1. Five Little Pigs, Wallingford. Only opened this week, thanks to a £50,000 local kickstarter campaign. Named after former Wallingford resident Agatha Christie’s 1942 detective novel, the trio involved are locals Aimee Hunt, Rob McGregor and Sam Smith. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/new-bar-and-restaurant-five-little-pigs-to-open-in-wallingford-thanks-to-overwhelming-success-of-community-crowdfunder/

2) Kings Arms, Woodstock. Another very recent opening, the beautiful refurb job includes all the hotel rooms. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/exclusive-look-at-the-newly-refurbished-kings-arms-woodstock-which-reopened-this-week-with-a-smart-new-image-and-menu/

The new look Kings Arms

3) The Lamb, Shipton-Under-Wychwood. Sister pub to the nationally acclaimed Bell in Langford, this dilapidated village pub has been brought lovingly back to life. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/exclusive-new-pub-alert-the-winning-team-at-the-bell-in-langford-takes-on-the-lamb-in-shipton-under-wychwood/

The Lamb at Shipton-Under-Wychwood

4) Green Routes, East Oxford. The vegan and plant based cafe has already got a firm bank of fans who flocked here for takeaways during lockdown, but can now eat indoors as well. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/vegan-dream-team-why-the-succesful-plant-based-green-routes-cafe-in-east-oxford-opened-during-the-pandemic/

Pancakes at Green Routes Cafe

5) Hand and Shears, Church Hanborough. With no outdoor space, this village pub has been desperately waiting for their chance to open. Now’s your chance to try it out. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/why-taking-on-the-hand-and-shears-in-church-hanborough-during-the-pandemic-is-the-best-thing-we-ever-did/

The Hand and Shears team

6) Medley, Binsey, Oxford. Oxford’s brand new riverside bar is a beautiful spot to watch the world go by. Approached by foot or bike, it has varying top notch mobile street food vans to keep you fed as well. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/exclusive-a-sneak-preview-of-oxfords-new-riverside-bar-the-medley-which-opens-on-may-1/

The Medley views are hard to beat

7) Wilding, Little Clarendon Street, Oxford. This no expense spared site was the former Cafe Rouge and has been transformed into a hybrid eat, drink and wine space which opened this month. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/review-we-try-wilding-on-little-clarendon-street-in-oxford-which-opened-its-cafe-restaurant-bar-and-wine-shop-this-week/

Wilding

8) The Duke of Marlborough Woodstock. Another relegated pub brought back to life with love and care and already doing a roaring trade. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/exclusive-new-look-duke-of-marlborough-in-woodstock-revealed-takeaway-begins-and-back-lane-tavern-name-confirmed/

Rich, Chris and Mish – the team behind The new look Duke of Marlborough pub on the way out of Woodstock

9) Stable Cafe, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock: Opened this week with a variety of local artists’ work adorning the walls. A great new space. Full story to follow.

10) The Hare in Milton Under Wychwood. Sister pub to The Kingham Plough and decorated equally tastefully, the husband and wife team Matt and Katie Beamish are delighted with their new addition. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/cotswold-pub-the-hare-in-milton-under-wychwood-taken-over-by-owners-of-the-kingham-plough-and-opens-this-week/

The Hare

11) Scenic Supper, Cotswolds. Five course dinner and a view to die for? Scenic Supper has just started doing lunches as well from the sanctity of their base at Todenham Manor Farm. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/review.-with-a-view-why-the-scenic-supper-in-the-cotswolds-will-take-your-breath-away/

12) Tap Social Whitehouse, Oxford. A massive undertaking from The Tap Social team to breath life back into this huge Oxford pub. But the results are stunning and the sharing plate style menu a must. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/opening-today-for-the-first-time-tap-socials-new-pub-the-white-house-on-abingdon-road-has-been-transformed-in-lockdown/

The Tap Social White House

13) Mole & Chicken, Easington. Sister pub to the much love Mole Inn in Toot Baldon, with head chef Jan Hvizdfos on board it’s already packed. https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/exclusive-we-review-new-head-chef-and-heston-protege-jan-hvizdos-food-at-the-mole-chicken-in-easington-near-thame/

Sarah, Jan and Kelly at The Mole & Chicken

14) Whistlers, Chipping Norton It hasn’t been an easy start for the husband and wife team but undeterred they are now open for business and the locals are delighted. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/why-we-opened-a-new-restaurant-during-lockdown-whistlers-in-chipping-norton-is-given-a-new-lease-of-life/

Whistlers

15) The Edge Eatery, Witney – opened as a takeaway during lockdown and were absolutely inundated as word spread about their food. Now you can try it for yourself and sit down! READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/we-are-crazy-busy-why-the-edge-eatery-in-witney-is-such-a-raging-success-despite-opening-during-the-pandemic/

