Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location">THE LOCATION</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1129" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-inside.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-169161" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-inside.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-inside-800x602.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-inside-1000x753.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-inside-400x301.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>To call <a href="https://www.nicholsonsgb.com/yurt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Yurt at Nicholsons</a> a garden centre cafe is a bit of a disservice. This bucolic spot in North Aston near Bicester in Oxfordshire is a Michelin-recommended eatery that’s part of a family business with a chi chi plant nursery and home/garden shop. The wider Nicholsons business also offers garden and woodland design, landscape management and environmental and ecological consultancy, which explains why the place has serious National Trust vibes &#8211; think crunchy gravel pathways, plants trailing up archways and elegant sculptures. That said, you don’t need to be green-fingered to visit &#8211; it’s one to bookmark if you’re into locally sourced, imaginative food that’s elegantly prepared and served in a gorgeous setting. So everyone, then.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1992" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-entrance.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-169162" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-entrance.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-entrance-602x800.jpg 602w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-entrance-753x1000.jpg 753w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-entrance-301x400.jpg 301w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-entrance-1157x1536.jpg 1157w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>We visited on a sunny day and the place couldn’t have been more inviting, with the pale oak picnic tables visible through arches of gorgeous scented jasmine and arranged in an arc under an arbour around the yurt. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1129" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-outside.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-169163" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-outside.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-outside-800x602.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-outside-1000x753.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-outside-400x301.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>On a sunny day, the sides of the yurt are partly removed and it has a breezy, light feel. Come winter, it&#8217;s cosy and warm for a more intimate dining feel, eating amid greenery and rattan lanterns under the glow of festoon lighting. It’s a fab spot for special occasions, with a series of private dining huts next to the yurt, all individually decorated and with cute names like The Potting Shed. It’s not pretentious here, with young, engaged and friendly waiting staff and, on the day we went, diners of all ages including families with young kids.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1992" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-shed.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-169164" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-shed.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-shed-602x800.jpg 602w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-shed-753x1000.jpg 753w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-shed-301x400.jpg 301w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-shed-1157x1536.jpg 1157w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<p>There’s a big focus on local and seasonal, with much of the ingredients sourced from The Yurt’s own kitchen garden and the rest from as close as they can get it. Even the bottled water is from Oxfordshire &#8211; Blenheim Palace’s own. We started with monkfish scampi, which had a good texture: not chewy, which is how monkfish can get if it’s cooked a second too long, but delicate and fresh, mixed with crab and coley and with a super crisp and crunchy crumb around it. The accompanying fricasse nailed the whole English summer taste with broad bean and watercress coming through nicely. </p>



<p>Mains (below) also had that fresh feel: pea shoots on pasta, microherbs here and there, and the pink and red of radish and fresh chilli. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/7-1000x667.jpg" alt="Food at The Yurt" class="wp-image-169137" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/7-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/7-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/7.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The monkfish curry of the day also nailed the cooking and was really fragrant, while the pan-roasted market fish with samphire, white bean, saffron and fennel tomato stew was a really decent portion and the tang of the sauce balanced well with the fish.</p>



<p>It’s all beautifully presented and super fresh, so you can see how The Yurt has got its accolades, but the chef isn’t precious. Families eat here and dishes can be adapted with sauces left off, smaller portions and veggie and chip sides for the ultimate back-up.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-20T140757.117-1000x667.jpg" alt="nettle ice cream" class="wp-image-169138" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-20T140757.117-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-20T140757.117-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-20T140757.117-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/Untitled-design-2024-08-20T140757.117.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Puds were great too. The nettle ice cream was a surprise hit &#8211; nice and fresh against the richness of Evesham strawberries and clotted cream. Then there was the rich and decadent dark chocolate mousse with tea-soaked prunes and sable biscuit. Definitely a dish for two to share.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



<p>Combine with some shopping on-site &#8211; either a glow-up for your borders, some snazzy new furniture for the patio, or gift shopping in the boutique, which sells locally made ceramics, bouquets of meadow flowers and gardening gear. If you’re after more garden inspo, the fabulous Rousham House and Gardens is a few minutes drive away with its river, sculptures, folly and parterre. Further south there’s Blenheim Palace of course, and 20 minutes drive away is Bicester Village, with all the retail therapy you could need.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1992" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-table-and-chairs.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-169167" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-table-and-chairs.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-table-and-chairs-602x800.jpg 602w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-table-and-chairs-753x1000.jpg 753w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-table-and-chairs-301x400.jpg 301w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/The-Yurt-at-Nicholsons-Oxfordshire-table-and-chairs-1157x1536.jpg 1157w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>A gorgeous spot, especially on a sunny day with knowledgeable and friendly staff. It nails the seasonal and local credentials with attractive and imaginative food. Even the loos are inspiring, each cubicle individually decorated with a different paint and wallpaper combo with elegant plumbing and LA Eva toiletries.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Good for: </strong>Equally great for families, groups or dining a deux, though toddlers who like to rampage will be left wanting a sandpit/playground as tempting though the arches and mature trees here are, they’re not for climbing.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> This place doesn’t have formal dining vibes so if an amuse bouche and upholstered dining chairs are what you’re after, this could feel a little rustic.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.nicholsonsgb.com/yurt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Yurt at Nicholsons</a>, North Aston, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX25 6HL. Tel: 01869 340342.</em></p>



<p>Words: Ginny Light, Associate Editor</p>


Review: The Yurt at Nicholsons

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