Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-padel-into-the-beckham-set">PADEL INTO THE BECKHAM SET</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="691" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SOHOFARMHOUSE-1.jpg" alt="Soho Farmhouse" class="wp-image-185580" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SOHOFARMHOUSE-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SOHOFARMHOUSE-1-800x553.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SOHOFARMHOUSE-1-400x276.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Want to bump into the Beckhams this summer? Here&#8217;s a game-plan: trot along to members&#8217; club Soho Farmhouse, a mere stone&#8217;s throw from the Beckhams&#8217; £12million Cotswolds pile (complete with Estonian igloo), and book in for a session on the padel courts. When he&#8217;s not tending to his bees, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidbeckham/p/CNGrpFJBxaq/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dave&#8217;s a big fan of padel</a> – and Soho Farmhouse seems pretty convinced by this uber-chic racket sport <em>du jou</em>r too. It&#8217;s applied to build three new padel courts, and it looks like two boring old tennis courts will have to make way in the process. Plans are also afoot down on the farm to upgrade the riding stables and build a new swimming pool, with more changing facilities for children under 16. Seriously, you&#8217;ll have to tear us away if Soho Farmhouse gets any more hot to trot. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stage-set-for-supergrass">STAGE SET FOR SUPERGRASS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="956" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SupergrassatWadham.jpg" alt="Supergrass at Wadham College, Oxford" class="wp-image-185359" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SupergrassatWadham.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SupergrassatWadham-800x765.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/SupergrassatWadham-400x382.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supergrass at Wadham College, Oxford, in 1995. Credit: @supergrasshq and Greg Allen</figcaption></figure>



<p>Alright! We&#8217;re buzzing because our home-grown Oxford rockers Supergrass are playing Glasto this summer. We&#8217;ve been fans of Gaz, Rob, Mick and Danny for longer than we care to remember, so we&#8217;re sorely tempted to pitch up IRL at Worthy Farm this summer to hear all the hits from their Britpop heyday. The Fab Four hail from East Oxford (they met at Wheatley Park School, but – fun fact – Danny Goffey was born in Eton in Berks before moving to Oxon). Now on their 30th anniversary tour (how time flies), I dug out this 1995 photo of the band on the steps of Wadham College, Oxford, as a memento of their fresher-faced selves. I Should Coco! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bank-holiday-bender">BANK HOLIDAY BENDER</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="985" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/alexjames.jpg" alt="Alex James Blur" class="wp-image-185363" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/alexjames.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/alexjames-800x788.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/alexjames-400x394.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>In other local festival news, the <a href="https://bigfeastival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Feastival</a>&nbsp;on Alex James&#8217; Cotswolds farm has unveiled the line-up for its 22-25 August shindig – and the Blur bassist will finally take to the stage. No Blur reunion down on the farm, alas, because he&#8217;ll be performing Britpop classics with a live orchestra and (mystery) special guests. Also on the bill is Faithless, Nelly Furtado, and Travis. <a href="https://bigfeastival.com/tickets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book here</a> for a Bank Holiday weekend knees-up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-three-tuns-is-shipshape">THE THREE TUNS IS SHIPSHAPE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="875" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/THETHREETUNS-875x1000.jpg" alt="The Three Tuns Henley" class="wp-image-185446" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/THETHREETUNS-875x1000.jpg 875w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/THETHREETUNS-700x800.jpg 700w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/THETHREETUNS-350x400.jpg 350w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/THETHREETUNS.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 875px) 100vw, 875px" /></figure>



<p>Restaurateur Nigel Sutcliffe, co-owner of The Oarsman gastropub in Marlow, has his fingers in many pies. He&#8217;s teamed up with Barry Wagner of Henley butcher Gabriel Machin to buy Henley&#8217;s historic watering hole The Three Tuns. The part-13th century pub is being given some TLC and will re-open in May after a refurb, run by a team from The Oarsman and with its exec chef Scott Smith overseeing the menu. We&#8217;re huge fans of this Marlow gastropub, so we reckon The Three Tuns will be quite a catch too. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thethreetunshenley/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stay tuned on their socials</a> for the big opening day. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oak-restaurant-takes-root">OAK RESTAURANT TAKES ROOT</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/3/2025/03/OAKROOM1.jpg" alt="Oak restaurant Crazy Bear Stadhampton" class="wp-image-185037" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM1-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Here&#8217;s another hot Oxfordshire foodie spot for your wish list: The Crazy Bear has opened its new <a href="https://crazybeargroup.co.uk/oak/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oak restaurant</a> at its Stadhampton hotel. It&#8217;s a bells-and-whistles relaunch of its fine dining offering, with hot chef Callum Holyland, most recently top dog at Norfolk gastropub The Ingham Swan, installed as head chef to deliver a seasonal, locally sourced modern British menu with a modern flair.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM3.jpg" alt="oak restaurant crazy bear" class="wp-image-185039" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM3-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM3-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/OAKROOM3-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><em>Comme boisson</em>? Enter seasoned sommelier Shaun Corrigan, who&#8217;s been busy sourcing high-quality, small-production wines that rival the best in the world – with a nod to the best-in-class UK winemakers too.&nbsp;After a complete refurb of the space that was previously the English Restaurant, we&#8217;re excited to trot along to Stadhampton. And if you live in Oxfordshire, there&#8217;s a tasty introductory offer. Providing at least one diner has an OX postcode, there&#8217;s 50% off the food bill for lunch and dinner bookings between Tue and Thu in March. Michelin-standard cooking and a killer wine list? <a href="https://crazybeargroup.co.uk/oak/">Book your table</a> presto! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-take-two-for-oxford-dining">TAKE TWO FOR OXFORD DINING</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/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-03T121944.023.jpg" alt="Ox Two Summertown wine bar and small plates" class="wp-image-184732" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-03T121944.023.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-03T121944.023-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-03T121944.023-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-03T121944.023-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Just when you thought the Summertown dining scene had never looked so good, in comes news of a new venue to get your teeth into. The wrappers came off small plates and wine bar venue <a href="http://www.oxtwo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OXTWO</a> on Sat 1 March and it&#8217;s looking hot-to-trot. What else would you expect from the love child of Back Lane Tavern and Duke of Marlborough, plus Grape Minds and Summertown Wine Bar (OXTWO is replacing SWB).</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/3/2025/03/Snapinsta.app_476238509_17855692761369712_3772459225492172252_n_1080.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-185033" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Snapinsta.app_476238509_17855692761369712_3772459225492172252_n_1080.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Snapinsta.app_476238509_17855692761369712_3772459225492172252_n_1080-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Snapinsta.app_476238509_17855692761369712_3772459225492172252_n_1080-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Snapinsta.app_476238509_17855692761369712_3772459225492172252_n_1080-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cornish black bream, sobrasada picante, Fowey mussels, lovage, and monks beard.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Conceived over a glass of wine last year (we like their style), the team have set out to create a place you&#8217;ll keep returning to for its small plates, Sunday roasts, or just a drink – it works equally well for quick bites or long boozy lunches. Exec chef Johnny Parke&#8217;s food centres largely on British ingredients with flair – think Cotswold lamb taco, chimichurri, avocado, anchovy sauce or early season asparagus, confit egg yolk, and duck ham. Yum. Plus there’s kids’ plates and vegan options.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oxtwo.co.uk/reservations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nab a table</a>&nbsp;while you still can.</p>


Newsflash! Celebs on the scene and chic new foodie spots

You may also like