Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-award-winning-pubs-for-your-radar">Award-winning pubs for your radar</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/ButcombeVictoria-16-scaled-1-e1712754136472.jpg" alt="The Victoria Arms Old Marston" class="wp-image-158979"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Victoria Arms, Old Marston</figcaption></figure>



<p>Not one but two local boozers have been crowned county winners in this year&#8217;s National Pub &amp; Bar Awards – round of applause, please, for riverside gem <a href="https://www.thejourneymangx.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>The Victoria Arms</strong></a> in Old Marston and <a href="https://www.thejourneymangx.co.uk"><strong>The Journeyman</strong></a> in Gerrard&#8217;s Cross! Part of a 94-strong list of pubs and bars across the UK to receive the honour, both pubs will battle it out for regional titles and coveted gongs like &#8216;national pub and bar of the year&#8217; among other prestigious prizes at a bougie awards ceremony in June. Best of luck.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coming-soon">Coming soon</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Six-By-Nico-Westgate-Oxford-CGI-2560x1440px-WEB.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-159100" style="aspect-ratio:1.7772511848341233;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Six-By-Nico-Westgate-Oxford-CGI-2560x1440px-WEB.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Six-By-Nico-Westgate-Oxford-CGI-2560x1440px-WEB-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Six-By-Nico-Westgate-Oxford-CGI-2560x1440px-WEB-1000x563.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Six-By-Nico-Westgate-Oxford-CGI-2560x1440px-WEB-400x225.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Restaurant group <strong>Six by Nico</strong> launches at Westgate Oxford on Weds 22 May, its fifteenth restaurant across the UK. There are two in London but the others are Birmingham and north from there, so you may not have come across them. It&#8217;s a clever concept, an affordable six-course tasting menu (£50pp) that changes every six weeks, with the option to also choose wine pairings (£30pp). The main dining area will have 64 covers, with an additional private dining space for 12 and a terrace. Looks pretty natty and we&#8217;ll be the first to report back on whether the reality meets the hype.</p>



<p>Another small quality restaurant chain coming our way is Italian specialists <a href="https://piccolinorestaurants.com/henley-vinyl/"><strong>Piccolino</strong></a>, pitching up in Henley Marketplace from June. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="800" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/418961768_1132177244772544_7857899873831651438_n-800x1000.jpg" alt="Piccolino Henley Marketplace new Italian restaurant" class="wp-image-158788" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/418961768_1132177244772544_7857899873831651438_n-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/418961768_1132177244772544_7857899873831651438_n-640x800.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/418961768_1132177244772544_7857899873831651438_n-320x400.jpg 320w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/418961768_1132177244772544_7857899873831651438_n.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure>



<p>The 140 cover, 5,000 square-foot, Grade II listed venue with pretty patio for summer suppers is the recent recipient of a whopping £2million refurb and will be the chains 20th restaurant. Serving up Italian specialities &#8211; hello lobster linguine &#8211; and a fab cocktail menu to boot. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-they-re-baaaack">They&#8217;re baaaack!</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/3/2024/04/350142621_834528054968100_2488034699488124078_n.jpg" alt="Kelmscott Manor house and garden" class="wp-image-158764" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/350142621_834528054968100_2488034699488124078_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/350142621_834528054968100_2488034699488124078_n-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/350142621_834528054968100_2488034699488124078_n-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/350142621_834528054968100_2488034699488124078_n-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>William Morris&#8217; old stomping ground, <strong><a href="https://kelmscottmanor.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kelmscott Manor</a></strong> is officially open for visitors this year. Along with having a nose round the 400-year-old property, beautiful gardens and seeing where much of Morris&#8217; magic happened, there will also be plenty of free creative/crafty events for visitors to turn their hand at as well as seeing what this year&#8217;s artist in residence, the illustrator Sarah Davis, has been up to. As ever, a gorgeous day out. <em>Open Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm until Sat 26 Oct, tickets from £15.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="837" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Waddesdon-wedding-cake-1000x837.jpg" alt="Waddesdon Manor cake sculpture" class="wp-image-149247"/></figure>



