Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-six-pubs-take-the-prize">Six pubs take the prize</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Killingworth-Castle.jpg" alt="Killingworth Castle best pub list" class="wp-image-189042" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Killingworth-Castle.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Killingworth-Castle-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Killingworth-Castle-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Killingworth-Castle-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Killingworth Castle</figcaption></figure>



<p>The<a href="https://www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk/best-of/100-best-pubs-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Good Food Guide </a>released its 100 Best Pubs for 2025 list at the end of last week and there was an impressive six-pack of Bucks &amp; Oxon’s finest establishments on the list. <a href="https://www.thekillingworthcastle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Killingworth Castle </a>came in at 17th place and its top 20 billing is well deserved – it’s a Muddy favourite for a superior <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/the-best-sunday-roasts-with-all-the-trimmings-across-the-uk/">Sunday lunch</a> just a stone’s throw from Woodstock. It boasts three AA rosettes, goes big on seasonal organic fare and there are eight luxe bedrooms to crash in in the adjoining stable block if you’d like to linger longer (we’d recommend it).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/BULLPIE.jpg" alt="the bull charlbury best pub list" class="wp-image-182131" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/BULLPIE.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/BULLPIE-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/BULLPIE-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/BULLPIE-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Bull, Charlbury</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://thebullcharlbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">The Bull </a>in Charlbury also made the cut in 26th place – come for the wholesome Daylesford produce, stay for the crackling log fires and local celebs popping in for a pint (it’s a favourite of <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/property/properties-renovate-oxfordshire-cotswolds/">Ellen DeGeneres</a> and the Beckhams). Equally ‘scene-y’ is<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-double-red-duke-near-faringdon-oxfordshire/"> The Double Red Duke </a>in Bampton, in at number 41 and famous for its cooking over flame and chic yet homey British sourced interiors. Can’t bag a table at the OG? A <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-news-double-red-duke-sienna-miller-cottage/">Double Red Duke outpost </a>just opened this week at Bicester Village for a comforting taste of the Cotswolds just off the M40.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/James-KH-Exterior-High-Res.jpg" alt="White Hart Fyfield best pub list" class="wp-image-173713" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/James-KH-Exterior-High-Res.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/James-KH-Exterior-High-Res-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/James-KH-Exterior-High-Res-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/James-KH-Exterior-High-Res-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The White Hart at Fyfield, ©James King-Holmes </figcaption></figure>



<p>Sitting pretty in the middle of the rankings is <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-the-white-hart-fyfield-oxfordshire/">The White Hart at Fyfield</a>, near Abingdon. It’s in a bit of an out-of-the-way spot down a no-through road of honey stone houses, but we can vouch for its brilliance – Muddy reviewed it last year and the artful food and artisan cocktails had us at &#8216;hello&#8217; (there’s beer people, don’t panic). </p>



<p>Bringing it home for Bucks is <a href="https://www.thepilgrimpub.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pilgrim</a> in North Marston at number 75, and happily it made our<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-gastro-pubs-fire-place/"> best cosy local pubs </a>list too for its combo of warm ‘heart of the community’ vibes and stonking small plates. Did we mention the Sunday roasts are all cooked to order? That’s serious culinary dedication right there, so bravo.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/The-Greyhound-Inn-Letcombe-Regis-Oxfordshire-pub-ext.jpg" alt="The Greyhound Letcombe Regis best pub list" class="wp-image-150522" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/The-Greyhound-Inn-Letcombe-Regis-Oxfordshire-pub-ext.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/The-Greyhound-Inn-Letcombe-Regis-Oxfordshire-pub-ext-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/The-Greyhound-Inn-Letcombe-Regis-Oxfordshire-pub-ext-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/The-Greyhound-Inn-Letcombe-Regis-Oxfordshire-pub-ext-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/The-Greyhound-Inn-Letcombe-Regis-Oxfordshire-pub-ext-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Greyhound, Letcombe Regis</figcaption></figure>



