. Head chef Ray Pullen used to run the ship at <a href="https://thebullcharlbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bull </a>in <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/oxfordshire/charlbury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlbury</a>, so expect seasonal local produce cooked up with flair, always with a comforting spin. AKA, exactly what we fancy. See you by the fire. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fab-collab">A fab collab</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1800" height="1800" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn.jpeg" alt="The Nut Tree In Murcott " class="wp-image-200822" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn.jpeg 1800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Nut-Tree-Inn-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The dining room at The Nut Tree Inn </figcaption></figure>



<p>There’s a real treat in store at Michelin-starred <a href="https://nuttreeinn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nut Tree Inn</a> in Murcott, near Bicester, later this month. Head chef Mike North and team will play kitchen swap with culinary stars the Galvin brothers. The Nut Tree inn crew is taking a trip to <a href="https://galvinrestaurants.com/pub-restaurant-chelmsford-essex-galvin-green-man/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galvin Green Man </a>in Chelmsford earlier in the month, then the Galvins are returning the favour back in Oxfordshire on <strong>Thurs 29 Jan</strong>. It’s a meeting of some of the best Michelin minds and there’s the Galvins’ ‘beef two ways’ with truffle mash and Bordelaise sauce in it for you. January’s really not the month for lettuce after all.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hungry-for-more">HUNGRY FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-gastro-pubs-fire-place/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">27 cosy pubs for chilly days in Bucks &amp; Oxon</a></li>



<li><a href="Clodagh McKenna’s Chicken Cuddle Soup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Recipe: Clodagh McKenna’s Chicken Cuddle Soup</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/best-winter-walks-pitstops-oxfordshire-buckinghamshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">18 winter walks across Bucks &amp; Oxon with warming pitstops</a></li>
</ul>


Foodie goss! The new gastropubs to know and a Michelin-starred collab

You may also like