Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-au-revoir-le-manoir-for-now">Au revoir Le Manoir! (for now)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="625" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/Le-Manoir-House-with-lights.jpg" alt="Manoir aux quat saisons Great Milton oxfordshire news" class="wp-image-97815" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/Le-Manoir-House-with-lights.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/Le-Manoir-House-with-lights-150x94.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/Le-Manoir-House-with-lights-300x188.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/Le-Manoir-House-with-lights-720x450.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Tables at <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quatsaisons-3/">Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons </a>are like gold dust at the best of times, but you probably have a better chance at scoring Glasto 2027 tickets than nabbing a seat at <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/chef-raymond-blanc-interview/">Raymond Blanc OBE’</a>s double Michelin starred establishment before it shuts for a “visionary” refurb in Jan 2026. Perhaps Blanc has taken inspo from <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/the-house-muddy-built/">The House That Muddy Built</a>?!  Apparently Le Manoir’s accommodation, culinary experiences and garden landscaping will all be elevated before its grand reopening in summer 2027.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The 15th century jewel in Great Milton’s crown has been dazzling diners from King Charles to Lady Gaga since 1984, so it’s well due a fresh lick of paint, but it’s looking like the changes will go beyond a reno. Blanc himself will step back from his role as chef-patron into a “lifetime ambassador” position but, given the culinary legends who’ve sharpened their knives in its farm-to-table kitchens (Marco Pierre White and Heston Blumenthal, heard of those guys? ) Muddy&#8217;s rooting for Le Manoir and we have high hopes that its <em>joie de vivre</em> will come back even stronger. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyonce-s-moving-to-banbury">Beyoncé&#8217;s moving to Banbury</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="852" height="1004" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/INSTAGRAM-BEYONCE.jpg" alt="Beyonce moving to Banbury Oxfordshire news" class="wp-image-191362" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/INSTAGRAM-BEYONCE.jpg 852w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/INSTAGRAM-BEYONCE-679x800.jpg 679w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/INSTAGRAM-BEYONCE-849x1000.jpg 849w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/INSTAGRAM-BEYONCE-339x400.jpg 339w" sizes="(max-width: 852px) 100vw, 852px" /></figure>



<p>Or more specifically, Wigginton 6 miles to the southwest. B and Jay Z are about to complete on a 58-acres just outside the Oxfordshire village, a fact that Muddy reported back in June so negotiations have clearly gone well. Perhaps the <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/beyonce-guide-to-the-cotswolds/">guide to the Cotswolds</a> we made for her was the cincher? The land cost a cool £7.5 million (spare change for the Carters) and includes planning permission for a rural estate. Apparently the couple are looking to build a very zen retreat over a lake, which will be a glow-up from the single shack that’s currently onsite. Here’s hoping that Beyoncé participates in the Wigginton community bookswap or joins the village WI once she settles in – she’s already been spotted in <a href="https://www.burford.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Burford Garden Centre</a> alongside Jay Z, so she’s clearly all for mucking in. Hoedown at Bey’s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-cheese">Big Cheese</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1354" height="908" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Marcus-Brigstocke.png" alt="Marcus Brigstocke cheese tastings Bucks" class="wp-image-195444" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Marcus-Brigstocke.png 1354w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Marcus-Brigstocke-800x536.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Marcus-Brigstocke-1000x671.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Marcus-Brigstocke-400x268.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1354px) 100vw, 1354px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@marcusbrigstocke</figcaption></figure>



