THE SMART GUIDE the landlordship of local Oxfordshire boys James Gummer and Philip Winser – also of The Pelican on Notting Hill’s All Saints Road, and formerly of New York’s Fat Radish – the Wilderness festival town’s 16th-century boozer is now all bare wood beams, natural fabrics, tan leather and open fires with Kingham). Formerly a hangout for literary types – JRR Tolkien was once a regular – expect a Grade II-listed, English Heritage approved, upper-Middle Earth Bamford makeover when The Bell reopens in 2024. In the meantime, try The Bell Inn (thebelllangford. com) at Langford, a small but com), a pub and boutique hostelry at Ramsden owned by movie producer Tim Bevan and his artist wife Amy Gadney – both village residents – who commissioned a major makeunder of the 17th-century interior by designer Nicola Harding back in 2020. Homely, warm and unpretentious, The Royal Oak is at once both a menu that is both robust excellent pub run by chef traditional and contemporary, and warming: raw beef with Tom Noest and manager an outward-looking local Gentleman’s Relish, ham Peter Creed, formerly of with five boutique lodgings hock with egg mayo, spider the famous Chequers in that feel like an overnight crab toast et al. Churchill where The Times stay at an old friend’s house. Over the road is The Bell restaurant critic tried the Book the cute table in the (thebellatcharlbury.com) – aka kitchen’s garlic, parsley and bothy, outside on the sun- The Bell at Charlbury – a bone marrow flatbread and trapping rear terrace, with 13th-century coach house declared it “not just the best its own wood-burning stove, and market pub recently mouthful of the year, but the for a cosy Sunday lunch of purchased by the ubiquitous best mouthful of my life”. Wychwood Venison Ragout Bamford (who also presides On the way back to the and Oak ale. And keep an eye over The Fox at Oddington A40, pull the Aston in at The open for David Cameron, or and The Wild Rabbit at Royal Oak (royaloakramsden. Bridget Jones, at the bar. INN STYLE The Royal Oak in Ramsden ASHLEY COOMBES (2) 20 NetJets
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