Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wanted-buyer-for-the-crazy-bear">WANTED! BUYER FOR THE CRAZY BEAR</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/3/2018/07/20240522-CRAZYBEAR52-copy.jpg" alt="Crazy Bear" class="wp-image-166717" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/20240522-CRAZYBEAR52-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/20240522-CRAZYBEAR52-copy-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/20240522-CRAZYBEAR52-copy-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/20240522-CRAZYBEAR52-copy-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Crazy Bear&#8217;s Beaconsfield hotel</figcaption></figure>



<p>Here at Muddy Towers we&#8217;re big fans of <a href="https://crazybeargroup.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Crazy Bear</a>&#8216;s ultra-bling boutique hotels – only last month we hotfooted it to the Beaconsfield hotel for our HQ team&#8217;s boozy Christmas lunch. But the hospitality business is a tough mistress (and it&#8217;s not cheap to maintain a drinks list with <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-the-crazy-bear-beaconsfield/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">25 types of Champers</a>), and behind the scenes The Bear&#8217;s finances have started to bite. Over Christmas it filed notice to appoint administrators, after struggling to raise cash from investors to keep the show on the road.</p>



<p>We admit, this does put a bit of a dampener on the &#8216;more is more&#8217; vibe, but the party ain&#8217;t over &#8217;til it&#8217;s over and there&#8217;s fight in The Bear yet. The team say it&#8217;s business as usual throughout the administration process, and they&#8217;re pulling out all the stops to find a buyer to take over the group. In the meantime, super-chef <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chefcarloscotto/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carlo Scotto</a>, formerly of <em>Amethyst</em> in Mayfair, is due to open a new restaurant in the Beaconsfield hotel in the Spring. We&#8217;re crossing our fingers the good times will come roaring back.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-batting-above-average">BATTING ABOVE AVERAGE</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/3/2025/01/BATANDBALL.jpg" alt="Bat &amp; Ball pub" class="wp-image-180029" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/BATANDBALL.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/BATANDBALL-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/BATANDBALL-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/BATANDBALL-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Looking for a chic new watering hole in Oxfordshire? Well, call off the search because tomorrow (Weds 8 Jan) marks the grand opening of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/batandballoxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bat &amp; Ball</a> in the lovely village of Cuddesdon, east of Oxford. It&#8217;s the second launch from hospitality entrepreneur Ben Moss, who quit a successful career in advertising to fulfill a long-held dream of opening his pub company Montgomery Group (named after his beloved dog Monty). He&#8217;s already given <a href="https://www.lambinnlittlemilton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lamb Inn</a> down the road at Little Milton a gorgeous glow-up – and, going by the first look, The Bat &amp; Ball looks equally inviting. The interiors are by Chiswick&#8217;s <a href="https://thelist.houseandgarden.com/profile/insider-dealings-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Insider Dealings</a>, with terra cotta exposed brick walls and painted beams in the main bar, and head chef Rick Owens has hopped over from the two Michelin-star Le Manoir aux Quat&#8217; Saisons to whip up lunch and dinner from Weds to Sat. Drop by for a quick pint and game of darts, or go the full Monty and stay over in one of The Bat &amp; Ball&#8217;s characterful five rooms with huuuuge beds (from £140 to £220 per night). Decisions, decisions!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jungle-drums">JUNGLE DRUMS</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/3/2025/01/FABIOANDG.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-180035" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FABIOANDG.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FABIOANDG-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FABIOANDG-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FABIOANDG-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@fabioandgrooverider</figcaption></figure>



