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Renovated Cotswolds pub in 17th century bakery is hidden gem

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Having initially opened earlier this year, the watering hole has undergone recent renovations and is now very much a hidden gem out in the countryside.

Set in a 17th-century former bakery overlooking the village green, its red-brick frontage welcomes in weary travellers and locals alike.

It is now a full-scale dining operation with around 80 covers, a central bar, private dining spaces and nine bedrooms dotted between the main building and newly built cabins.

READ MORE: Inside sleek and stylish BULL hotel in heart of landmark Cotswolds town

Outside The Norman Knight pub. (Image: Newsquest)

Inside, some of the fabric of the old building remains with low ceilings, beams and a traditional bar, but the overall impression is of a polished, modern country inn.

For Oxford readers, it is a day trip out, being close enough for a leisurely drive but also distant enough that you feel you have escaped the ring road and the tourists.

On the food front, the team runs a monthly changing menu that leans into the seasons, with a concise list of British dishes and some European touches.

I visited over the weekend on what was a sweltering Saturday ahead of the much-anticipated England match.

READ MORE: TV legend ‘heartbroken’ to leave £4m home in Cotswolds after 40 years

A pint of the Mallorca beer, Rosa Blanca. (Image: Newsquest)

I started with a mushroom parfait on sourdough toast, which was smooth and deeply savoury, making for a rich treat to open with.

The parfait itself had plenty of earthy flavour without being heavy, and the sourdough brought the right amount of chew and crunch.

Steak and fries for the main felt like a good test of how seriously a kitchen takes the basics, and The Norman Knight passed with flying colours.

The steak was cooked exactly as ordered, medium rare, and had been properly rested, and was crucially still juicy when sliced into.

READ MORE: Inside best pub in whole UK nestled in Cotswolds celebrity hotspot

The mushroom parfait with sourdough toast. (Image: Newsquest)

Accompanying the meat, the fries were crisp, hot and, if I’m being honest, a real highlight of the afternoon.

It’s easy to overlook something as simple as chips, but these were golden in colour and quality.

Dessert kept up the standard as I opted for a chocolate tarte with honeycomb pieces and raspberry sorbet.

It may sound like a dish wish is in danger of veering into sugar overload, but the smaller portion made sure it was all in balance.

READ MORE: Inside refurbished Cotswolds country pub with enticing new menu

The steak and fries. (Image: Newsquest)

The tarte was rich and glossy; the honeycomb brought a satisfying crunch and burnt-sugar edge.

Thankfully, the raspberry sorbet cut through it all with a sharpness that stopped the dish from becoming cloying, especially welcome on such a hot afternoon.

Drinks-wise, a couple of pints of Rosa Blanca, a Spanish lager from Mallorca, turned out to be an ideal choice for the weather.

Light, cold and clean-tasting, it had that easy-drinking quality that will be familiar to anyone who has tried Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager.

READ MORE: Richard Hammond sets record straight after being banned from Cotswolds pub

The Norman Knight pub in the Cotswolds. (Image: Newsquest)

For those who like the Cotswolds-brewed beer but fancy something with a slightly more Mediterranean accent, Rosa Blanca is a very close cousin.

Service over the course of the meal was attentive and friendly, with our waitress on hand to help with any queries or requests.

The pub’s position, right by the village green, only adds to the appeal once you step outside after lunch.

There are certainly closer country pubs to the city, and The Norman Knight will ask a bit more of you in terms of petrol and planning than a quick dash more locally.

But with excellent food, lovely staff, and stunning surroundings, it more than earns its status as a destination pub worth the trip.





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Bake Off’s Prue Leith scared for son’s life amid murder probe

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Dame Prue, who lives in Moreton-in-Marsh just over the Oxfordshire border, is most famous for judging Channel 4 show The Great British Bake Off, appearing alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood for nine series.

The 86-year-old joined the series in 2017, replacing Henley resident Dame Mary Berry when it moved from the BBC, but in January this year announced she was bowing out of the Bake Off.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson issues warning to public ahead of Cotswolds pub event

Even so, she has continued to be featured in the media, with her latest appearance concerning her son Danny Kruger, an MP for Reform UK.

Speaking to Times Radio this week, Dame Prue said she was “worrying” about him in the wake of the death of Ann Widdecombe.

