If you want somewhere a little different, try The Chequers Inn, Cassington. This is a delightful hidden gem just a couple of miles outside of Oxford, a stone’s throw from the A40. As you drive down the main road its imposing front hides the warmth and charm of its classy interior. Once inside you are treated to some really wonderful food, accompanied by a very good but modestly priced wine list.
Their wine list also offers the appealing idea of charging corkage of £25 for any wine brought in; specifically designed for those who indulge in the finest of wines without paying the silly prices. Food follows a traditional theme, focusing on fresh and locally sourced produce from the Cotswolds. The owners have been based in the Cotswolds for the past ten years and have fittingly acquired the best contacts and farmers as suppliers. Specials are served daily and changed regularly – I visited for Sunday lunch and had Foxley beef topside, which was delightful.
Cassington is a pretty village, a perfect distance from Oxford – either visit from Oxford or pop in en route down the A40. Alternatively there are eight en-suite bedrooms for you to stay in. Relax on a leather sofa with a pint of Doom Bar or glass of mature Rioja in front of the log fire as the rain falls outside and you wait for your meal to arrive. Perhaps dine in the Orangery, which caters for up to 30 people, or take a seat in the fashionably decorated yet cosy restaurant. The team pride themselves on the finest service to match great food, attractively priced good wine in a delightful ambience – visit and experience it for yourself.
