SSSH! PENN LOCALS LIKE A QUIET LIFE

Here’s the biggest noise from Penn since Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds headlined the village knees-up PennFest last summer. Long-running plans to turn the historic Rayners House into a boutique hotel will now be discussed by top brass in Whitehall – new docs show they’ve been referred to the Secretary of State. The developers say they want to restore the Victorian country house to its former glory, creating a world-class luxury hotel with a fine dining restaurant, bistro, cookery school and wellness spa. What’s not to like? Well, a group of 40-plus locals are concerned about the size of the car-park, valet parking, solar panels and noise from outdoor entertainment held at the hotel. Watch this space!

CLARKSON’S PUB OPENS, SORT OF

Jeremy Clarkson’s new boozer, The Windmill in Asthall, ‘accidentally’ opened to coincide with the England v Spain football match last weekend, although the ‘real’ opening is chalked up for later this summer/autumn. Definitely open for business is his new cider, launching this weekend – cannily, just as Cotswolds teenagers break up from school. Hawkstone Hedgerow is a jazzy 4% ABV brew – unlike most ciders, it’s purple because Clarkson’s added blackcurrants and blueberries, picked on his farm, to the mix. According to Clarkson, it’s ‘Berry f***ing good’ – but you can make up your own mind!

TONY’S GOING FOR GOLD

The Bucks-based former Spandau Ballet singer is known to be very community minded, and we hear he’s the frontman of a campaign to re-open The Hundred of Ashendon pub. It was nominated for Best Destination Pub in the Muddy Awards in 2021, but sadly Covid wasn’t kind and it’s now been closed for over a year. The local residents (including one Muddy staffer!) have already secured levelling up funding but there’s still some way to go before it has enough funds to open. Hadley is hoping to raise £300,000 through a community share offer, meaning anyone who invests will co-own the pub. Muddy’s verdict? Gold!

OUR ‘BANKSY’ IS HERE TO STAY

An update on the ‘Banksy’ in Marlow (see here for the recap). It’s become a bit of a draw in this chichi Bucks town (the one place that doesn’t need more tourists), so in a display of community spirit, Bucks Council has said they won’t clean the street art off the wall as it’s not considered vandalism. In fact, it will stay in situ opposite Sir William Borlase Grammar School until the council bigwigs get more info on how it got there. Given Banksy’s identity has never been confirmed, Muddy reckons they could be in for a wait.

CURTAINS FOR COS

Oxford’s Westgate has lost its COS. Bummer. Yes, H&M’s more sophisticated sister brand is gone for good – so you’ll have to head to COS at Bicester Village to get your mid-price Scandi fix. Oh, that seems to have closed too. Cos.com it is then.

Want to share any news in Bucks & Oxon with our readers? Email Editor Harriet Dennys at harriet@muddystilettos.co.uk.

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Superflash! It’s all kicking off at Clarkson’s Cotswolds pub

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