The Edge Eatery

16) Mr Souvlaki, Banbury. This one-man mission to bring Greek street food to Oxfordshire, has set up at Lock 29. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/why-mr-souvlaki-is-on-a-one-man-mission-to-share-his-familys-passion-for-greek-street-food-with-oxfordshire/

Mr Souvlaki

17) Oxfordshire Yeoman, Freeland. The locals couldn’t believe their luck when young couple Paul Hughes and Anna Munday took over and turned this historic pub around. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/young-couple-give-oxfordshire-yeoman-in-freeland-a-new-lease-of-life-pub-shop-takeaway-and-delivery-all-in-lockdown/

Paul Hughes and Anna Munday have taken on the Oxfordshire Yeoman pub in Freeland

18) Waggon and Horses, Southmoor. Sister pub to the Black Horse in Standlake and now a steak house, with head chef Martin Sherriff on board, you are in for a treat! READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/new-steakhouse-waggon-horses-in-southmoor-taken-on-by-brilliant-team-at-black-horse-in-standlake/

The Waggon and Horses team

19) Gourdans, St Clements – Run by a husband and wife team, we popped in at Christmas and not only is it fun but the food is damn good too. https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/the-dream-of-a-lifetime-gourdans-opens-new-steak-frites-restaurant-in-oxford/

Gourdans steak and chips

20) Alfonso, Woodstock. Ice cream lovers rejoice – all your dreams have come true in this wonderful new addition to Woodstock’s growing food scene. Even a big hit during the winter! READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/ice-cream-frenzy-alfonso-gelateria-opening-first-shop-in-woodstock-next-week-after-overwhelming-success-of-deliveries/

Lewis in his new gelataria Alfonso as the finishing touches are being applied

21) Taste Tibet, East Oxford. After years of selling takeaways from their house and at markets, finally a place off their own for this husband and wife team. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/taste-tibet-opens-new-cafe-and-takeaway-making-magdalen-road-in-east-oxford-even-more-of-a-foodie-mecca/

Yeshi outside his new Taste Tibet cafe and takeaway

22) Double Red Duke, Clanfield – Much hyped and terribly glamorous, The Red Duke is finally open for business and already much lauded – READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/a-sneak-peak-at-new-double-red-duke-pub-in-clanfield-opening-in-2021-with-top-chefs-an-open-fire-menu-and-full-refurbishment/

The new look The Double Red Duke

23) Dawson Street, East Oxford has been transformed into a busy outdoor food and dining mecca housing both Cafe Coco and Kazbar. With a Mediterranean menu by day and tapas by night it looks set to have a roaring summer. READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/review-the-sunny-side-of-oxford-why-cafe-coco-and-kazbars-outdoor-piazza-is-the-new-place-to-be/

Dawson Street boasts Kazbar and Cafe Coco

24) Barefoot, Oxford has expanded to North Parade and often attracts queues of people waiting for their homemade cakes, pastries, doughnuts, flapjacks…. we could go on https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/barefoot-oxford-opens-second-coffee-and-cake-shop-in-north-parade-as-its-brownie-in-a-box-concept-booms-during-lockdown/

Barefoot Bakery’s carrot and orange cake

25) ACQUA SALATA, Witney. Based in Fat Lils in Witney and run by a couple of very committed Italian foodies, their authentic food has been an instant success – READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/theres-a-new-italian-in-town-why-umbrian-pop-up-acqua-salata-is-going-down-a-storm-in-witney/

Giancarlo Baldoni and Marcello Silva (in chef whites) of Acqua Salata in Witney

26) Tap Social, Banbury is the bar provider at Lock 29’s community based food hall with indoor and canalside seating – READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/tap-social-sets-up-a-new-canalside-bar-at-lock-29-in-banbury-with-two-bars-plus-indoor-and-outside-seating/

Tap Social Banbury

27) Bells Bowls, Witney Currently looking to open her own place, this delicious food business in Witney was so successful in lockdown that Ella needed a permanent base of her own. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/its-the-dream-of-a-lifetime-bells-bowls-in-witney-has-been-so-successful-in-lockdown-its-opening-a-cafe-of-its-own/

Ella Craska of Bells Bowls

28) Pobi, Witney. Set up their own bakery and cafe over lockdown and could scarcely believe how quickly it took off as word of their delicious bread spread fast. READ ABOUT IT HERE https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/its-been-intense-but-we-wouldnt-change-it-for-the-world-why-pobi-bakery-in-witney-is-such-a-rising-success/

James and Jake of Pobi Bakery in Witney