<p>Muddy spotted comedian Marcus Brigstocke on Wendover High Street a few weeks back when we suspect he was prepping to host his ‘Night of Music and Cheese’ with the owner of the <a href="https://2poundstreet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No2 Pound Street deli</a> James Grant, aka, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bucks_cheese_guy/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bucks Cheese Guy</a>. While the event was held last week in Chiswick, west London, Brigstocke has been running cheese tastings with his mate James for years and they’re teasing a new series called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stiff.milk/">Stiff Milk</a> &#8211; &#8220;artisan cheese meets comedy&#8221;. Gouda for them (I&#8217;ll get my coat).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ohh-la-la-c-est-bicester">Ohh la la , c&#8217;est Bicester</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1358" height="1340" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Puy-du-Fou.png" alt="Puy du Fou French park launching in Bicester Oxfordshire news" class="wp-image-195448" style="aspect-ratio:4/3;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Puy-du-Fou.png 1358w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Puy-du-Fou-800x789.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Puy-du-Fou-1000x987.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Puy-du-Fou-400x395.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1358px) 100vw, 1358px" /></figure>



<p>France’s most famous theme park (second only to Disneyland) has submitted plans to the tune of a whopping £600m to build a site just off of Junction 10 of the M40, just north of Bicester. <a href="https://www.puydufou.com/france/en/must-see-france" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puy du Fou </a>specialises in bringing history to life through immersive experiences and period villages built as they would have been back in the day – Bicester’s set to have four and there’s no cardboard backdrops or garish mascots here, just pure ye olde vibes. </p>



<p>Plans laid out to Cherwell District Council this month include three on-site hotels and 40 acres of wildflower meadow and, if approved, the build will start next year with the park opening to the public in 2029. You can bet Muddy will be there for that ribbon cutting. Park bosses also predict that Puy du Fou will give Bicester’s local economy a £500m boost and provide thousands of jobs, which surely calls for Champagne and plenty of it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sunday-roast-but-not-as-you-know-it">A Sunday roast, but not as you know it</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Kingham-Plough-dining-room-scaled.jpg" alt="The Kingham Plough dining room Sunday roasts Oxfordshire news" class="wp-image-195452" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Kingham-Plough-dining-room-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Kingham-Plough-dining-room-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Kingham-Plough-dining-room-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Kingham-Plough-dining-room-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Kingham-Plough-dining-room-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Kingham-Plough-dining-room-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<p>Preheat the oven for roast season! In fact, don’t, because baker <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/sourdough-elaine-boddy/">Elaine Boddy </a>told us that preheating is pointless, and actually <a href="https://thekinghamplough.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Kingham Plough</a> is taking care of the great Sunday roast from 28 Sept onwards anyway. The Chipping Norton local is giving the traditional meat and two veg a fresh spin: first up there’s Sri Lankan spice from Soho’s <a href="https://www.kolamba.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kolamba</a>, then on 19 Oct east London’s <a href="https://www.berberandq.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berber &amp; Q</a> will wallop your weekly joint with their signature smoky Middle Eastern flavours. Game for more? Book a table on 16 Nov for a game-focused roast with a few surprises from <a href="https://etmcollection.co.uk/venue/the-jugged-hare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Jugged Hare</a>, a Barbican pub that you’re guaranteed to leave with meat sweats, in the very best way. Each of the four course menus can be tailored to kids too – everyone down the Plough!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-beginning-to-look-a-bit-like-christmas">It&#8217;s beginning to look a bit like Christmas</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-palace-christmas-.jpg" alt="Blenheim Christmas tickets 2025 Oxfordshire news " class="wp-image-153806" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-palace-christmas-.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-palace-christmas--800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-palace-christmas--1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-palace-christmas--400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-palace-christmas--788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Well, it’s not, but tickets for <a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/christmas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas at Blenheim Palace 2025 </a>are already on sale and they’re sure to fly faster than Father Christmas himself. If you fancy tickets to the top-notch after-dark lights trail or a poke around the twinkly palace (it’s Wizard of Oz themed this year), snap them up stat and <a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/christmas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">book here</a>. </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/eat-out/spring-supper-clubs-near-me-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/">The best new season supper clubs to book in Bucks &amp; Oxon</a></li>



<li><a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/chef-raymond-blanc-interview/">Muddy meets legendary chef Raymond Blanc</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/local-producers/local-farm-cafes-restaurants-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/">Local farms serving up foodie feasts</a></li>
</ul>


Superflash news! Beyoncé’s moving in and Raymond’s doing a reno

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