Idyllic 17th century Cotswold stone village inn, The Crown at Church Enstone, near Chipping Norton, has been given a new lease of life as a traditional inn, bar, restaurant – and artists’ haunt, write owners George and Victoria Irvine.

The pub has been given a sensitive and stylish refurbishment and has opened with five luxurious rooms and a new spring menu.

Championing the very best fresh, locally-sourced produce is an essential part of our ethos, and dominates our short, good value, seasonal menu of flavourful modern British dishes and pub classics, created by chefs, Chris Taylor and Christopher Sheppard.

The Crown offers a seasonally-changing à la carte menu, a ‘Crown Classics’ menu focusing on pub classics, a weekly changing Sunday lunch menu with two courses for £18 and three courses for £22. There’s also a special Crown Board where you select your own charcuterie, a sandwich board menu and a top-notch range of traditional British desserts and local cheeses.

For children, The Crown offers half size, half-price portions of most dishes on the menus. Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options are always available.

Standout food is a priority here, but we have also made certain it is savoured in comfortable and well-styled surroundings. The light-filled bar and adjoining dining spaces, seating up to 65, include a conservatory dining space (also available for private dinners, meetings and events) leading to a walled garden.

Oxford Mail:

We chose a simple, rustic palette of soft greys and chalky whites to create a fresh, relaxing vibe that complements and highlights the inn’s airy interiors and its many original features, including exposed oak beams, an open fireplace (burning our own foraged wood), and flagstone and reclaimed timber floors overlaid with Turkish kilims.

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The inn’s walls display our original contemporary landscapes, photographs and prints [George has also created illustrations for the pub’s signage, blackboard displays, menus, wine list and walking maps].

Furnishings include quality scrubbed pine table with bouquets of fresh flowers and antique pieces and quirky vintage finds sourced locally. Collections of cookbooks and modern art tomes adorn window sills and in the main hallway, a customised piano will accompany regular singalongs.

Oxford Mail:

Behind the oak-panelled bar, choose from seasonal cocktails and a well-kept selection of craft ales and traditional local beers by Hook Norton Brewery, with two regularly changing barrels featuring different English ales. The carefully-chosen wine list offers a broad choice from around the world to suit all palates.

Front-of-house manager, Felicity Wilson, and her well-trained team of friendly and efficient staff welcome regulars, families, walkers, cyclists and dogs to this thriving community hub, which hosts the playgroup committee, the Enstone flying Club, Oxford Riding Club, the village History Society and the village dominoes league. Dogs are well catered for with treats and water bowls available at the bar. There’s also one dog-friendly bedroom available for overnight stays for an extra £10 a night.

* The Crown Inn, Church Enstone. Visit crowninnenstone.co.uk