Danny Kruger MP (Image: Victoria Jones/PA)

Ms Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday, July 9, at her home in Devon with police having since arrested a 28-year-old man in Rotherham on suspicion of her murder.

The former Conservative minister joined Reform UK in 2019, the same party that Mr Kruger defected to in September 2025, with the party since pushing for more money to be spent on security for MPs.

READ MORE: Sara Cox’s BBC salary revealed amid £430,000 UK charity collapse

Speaking to Times Radio, Dame Prue said: “I haven’t even rung him [her son] up about it because I don’t want him…having to add to the worry the fact that his mother is worrying.”

She added: “Honestly, I think the government will do everything it can to protect MPs and there are dangers in every walk of life and this is one that MPs have to have in the back of their minds.

“But I think it is scary.”





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Oxfordshire future in in limbo as major decision due

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The national government’s reorganisation of local authorities is set to see a new unitary council or councils created – abolishing those which currently run Oxfordshire, its city and districts.

To meet its own timetable for the change, the Government must announce its decision tomorrow, Thursday, July 16.

It had been suggested by the county highway repairs boss and former leader Liz Leffman that the choice would have been shared today, July 15.

(Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

However, at the time of writing, this has not been revealed.

A spokesperson for the city council said they had “not heard anything” on the choice, concluding that it will therefore be shared tomorrow.

There are three options on the table for the authority or authorities which will replace Oxfordshire’s councils in April 2028.

These are for one, two or three new unitary councils – the options for multiple authorities would also include West Berkshire.

Rumours from Westminster that the Labour government will choose to go with the Labour-run Oxford City Council’s proposal for local government reorganisation – Calum Miller, the Lib Dem MP for Bicester and Woodstock, told Parliament that people in his constituency are “concerned” about this.

He was questioning the English devolution minister, Alison McGovern, who said she is “sticking to” a process already set out by the Government and that announcements will be made “this week”.





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England vs Argentina: Oxford couple divided over World Cup

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Matthew Newman and Romina Ledesma, who have been together for five years and live in Little Milton, will be backing different sides as England face Argentina in a high-stakes match on the world stage.

Mr Newman, a passionate England supporter, said: “There is a lot of history between the two countries, inside and outside of football and it’s the first time I will have watched a game between the two – even better that it’s on the world stage in a semi-final of the World Cup.”

His partner, from Argentina, is just as excited.

Romi said: “It will be Leo’s first time against England so it’s a very important game for Argentina tonight as well.”

The pair have been teasing each other since the start of the tournament, fully aware that a clash between their teams was always a possibility.

Matt, who works in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, said they have exchanged ‘lots of small jokes here and there’, with “the occasional ‘It’s coming home’ mid-conversation and chats about what I’ll be doing when we win.”.

Ms Ledesma added: “We were joking about playing against each other in this World Cup at some point, but we didn’t expect that to happen, and suddenly… here we are!

“We have been teasing each other match by match, but not just each other but also with our Argentinians and English friends.”

Despite their playful rivalry, the couple agree that watching the game together might not be the best idea this time.

Matt said: “We decided it’s probably not best to watch together, especially considering it would be a little odd going together to a place full of English supporters and Romi is there on her own supporting Argentina.”

Romi said she will watch the game with her Argentinian friends.

She said: “I will be watching it with my Argentinian friends at their house, which will be super fun! I feel it would be a bit awkward watching it in any bar/pub being an Argentinian supporter.”

Football holds deep personal meaning for both fans, each convinced of their team’s chances.

Matt said: “We’ve come so close to winning things in the past couple of years, and I really do think that this time we can go all the way.

“Jude is in the form of his life and can always count on Kane to bag a goal when we need one.”

Yet Romi is equally optimistic about Argentina’s prospects.

She said: “As Argentinians, we are passionate people, and that passion shows in the way we support our teams.

“Whether it’s football, hockey, polo, Formula 1, basketball, or any other sport, we always give our full support to the athletes no matter the result.”

Each has their own score prediction, adding extra anticipation to the evening.

Matt predicts a 3-1 win for England whilst Romi reckons it will be 4-2 Argentina.

He said: “I think we have too much pace on the wings for Argentina and they play such a high line – but wouldn’t be surprised if they got a goal first – as they have players with great quality.”

Romi expects a high-scoring win for her team.

She said: “Argentina have been giving us small heart attacks in the last few matches, but I feel tonight they will be pressing and playing hard from the start.”





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