Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lights-cameras-chilterns-action">Lights, cameras, Chilterns action</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="831" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HambledenVillageStores.jpg" alt="Hambleden" class="wp-image-166273" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HambledenVillageStores.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HambledenVillageStores-800x665.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HambledenVillageStores-400x332.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@HambledenVillageStores</figcaption></figure>



<p>Picture-perfect Hambleden is a honeypot for film crews – it’s been the stage-set for everything from <em>101 Dalmatians</em> to Disney’s <em>Disenchanted</em>. Now the Bucks village is buzzing again – and this could be its most A-list moment yet. The super-showbiz crew of Emma Thompson (needs no intro after <em>Love Actually</em>), Hugh Jackman (<em>Wolverine</em>), and <em>Succession</em>’s Nicholas Braun (cousin Greg) are in the ‘hood this month to film a comedy mystery called <em>Three Bags Full</em>. In fact, it’s such a show-stopper for sleepy Hambleden that the Village Stores had to close for a day while the megastars did some acting there. Where did the locals get their Burrata, we wonder?</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/3/2024/07/HughJackman1.jpg" alt="Hugh Jackman" class="wp-image-166275" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HughJackman1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HughJackman1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HughJackman1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/HughJackman1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@thehughjackman</figcaption></figure>



<p>Between takes, the Hollywood crew have been enjoying the sights of Bucks &amp; Oxon too. Jackman was spotted by the river in Henley (okay, he posted an Insta snap to his 31 million followers) and he looked rather jolly during Regatta Week. In <em>Three Bags Full</em>, he plays an Irish shepherd (stay with us) whose flock of sheep band together to solve his untimely death before a dim-witted policeman (Braun) cracks the case. What a great showcase for the A-Team&#8217;s considerable talents; we can’t wait until this flick is released (currently early 2026). Just one question from Muddy: why didn’t they call it <em>The Ewesual Suspects</em>?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hello-new-oxon-pizza-express">Hello, new Oxon Pizza Express!</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/3/2024/07/PizzaExpress.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-166279" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PizzaExpress.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PizzaExpress-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PizzaExpress-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PizzaExpress-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@pizzaexpress</figcaption></figure>



<p>The summer holidays are upon us *yippee/groan*. So, as well as some recs for keeping the kids amused (see <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/kids-summer-holidays-whats-on-near-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our handy summer guide</a> here), you’re gonna need some options for when the food-shopping fairy hasn’t <em>quite</em> got to the supermarket and there’s nothing to eat in the house. May we suggest the new <a href="https://www.pizzaexpress.com/oxford-summertown?utm_source=listings&amp;utm_medium=Places&amp;utm_campaign=oxford-summertown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pizza Express in Oxford’s Summertown</a>? With uncanny timing, it opens its doors this weekend (that’s Sat 13 July) serving its <a href="https://www.pizzaexpress.com/oxford-summertown/restaurant-menu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spruced-up summer menu</a> at the marble tables. The fare includes Dynamite Dough Balls and various Buddha Bowls, which sound a bit healthier than pizza. Oh, and some jazzy G&amp;Ts for the grown-ups. By August, you may need one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-banksy-paints-the-town-red">&#8216;Banksy&#8217; paints the town red</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/3/2024/07/Banksy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-166282" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/Banksy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/Banksy-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/Banksy-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/Banksy-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@MyMarlow</figcaption></figure>



<p>Election day is done and dusted &#8211; obviously, Sir Keir canvassed for votes on our patch at Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C86ZNAmIkW7/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cotswold Baking</a>. But as Boris lays low in the Wallingford area (the ex-PM was last spotted in budget chain B&amp;M in Didcot), there’s a sign the times they are a-changin’ in Marlow. As Britain went to the polls on 4 July, an artwork with a decidedly political flavour appeared on the wall opposite Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School. Showing a schoolboy with the PM’s ministerial Red Box, the street art (above) is thought to be the work of the elusive Bansky. As ever, we’ll never know. But Muddy enjoyed this take on the ‘Banksy’ protest from Ed Goodall, headmaster of the super-selective secondary (the 11+ is a bunfight here). He said: “At its most critical, it could represent the middle class, privileged elite, but on the other side, it could mean young people being engaged in politics.” Talk about painting the town red.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-la-beauty-therapies-incoming">LA beauty therapies incoming</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="800" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/SomaHouse.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-166294" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/SomaHouse.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/SomaHouse-800x640.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/SomaHouse-400x320.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@somahousewellness</figcaption></figure>



<p>Back on Muddy’s terra firma – hot goss about new beauty salons – there’s a new opening in Bucks, called <a href="https://soma-house.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Soma House</a>. It’s run by Chloe&nbsp;Kempson and her mother Ann Wilton, who are open for business at a converted barn in Flackwell Heath. Chloe has spent time in LA and has been duly inspired by teachings from the land of wacky wellness, so no run-of-the-mill glow-ups here. Therapies include hyperbaric chamber sessions (breathe in pure O2 in a pressurised environment), and cryotherapy (plunge your body into extreme cold). If it’s good enough for Gwyneth and co, we say: bring it on!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-re-being-taken-for-a-ride">We&#8217;re being taken for a ride</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/3/2024/07/PuyDuFou.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-166292" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PuyDuFou.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PuyDuFou-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PuyDuFou-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/PuyDuFou-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@puydufou</figcaption></figure>



<p>Meanwhile, a top day out is zooming into view in Oxon. No, not a Sandro sale at Bicester Village, but a new theme park from French operator Puy du Fou, which reckons Cherwell is just the place for a bells-and-whistles attraction costing a cool £300 million. As well as giving the local economy a useful shot in the arm (2,000 new jobs, for starters), it’ll educate kids too, as Puy du Fou’s USP is historical-themed attractions. So, there’ll be no rides, rollercoasters, or flashing strobe lights. Boss Olivier says we can expect similar shows-slash-immersive experiences to those at its Euro parks (think Joan of Arc, the Roman Empire, and the Vikings). With a <em>Grande Bretagne</em> vibe, <em>naturellement</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-goodbye-it-s-been-brill">Goodbye &#8211; it&#8217;s been Brill</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/3/2024/07/BrillCoffee.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-166290" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/BrillCoffee.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/BrillCoffee-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/BrillCoffee-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/BrillCoffee-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@brillcoffeebucks</figcaption></figure>



<p>And finally: it’s time to say farewell to one of West Bucks’ best-loved community coffee shops. Brill Coffee is packing up its pop-up wagon in Brill, near the Oxon border, after struggling with the weather, the economy – you get the picture, it hasn’t been plain sailing. Owners Will and Maddison are moving their mobile van (she’s called Barbara) to the South coast, but they’re not going without a goodbye latte. Catch them on Fri and Sat morning at Brill’s famous old windmill (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9LHN9pqidI/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">details on their Insta here</a>). They’ll be giving weary parents a caffeine kick at Brill School’s sports day on Fri too.</p>



<p><em>Want to share any news in Bucks &amp; Oxon with our readers? Email Editor Harriet Dennys, harriet@muddystilettos.co.uk.</em></p>



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