<p>Also in our <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-gastro-pubs-fire-place/">cosy pubs </a>edit and approved by the Good Food Guide guys and gals in 84th place is <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/review-greyhound-letcombe-regis/">The Greyhound in Letcombe Regis</a>. The rustic 18th century inn is foodie heaven and a walker’s paradise too – it’s right by the Ridgeway. It’s their tenth anniversary so champagne corks will be rightfully popping well into the new year.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-winning-hotel">A winning hotel</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="704" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/@estellemanor-704x1000.png" alt="Estelle Manor world's best hotel list" class="wp-image-197113" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/@estellemanor-704x1000.png 704w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/@estellemanor-563x800.png 563w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/@estellemanor-282x400.png 282w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/@estellemanor.png 946w" sizes="(max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/estellemanor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">@estellemanor</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>The hospitality highs continue in West Oxfordshire – the world’s 50 best hotels list has also just been revealed and <a href="https://estellemanor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Estelle Manor </a>won a gong (the only UK hotel outside of <a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/">London</a> to do so). A new entry in <a href="http://theworlds50best.com/stories/News/the-worlds-50-best-hotels-2025-the-list.html(opens in a new tab)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">47th place</a>, the grade-II listed estate near Witney was praised for its “eccentric, rural English interiors and a buzz that feels both discreet and sociable”. We’ll see you in the members’ queue.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-raise-a-toast-to-the-artichoke">Raise a toast to the Artichoke</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT.jpg" alt="artichoke amersham 23rd birthday" class="wp-image-186745" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I can personally vouch for the fact that Michelin-starred <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/artichoke-restaurant-amersham/">Artichoke</a> in <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/buckinghamshire/amersham/">Amersham</a>’s old town puts on a superb birthday spread, so it’s only fitting that they’re toasting their own coming of age in style. To mark their 23rd this month (they don’t look a day over 20), Chef Patron <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/parenting/cooking-with-children-inspire-laurie-gear-chef-artichoke-amersham-buckinghamshire/">Laurie Gear </a>and the team are offering a complimentary glass of Hundred Hills English Sparkling Wine Preamble No2 when sampling the lunchtime or evening tasting from <strong>Weds – Fri </strong>until <strong>Fri 21 Nov,</strong> excluding Friday evening service. Just mention <a href="https://www.artichokerestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">&#8216;Artichoke 23&#8217; </a>when you book. Let the celebrations commence.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lily-collins-in-the-cotswolds">Lily Collins in the Cotswolds</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/The-Wild-Rabbit.jpg" alt="The Wild Rabbit terrace" class="wp-image-193494" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/The-Wild-Rabbit.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/The-Wild-Rabbit-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/The-Wild-Rabbit-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/The-Wild-Rabbit-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Terrace at The Wild Rabbit</figcaption></figure>



<p>Been to <a href="https://thewildrabbit.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">The Wild Rabbit</a> in Kingham lately? You may have spied actress<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQkjz1KkUG1/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Lily Collins</a> by the fire – she enjoyed a meal at Daylesford’s rustic pub near Chipping Norton before taking a tour of the The Model Village in Bourton-on-the-Water and generally living the “cosy Cotswolds” dream. Will she be the next to move in? Watch this space.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cruz-beckham-in-banbury">Cruz Beckham in Banbury</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1018" height="1360" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Cruz-Beckham-AKA-Banbury.png" alt="Cruz Beckham AKA Banbury" class="wp-image-198420" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Cruz-Beckham-AKA-Banbury.png 1018w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Cruz-Beckham-AKA-Banbury-599x800.png 599w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Cruz-Beckham-AKA-Banbury-749x1000.png 749w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Cruz-Beckham-AKA-Banbury-299x400.png 299w" sizes="(max-width: 1018px) 100vw, 1018px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alsoknownas_banbury/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">@alsoknownas_banbury</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Is Banbury the next celeb magnet? The stars don’t often venture into the market town (unless it’s a quick dash to Waitrose), but Cruz Beckham is changing all of that. The 20-year-old recently graced the stage of <a href="https://www.akabanbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AKA </a>in Parsons Street with his indie band The Breakers, on the night that their new singles ‘Optics’ and &#8216;Lick the Toad&#8217; were released. Cruz stuck around after the show for meet and greets and his taxi home won’t have cost much given that his parents Great Tew pile is just 20 mins away. The 1975 also previously played the much-loved grassroots live music venue, so perhaps Cruz will be headlining Glasto next? You saw him in Banbury first.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-news-double-red-duke-sienna-miller-cottage/">Local goss! Big news from The Double Red Duke and Sienna Miller’s selling up</a></li>



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



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-michelin-star-artichoke-restaurant-amersham-buckighamshire/">Muddy reviews Michelin-starred Artichoke restaurant, Amersham</a></li>
</ul>


Superflash! The award-winning pubs in Bucks & Oxon that everyone’s booking into

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