Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-plates">Hot plates</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/437671620_17867623956098935_1659971441344172959_n-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Restaurant Dominic Chapman" class="wp-image-160913" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/437671620_17867623956098935_1659971441344172959_n-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/437671620_17867623956098935_1659971441344172959_n-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/437671620_17867623956098935_1659971441344172959_n-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/437671620_17867623956098935_1659971441344172959_n-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/437671620_17867623956098935_1659971441344172959_n.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Theresa May and Dominic Chapman. Credit: @restaurantdominicchapman</figcaption></figure>



<p>Superchef Dominic Chapman spins a lot of plates. As well as popping up on <em>Great British Menu</em>, Muddy readers will know him from his fabulous cooking at a string of local gastropubs – most recently The Beehive in White Waltham (recently sold, sob) and The Crown in Burchetts Green.</p>



<p>Now Chapman is catch of the day at The Relais hotel in Henley. They’re so chuffed he’s their new head chef that its former restaurant, called The Clipper, has been rebranded to Restaurant Dominic Chapman. His first ‘name-above-the-door’ joint opened on Monday (hurray!) – so <a href="https://restaurantdominicchapman.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">book here for a helping of his classic, uncomplicated British cooking</a>. Starters from £8.50 (unless you go for the Lobster Thermidor) and mains from £24. Former PM Theresa May has already been given the VIP treatment, so you&#8217;ll have to form an orderly queue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-page-turner">Page turner</h2>



<p>Welcome to Henley, Richard Madeley! The silky smooth TV host (and one half of the Richard &amp; Judy Book Club) has been scribbling away on his latest bestseller, a thriller called <em>Father’s Day</em> – and he’s making his debut at the Henley Literary Festival to get the word out. That starts in late September, obvs, but you can catch Richard sooner than that because he’s doing a pop-up reader event on 6 June at Henley&#8217;s Christ Church centre. We’re sure he’ll sign a few copies too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-don-t-rock-the-boat">Don&#8217;t rock the boat</h2>



<p>There’s a touch of showbiz in Marlow – Hollywood kingpin James Cameron (the director of <em>Titanic</em> and <em>Avatar</em>) has given two thumbs up to the plans to build a huge film studio on the edge of the town. He says it could even be the base for his new technology training centre. In the bigger picture, the greenbelt development in Little Marlow is hugely controversial and has had as many plot twists as one of Cameron’s blockbusters. We’re intrigued to see how this one plays out ahead of the planning decision later this year (and not just because we live down the road).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-swoon-bridgerton-at-cliveden">Swoon! Bridgerton at Cliveden</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/440119447_2593050020869463_3128345120164254634_n-e1714597024934-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Bridgerton Luke Newton" class="wp-image-160929" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/440119447_2593050020869463_3128345120164254634_n-e1714597024934-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/440119447_2593050020869463_3128345120164254634_n-e1714597024934-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/440119447_2593050020869463_3128345120164254634_n-e1714597024934-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/440119447_2593050020869463_3128345120164254634_n-e1714597024934-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/440119447_2593050020869463_3128345120164254634_n-e1714597024934.jpg 1037w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@lukenewtonuk</figcaption></figure>



<p>Was that <em>Bridgerton</em> actor Luke Newton we spotted at Cliveden? It surely was. Easy-on-the-eye Luke, who plays the third Bridgerton son, Colin, dropped by the Taplow stately pile for a photoshoot with BA&#8217;s <em>High Life</em> magazine to promote Season 3 of the Regency romp, which drops on 16 May. Muddy reckons our National Trust membership is worth every penny. Read <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/bridgerton-season-3-release-date-spoilers-trailer-cast-and-plot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our intel here</a> on what to expect from the sauciest <em>Bridgerton</em> yet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chip-off-the-old-block"><strong>Chip off the old block</strong></h2>



<p>Spring has sprung at the Dantzig gallery in leafy Woodstock. Its colourful new modern art exhibition even has a Freud – no, not Lucian but his artist son David McAdam Freud, whose portraiture shows he’s very much his late father’s son (even if they were estranged). David Freud’s artworks hang alongside works by Damien Hirst, David Shrigley and Sir Terry Frost.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sunday-best"><strong>Sunday best</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1450" height="860" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/NutTreeInterior-002.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-160986" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/NutTreeInterior-002.jpeg 1450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/NutTreeInterior-002-800x474.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/NutTreeInterior-002-1000x593.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/NutTreeInterior-002-400x237.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1450px) 100vw, 1450px" /></figure>



<p>Gourmands rejoice! The Michelin-starred Nut Tree Inn in Murcott (near Kidlington) is bringing back its sell-out Sundays from this weekend. Muddy’s had a squizz at the new menu, and highlights include chicken liver parfait with rhubarb gel, ballotine of Cotswolds chicken with asparagus and Madeira sauce, and chocolate soufflé with salted almond ice-cream.</p>



<p>Reckon you can push the boat – and your waistline – out even more? There’s also a seven-course tasting menu (served Monday to Saturday only) with three starters, two mains, two puddings and an optional cheese course. Tuck in!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dish-of-the-day"><strong>Dish of the day</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Hart-Street-Tavern.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-152703" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Hart-Street-Tavern.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Hart-Street-Tavern-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Hart-Street-Tavern-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Hart-Street-Tavern-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>In more foodie news (you’re welcome), Muddy hears Henley’s Hart Street Tavern is set to unveil its new menu (<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/review-hart-street-tavern-henley/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">read our latest review here</a>). It’s the first under new head chef Dom Robinson – who has not one but TWO Michelin stars. As you’d expect from someone who cooked up a storm at Bibendum in West London and The Blackbird in Newbury, it’s a cracker.</p>



<p>My spies in the kitchen tell me the menu will be finalised in the next two weeks. But as a sneak peek you can expect Dom to dish up everything from tuna tartare to miso cod and grilled steaks. <em>Comme boire</em>? Try a glass of Henley’s Kingswood Estate sparkling wine. Don’t mind if we do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-last-orders">Last orders</h2>



<p>As one door opens, another door closes. Sadly, we hear it’s last orders (for now) for The Six Bells on the village green in Warborough, after a tenancy deal with a new landlord fell through. Fingers crossed for a new owner soon.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-concert-hall-tunes-up">Concert hall tunes up</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1152" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/radcliffe-camera-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-94203" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/radcliffe-camera-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/radcliffe-camera--130x150.jpg 130w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/radcliffe-camera--260x300.jpg 260w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/radcliffe-camera--434x500.jpg 434w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Great news for classical music lovers. Construction of Oxford&#8217;s 500-seat concert hall is on track to be completed by next autumn. Its &#8216;topping out&#8217; ceremony (to mark completion of the highest point of the building) will be held on Friday 3 May. Hats off to City tycoon Stephen Schwarzman, who is donating a cool £185million to the Oxford University project on the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter. Unlike some of the university&#8217;s hallowed spaces, the world-class concert hall &#8211; plus a 250-seat theatre &#8211; will be fully open to the public. Music to our ears.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-check-it-out"><strong>Check it out</strong></h2>



<p>And finally: <a href="https://thestoreoxford.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Store Hotel in Oxford</a> will *finally* open its doors on 7 May. Sitting pretty on Broad Street in the former home of the historic Boswells department store, the 101-bedroom hotel and spa has a destination restaurant and two bars, including a rooftop terrace. We&#8217;ll report back! </p>


Newsflash! Celeb spots, Hollywood stardust and foodie finds

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