<p>If you missed Joanna Vasquez&#8217;s giant wedding cake sculpture at <a href="https://waddesdon.org.uk/whats-on/wedding-cake-tours/">Waddesdon Mano</a><a href="https://waddesdon.org.uk/your-visit/gardens/wedding-cake-at-waddesdon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">r</a> last year, now’s your chance to get a slice. Since its launch last summer, the 12m high ceramic cake has been the subject of many-a-Insta pic and it’s back from <strong>Wed 10 Apr </strong>with 45 min guided tours including a Water Garden visit (tickets for adult members are £15), plus afternoon free-flow tours if you’d rather take a quick stroll around the pavilion (for £7.50). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-openings">New openings</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="949" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/424826293_884820113644380_5816382648183405114_n-949x1000.jpg" alt="Ox Club Watlington" class="wp-image-158773" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/424826293_884820113644380_5816382648183405114_n-949x1000.jpg 949w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/424826293_884820113644380_5816382648183405114_n-759x800.jpg 759w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/424826293_884820113644380_5816382648183405114_n-380x400.jpg 380w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/424826293_884820113644380_5816382648183405114_n.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 949px) 100vw, 949px" /></figure>



<p>Wake up and smell the locally sourced coffee at new brunch and brew bar, <a href="https://theoxclub.co.uk">Ox Club</a> in Watlington. Now occupying the spot left behind by Orange Bakery, the café is open daily serving a mouthwatering selection of toasties, bakes, cakes and drinks using local producers (hello Routes Coffee and The Natural Bread Company).</p>



<p>And family favourite adventure playground, <strong>Ropes on The Rye </strong>has&nbsp;just reopened in <strong>High Wycombe</strong> after an extensive refurb. Following two months worth of work making the space bigger, better and more accessible for all, kids big and small can enjoy a castle-like multi-play unit, a mini space net, a track ride tower and a &#8216;cocowave&#8217; swing, all made from partially recycled materials. Eco creds <em>and</em> tires out the kids. Winning! For more playground fun, <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/for-kids/best-adventure-playgrounds-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/">here&#8217;s </a>where else the kids can make like Tarzan locally. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-on-the-move"> On the move</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/8-1.jpg" alt="Pit Kitchen Chipping Norton" class="wp-image-158794" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/8-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/8-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/8-1-400x300.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Favourite foodie pop-up, <strong><a href="https://www.pitkitchen.co.uk/opening-party-24">Pit Kitchen</a></strong>, is on the move and it looks set to be bigger, better, tastier and more accessible than ever &#8211; hurrah! A summer street food staple at the Cornwell Estate nr Chipping Norton since 2021, Pit Kitchen will this year be found at Todenham Manor Farm&#8217;s former piggery with enough space undercover (take that summer showers) to cater for up to 100 and overlooking a wild meadow. Food wise, expect the same lip-smacking Middle Eastern flavours on the menu that you&#8217;ve been craving for the last six months. Opening officially from Wed 8 May with a few tickets left for the bank holiday pre-launch party available <a href="https://www.pitkitchen.co.uk/opening-party-24">here</a>, and, come October when the the Pit Kitchen usually hangs up its tongs, it will run as a takeaway and event caterer. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sad-goodbyes">Sad goodbyes</h2>



<p>Art lovers shed a tear – <a href="https://www.artistryhenley.com">Henley&#8217;s Artistry Gallery and Picture Framing</a> is sadly closing its doors on Fri 10 May. It&#8217;s not all bad news, owners, artist Sarah Pye and framer Kevin Woods, will continue to work from their own local studios however we&#8217;ll particularly miss Artisty&#8217;s jolly window displays brightening up Reading Road.</p>



<p>The Resolute Café in Marlowe&#8217;s Higginson Park has also confirmed its official closure this week too despite not re-opening after Christmas. There was hope it would resume caffeinating the public again, but sadly this is not the case and though no news yet as to what will take over the coveted spot we’ll keep our ear to the ground.</p>


News coming in hot with the latest openings (and sad closures)

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