The Campaign For Real Ale in Oxfordshire has named its branch winners in each of the districts of awards including pub of the year, ahead of the competition for the overall winner.

For the second time, Wallingford High Street pub The Cross Keys has been named in the coveted awards.

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Dave Howse, joint landlord with his wife Emma, said: “It’s an amazing award, it’s the second time that we’ve done it and we managed to go through last year to win the title for the whole of Oxfordshire, so we’ll see if we can do it again this year.”

The Cross Keys in Wallingford (Image: Ed Nix)

Dave Howse and his wife Emma, joint landlords at The Cross Keys pub (Image: Ed Nix)

In the same week of the announcement, The Cross Keys’ parent group Oak Taverns, also run by Mr and Mrs Howse, was awarded the accolade of Community Pub Group of the year at the prestigious Publican Awards.

“It’s been a good week,” Mr Howse added.

The original home of Bunkfest and a dedicated year-round host of community, music and beer-led events, The Cross Keys is a local favourite in the town.

The 35-year-old is studying at Oxford University, in the city where she grew up, having opted to study a Master’s degree in creative writing in 2023.

It was announced last year that Ms Watson had switched to a DPhil while on her acting break, and she previously had studied at two local schools, the Dragon School and Headington School.

The actress is well known for her iconic role as Hermione Granger in all eight of the Harry Potter films, released from 2001 to 2011.

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Tom Felton played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

Now, a former co-star of Ms Watson’s has praised her for playing the “pivotal” role at such a young age.

Tom Felton, who played school bully and Slytherin wizard Draco Malfoy in the films, was speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast last week.

The 38-year-old said: “There’s no one that I admire more, really, considering being cast for such a now pivotal role in history.

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Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton as Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (Image: Warner Bros.)

“At the time, nine years old, not to mention the added dimension of being a young woman, a young girl going through that is another level of complexity.

“Needless to say, I can’t relate to that, and I can’t even experience it.”

Then, when speaking about his Harry Potter castmates as a group, Mr Felton added: “But, you know, I just have huge admiration for all of them.”

Church Cottage is a six-bedroom home in the idyllic village of Whitchurch near the Berkshire border.

Overlooking the historic mill pond, which adjoins the River Thames, the property has now been listed on the market with Savills for £2,250,000

Formerly two cottages dating from the 16th century, Church Cottages have been combined and transformed by the current owners to create a family home.

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The kitchen. (Image: Savills)

Since 2019, the owners have undertaken an extensive renovation, enhancing the property while aiming to retain its period charm.

The most notable transformation is the extended kitchen and dining space together with a newly constructed glass atrium, which links the main house to the annexe and brings the home elegantly into the 21st century.

Upon entering, the hallway leads to a combined dining and music room, separated by the original chimney breast.

A cosy snug with a wood-burning stove sits in one corner, while a separate cloakroom lies adjacent to the utility room.

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The living room. (Image: Savills)

To the left-hand side of the house is the recently extended kitchen.

Two full-height walls of glazing and a skylight above, flooding the room with natural light and providing views across the garden.

The kitchen is centred around an island and complemented by walnut cabinetry and base units.

Integrated appliances are all Miele-branded, including an oven, microwave, dishwasher, full-height fridge and full-height freezer, while an electric AGA with induction hob forms the centrepiece of the room.

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The dining room. (Image: Savills)

A dining area sits at the far end of the kitchen, complemented by Amtico wood-effect flooring and underfloor heating and surrounded by wall-length bifold doors that open up the dining space to the garden on two sides.

Fully exposed beams, all restored by the current owners, span the living room, and a cosy seating area has been arranged around the charming open fireplace.

French doors provide access to the garden beneath a restored timber-framed wall, and a fitted bookcase conceals hard-wired internet and television.

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One of the rooms. (Image: Savills)

A separate study with views onto the mill pond completes this original section of the house.

Also on the ground floor is a self-contained two-bedroom annexe, now connected to the main house via the striking glass atrium.

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One of the bedrooms. (Image: Savills)

The annexe comprises two well-appointed bedrooms, a practical storage cupboard and a modern family bathroom.

On the first floor are four double bedrooms and two bathrooms, with the principal bedroom enjoying views over the water and is complemented by an en suite bathroom.

The en suite is finished with a marble-effect wall and floor tiles, a walk-in shower, underfloor heating and a vanity unit.

The family bathroom features a freestanding bathtub set against a backdrop of striking criss-cross beams.

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One of the bedrooms. (Image: Savills)

The double aspect guest bedroom at the end of the house provides further striking views over the mill pond.

Church Cottage is accessed via a private road and offers ample parking with two separate driveways.

To the front of the property lies a grassed garden with river frontage, with direct access onto the mill pond and the Thames beyond.

It is common to see rare wildlife here, such as otters, kingfishers and other waterfowl.

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The gym. (Image: Savills)

A pathway leads to a handcrafted and recently restored wooden pergola, covered by a fig tree, fruiting vine and jasmine plants.

Property agent Victoria Knight, head of office at Savills in Henley, said: “Church Cottage is one of the best period renovations I have ever seen.

“An iconic family home overlooking Whitchurch’s historic mill pond, the property has been transformed by the current owners to sympathetically blend striking original features with turnkey finishes throughout.

“The most notable addition is the extended kitchen and dining space together with a newly constructed glass atrium, which links the main house to the annexe and brings the home elegantly into the 21st century.”