With its 15C origins and smartly thatched roof it looks like a typical English pub – and inside there’s a cosy beamed bar filled with locals kicking back after a day’s work – but this is no ordinary village local. Mike and Imogen bought the pub back in 2006 and have since put Murcott on the foodie map; they even grow their own vegetables out the back.
It’s a friendly, welcoming place: the rear extension has more of a restaurant feel, while the lively front bar is the place to be if you like a bit of atmosphere. You’ll always find a couple of refined pub classics on the menu but it comprises mainly of elegant, sophisticated dishes – maybe roast Orkney scallop with artichoke and cuttlefish ragout, followed by breast of Cotswold chicken with truffle farce, and then rum-soaked savarin to finish. For the full experience go for the tasting menu.