<p>Need something to lift the January gloom? (Don&#8217;t we all!). As a klaxon of fun times to come, Bucks festival <a href="https://stowawayfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stowaway</a> has announced its first acts for this summer&#8217;s shindig from 15-17 August. Topping the bill at Blackpit Farm will be drum and bass act Fabio &amp; Grooverider (above) with The Outlook Orchestra (after <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fabioandgrooverider/reel/DAsk3_EuvYT/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rocking The Royal Albert Hall in March</a>), plus the likes of Horse Meat Disco, Seun Kuti, Anna Erhard, James Alexander Bright and Cousin Kula. Rave on! Stowaway is a family friendly festival though (read our <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on-near-me/stowaway-boutique-festival-buckinghamshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">down low here</a>), so if all that electronica sounds a bit hardcore, there&#8217;ll also be plenty of comedy, theatre and woodland yoga for a more chilled out vibe. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rum-punch">RUM PUNCH</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/3/2024/11/FRUM-RUMS.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-177142" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/FRUM-RUMS.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/FRUM-RUMS-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/FRUM-RUMS-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/FRUM-RUMS-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Muddy is all for Dry January – but, y&#8217;know, our local booze businesses have to earn their keep too. So in the spirit of supporting local enterprise, I bring you news from <a href="https://frumrumco.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fr&#8217;um Dark but Fr&#8217;iendly</a>, the Bucks-based rum brand founded by ex-Hand and Flowers bar manager Anthony Peart (Tom Kerridge is a close friend and mentor). Peart has launched <a href="https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/frum-dark-but-friendly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a crowdfunding campaign</a> to raise £10,000 to help expand his business, which makes award-winning rum (in partnership with the Henley Distillery) inspired by the heady nights and sandy shores of Jamaica. He&#8217;s got a way to go to hit the full target, so have a scrabble down the back of the sofa and <a href="https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/frum-dark-but-friendly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">donate here</a>. (Psst: if you pledge £50 or above, you&#8217;ll be entered into a prize draw to win a bottle of Fr&#8217;um Pineapple &amp; Smokey Scotch Bonnet Rum. We&#8217;ll drink to that).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-to-our-ears">MUSIC TO OUR EARS</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/3/2025/01/ARMSTRONG.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-180050" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/ARMSTRONG.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/ARMSTRONG-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/ARMSTRONG-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/ARMSTRONG-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Here&#8217;s your starter for ten. How many studio albums has Alexander Armstrong, presenter of BBC One&#8217;s quiz show <em>Pointless</em>, released?* It&#8217;s the quiz-master&#8217;s turn to be quizzed on 8 April, when our blue-blooded national treasure and Classic FM presenter will reveal all in the next instalment of <em>The Music in My Life</em> at Oxford&#8217;s Sheldonian Theatre. It&#8217;s a bit like Radio 4&#8217;s <em>Desert Island Discs</em>, but with Armstrong grilled on stage by <em>Crimewatch</em> presenter Sue Cook and each of his musical choices performed live on the night by the Orchestra of St John&#8217;s. Will Armstrong go for Bach, Beethoven – or both? <a href="https://www.osj.org.uk/osjevent/the-music-in-my-life-alexander-armstrong-with-sue-cook-7pm-live-at-sheldonian-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book here</a> to find out.</p>



<p>*Three &#8211; he&#8217;s an accomplished bass-baritone singer, obvs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-farmer-s-dog-hits-top-gear">THE FARMER&#8217;S DOG HITS TOP GEAR</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/3/2025/01/FARMERSDOG.jpg" alt="The Farmer's Dog pub Astahll" class="wp-image-180056" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FARMERSDOG.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FARMERSDOG-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FARMERSDOG-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/FARMERSDOG-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Farmer&#8217;s Dog</figcaption></figure>



<p>Jeremy Clarkson is teaching his Cotswolds pub, <a href="https://thefarmersdogpub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Farmer&#8217;s Dog</a>, some new tricks. From the New Year, his boozer near Asthall is open six days a week (from 11am to 11pm Tues to Sun), with a shorter locals&#8217; night on Mondays. It&#8217;s also started taking lunch and dinner bookings. Being the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Clarkson&#8217;s &#8216;locals&#8217; include Ellen DeGeneres, who&#8217;s recently bought a house in the &#8216;hood with Australian actress wife&nbsp;Portia de Rossi, and singers Nathalie Imbruglia and James Blunt. Pints of Hawkstone all round! </p>


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