Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-double-red-duke-is-on-the-move">The Double Red Duke is on the move</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/3/2025/07/Double-Red-Duke.jpg" alt="Double red duke" class="wp-image-193489" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/Double-Red-Duke.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/Double-Red-Duke-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/Double-Red-Duke-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/Double-Red-Duke-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>One of the Cotswold’s most flamboyant gastropubs is going shopping – or at least, it’s coming soon to retail mecca <a href="https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/dine/double-red-duke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Bicester Village</a>. <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-double-red-duke-near-faringdon-oxfordshire/">The Double Red Duke</a>’s signature red and white stripes will beckon shoppers’ in to chow down on the seasonal, locally sourced gourmet grub that the 17th century coaching inn’s renowned for. Cooking over flame is a Double Red Duke speciality, so expect hearty dishes straight from the embers and warm hospitality, not to mention vintage and British-made interiors curated by co-owner Georgie Pearlman. Start queuing from <strong>2 Nov</strong>; we predict it’ll be packed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sienna-miller-is-selling-up">Sienna Miller is selling up</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="745" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Sienna-Miller-cottage-West-Wycombe-1000x745.png" alt="" class="wp-image-198070" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Sienna-Miller-cottage-West-Wycombe-1000x745.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Sienna-Miller-cottage-West-Wycombe-800x596.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Sienna-Miller-cottage-West-Wycombe-400x298.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Sienna-Miller-cottage-West-Wycombe.png 1466w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: <a href="https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gblhchhes140070" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Savills</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Sienna Miller bought her idyllic thatched cottage in Toweridge on a whim, and perhaps you could too? If you have a spare £1.95m down the back of the sofa, that is. The actress is selling the Bucks countryside home she described as “a sanctuary” to <em>Architectural Digest</em> back in 2022, after two decades of inviting friends and family back to hers to frolic in the wildflower meadow and clink glasses in front of the open hearth. </p>



<p>The cottage is straight out of <em>Sleeping Beauty</em> and we can just imagine ourselves stirring a pot on the Lacanche range in the soft pink and turquoise herringbone floored kitchen before hopping in the claw-footed bath in the main bedroom. There’s a separate cottage for guests and it’s just a short hop into the chocolate box village of West Wycombe. A girl can dream. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snap-up-a-fintech-bro-haven-in-henley">Snap up a fintech bro haven in Henley</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Henley-island-for-sale-1000x666.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-198071" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Henley-island-for-sale-1000x666.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Henley-island-for-sale-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Henley-island-for-sale-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Henley-island-for-sale.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo:<a href="https://auctions.savills.co.uk/auctions/21--22-october-2025-195/hallsmead-ait-shiplake-henley-on-thames-berkshire-rg9-4bw-18826" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Savills</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Also on the market is Hallsmead Ait, a triangular wooded island on the Thames near <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/oxfordshire/henley-on-thames/">Henley.</a> There’s no dwelling to speak of, just the potential to create something meaningful along the lines of “an entrepreneur retreat” according to seller Jamie Waller, who’s quite the entrepreneur himself having founded fintech solutions companies, private equity services and a debt collection company. </p>



<p>Talking of money, the island will set you back half a mil and it goes to auction on <strong>25 Nov</strong> so mark that in your calendar if island life appeals. Waller only bought the land three years ago and has clearly been too busy boss-ing to transform it into an entrepreneur’s playground, but now’s your chance. Or simply pull up a chair and watch the boats go by, it’s your call.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-woodland-adventure-at-waddesdon">A new woodland adventure at Waddesdon</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Waddesdon-Woodland-playground.jpg" alt="Waddesdon woodland playground plans 2026" class="wp-image-198074" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Waddesdon-Woodland-playground.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Waddesdon-Woodland-playground-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Waddesdon-Woodland-playground-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Waddesdon-Woodland-playground-400x225.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Waddesdon-Woodland-playground-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The plans for Waddesdon&#8217;s new woodland playground</figcaption></figure>



<p>A new playground of a different sort is coming to <a href="https://waddesdon.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waddesdon Manor</a> in 2026. Designed to fit right in with its woodland setting, the new play area is made using natural wood and materials and designed by playground specialists TouchWood. Free to use and offering a vast array of imaginative play areas, swings, slides and climbing structures, it’ll be reached by a new accessible path and its grand opening marks a year of nature-based celebration at Waddesdon. There will be a new trail on Miss Alice’s Drive from March to tie in with the spring blossoms and an interactive tree installation taking roots in May. We’re still waiting on a date for the new playground gates to swing open, but I’ll be straight down there with my toddler as soon as they do. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-historic-oxford-cafe-closes-its-doors">A historic Oxford café closes its doors</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/vaultsandgardencafe/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1084" height="1354" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/The-Vaults-cafe.png" alt="The Vaults cafe cheese rarebit" class="wp-image-198077" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/The-Vaults-cafe.png 1084w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/The-Vaults-cafe-640x800.png 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/The-Vaults-cafe-801x1000.png 801w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/The-Vaults-cafe-320x400.png 320w" sizes="(max-width: 1084px) 100vw, 1084px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The famous Oxford cheese rarebit at The Vaults &amp; Garden, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vaultsandgardencafe/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">@thevaultsandgardencafe</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>I have fond memories of <a href="https://www.thevaultsandgarden.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Vaults</a> on Radcliffe Square in Oxford. I used to stop in with my mum on shopping sprees for steaming pots of tea and lemon drizzle cake in the grand yet cosy old church building and I hung out in the gardens with my little boy after a trip to <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-story-museum-oxford/">The Story Museum</a> this summer. Wholesome, organic fare is the order of the day and it’s a welcoming place that doesn’t charge the earth for generously portioned, homemade food. </p>



<p>I wasn’t the only one who was surprised and saddened to hear that, after two decades, owner William Pouget and his team are facing eviction following over 18 months of lengthy legal proceedings. The Vaults &amp; Garden will close by the end of the year but Pouget hopes to find a new Oxford location for his community café soon, and there’s a fundraiser open until <strong>4 Nov</strong> to support the team.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-beckhams-cotswolds-road-rage">The Beckhams Cotswolds road rage</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SOHOFARMHOUSE.jpg" alt="Soho Farmhouse members' clubs" class="wp-image-181040" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SOHOFARMHOUSE.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SOHOFARMHOUSE-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SOHOFARMHOUSE-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Soho Farmhouse</figcaption></figure>



<p>It’s not that they&#8217;re losing their cool behind the wheel of the Range Rover (although that’s a distinct possibility), more that the Beckhams’ planning permission request for a new access road to their £12m pad near Great Tew is apparently angering locals. The couple is seeking to pave over a farm track to dodge the Soho Farmhouse traffic clogging up their existing entrance, but neighbours have objected on the grounds that the new road would affect walking routes in the area. The Beckhams have now come up with a compromise linking some of the track to their current driveway so it’s in West Oxfordshire District Council’s hands. More when we have it.</p>



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



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Local goss! Big news from The Double Red Duke and Sienna Miller’s selling up

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