Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-triple-a">Triple A*</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/3/2024/03/Greyhound-Owners.jpg" alt="owners of The Greyhound" class="wp-image-189640" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Greyhound-Owners.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Greyhound-Owners-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Greyhound-Owners-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Greyhound-Owners-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The Greyhound in Beaconsfield has long been a Muddy favourite (<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-greyhound-inn-pub-restaurant-beaconsfield/">read our review here</a>) and we’re once again giving owners Daniel and Magriet and chef George a rapturous round of applause as they’ve just been awarded three AA rosettes at the 2025 AA Hospitality Awards. Their trophy cupboard’s becoming rather crowded: The Greyhound was crowned <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/">Muddy’s Best Restaurant</a> of the Year for 2025, it was AA’s Restaurant of the Year last year and they’re named as one of the top 100 romantic restaurants in the UK. The guys at Michelin also gave glowing reports. Raise a glass, then book in before the rest of the world does.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-high-end-happenings-at-le-manoir">High-end happenings at Le Manoir</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="850" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080.jpg" alt="Le Manoir" class="wp-image-163256" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080-800x680.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080-400x340.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@belmondlemanoir</figcaption></figure>



<p>We may be preparing to bid adieu to Raymond Blanc OBE’s <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/superflash-news-beyonce-oxfordshire-raymond-blanc-le-manoir/">Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons </a>when it closes for 18 months from January, but the team certainly aren’t winding down. Just last week Raymond put on a spread with the six (six!) Michelin starred chef Hélène Darroze and her team from The Connaught. The six-course tasting menu celebrated French gastronomy and seasonal ingredients, and we&#8217;re told it was sublime. Next up is a <a href="https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons/calendar-of-events" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">champagne supper with Veuve Clicquot</a> on Fri 3 October to toast the house’s seriously special Grande Dame cuvée, with a five-course autumn tasting menu designed to complement the fizz. Chef Blanc isn’t handing up his apron quite yet, and when he does we predict he’ll have a glass of Veuve in hand.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jet-off-to-the-med">Jet off to the Med</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/3/2024/05/FIVE-LITTLE-PIGS-SCOTCH-EGG-2.png" alt="Megan's brunch" class="wp-image-189221" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/FIVE-LITTLE-PIGS-SCOTCH-EGG-2.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/FIVE-LITTLE-PIGS-SCOTCH-EGG-2-800x800.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/FIVE-LITTLE-PIGS-SCOTCH-EGG-2-400x400.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/FIVE-LITTLE-PIGS-SCOTCH-EGG-2-500x500.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brunch at Megan&#8217;s</figcaption></figure>



<p>Or rather, Banbury town centre. A new Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar will open on the High St in the second week of Oct, in the former site of the Pinto Lounge. Kosk will plate up authentic mezzes and grills, house cocktails and vibes – owner Kemal Taşdoğan says it will showcase warm Turkish hospitality as soon as the doors swing open, starting with special offers to celebrate the launch. Turkish food lovers in Bucks are in luck too – you can sign up for the soft launch of eastern Mediterranean dining spot <a href="https://megans.co.uk/locations/megans-on-broadway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Megan’s on Broadway </a>in <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/buckinghamshire/beaconsfield/">Beaconsfield</a>, set to open later in 2025. Order the shakshoumi – shakshouka with halloumi. Genius.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-lights-out-and-away-we-grow">It’s lights out and away we grow</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Williams-Racecar.jpeg" alt="Wiiliams F1 racecar" class="wp-image-196383" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Williams-Racecar.jpeg 1200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Williams-Racecar-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Williams-Racecar-1000x563.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Williams-Racecar-400x225.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Williams</figcaption></figure>



<p>For the <a href="https://www.williamsf1.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Williams F1 team</a> at least, which is expanding its Grove HQ near Wantage to make room for a state-of-the-art testing and training facility as well as a shiny new factory and staff facilities. The glow-up is expected to create 300 new jobs in the area and reflects the fact that Williams are racing up the leaderboard. Pass the magnum.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinton-pugh-s-painting-sale">Clinton Pugh’s painting sale</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGDg4xdv49P/?hl=en"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="986" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Sacha-Jafri-The-Fluidity-of-Love.png" alt="Sacha Jafri The Fluidity of Love" class="wp-image-196384" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Sacha-Jafri-The-Fluidity-of-Love.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Sacha-Jafri-The-Fluidity-of-Love-800x789.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Sacha-Jafri-The-Fluidity-of-Love-400x394.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGDg4xdv49P/?hl=en">@sachajafri, <em>The Fluidity of Love</em></a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Clinton Pugh, Oxford restaurateur and father to actress Florence, has announced that he’s selling some pretty spendy artwork this week to counter financial losses after closing his venues in the city. Formerly purveyor of much-loved The Lemon Tree and Café Coco, Pugh sold his last remaining restaurant, Kazbar on Cowley Road, in May. He blamed the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Oxford for the decrease in footfall and is now selling his prized paintings by one of the world’s most expensive artists, and former Oxford resident, Sacha Jafri. Given that Jafri’s <em>The Journey of Humanity</em> sold at a charity auction for $62 million in 2021, Pugh should be quids in.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-location-location-location">Location, Location, Location</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="2560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Centre-of-Wendover-scaled.jpg" alt="Wendover centre" class="wp-image-196400" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Centre-of-Wendover-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Centre-of-Wendover-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Centre-of-Wendover-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Centre-of-Wendover-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Centre-of-Wendover-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Centre-of-Wendover-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<p>I spy with my little eye…Kirsty and Phil at the end of my road. I spotted the property experts filming in Wendover last year and the <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/location-location-location/on-demand/75608-002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LLL episode</a> aired on Channel 4 last week, showing a couple around a light-filled £650k semi with “curb appeal” and an enormous garden. It was “off-patch” from their original target area of<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/buckinghamshire/marlow/"> Marlow</a> (around 16 miles away), but Kirsty and Phil were expanding the search given Marlow’s high house prices. Is Wendover the new Marlow? Better keep your eye on our 2026 <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/">Best Places to Live</a> list, launching soon.</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/superflash-news-beyonce-oxfordshire-raymond-blanc-le-manoir/">Superflash news! Beyoncé’s moving in and Raymond’s doing a reno</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/what-to-watch-on-tv-this-week-netflix-prime-bbc-sky-itv/">The must-watch list! 9 sizzling new shows coming to TV this week</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/best-tasting-menus-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/">The best tasting menus in Bucks &amp; Oxon</a></li>
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Foodie gossip! All the latest happenings across Bucks & Oxon

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