If you’re angling for a proper good meal in South Oxon, head over to Mapledurham (near the Berks border) to this cracking family pub: The Pack Saddle. It’s fine dining in an unfussy environment, and it makes wonderful use of local ingredients. In fact: make that extremely local, since a lot of what’s served is made from produce grown in the pub’s own community garden. Ain’t that charming?

There’s an A La Carte menu of modern British cuisine, full of punchy flavours, and a more casual but equally delicious Bar menu — loaded hotdog, anyone?

The vibe in the winter is cosy thanks to a proper roaring fire, and in the summer there’s a spacious garden with benches. The bar stocks various local ales, beers and wines, as well as a hefty selection of gins, to keep everyone appropriately buzzy.