Fat Fox
Licensee: John Riddell
Fat Fox
13 Shirburn Street,
Watlington, Oxfordshire, OX49 5BU
Telephone 01491 613040
Email info@thefatfoxinn.co.uk
Website www.thefatfoxinn.co.uk
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Description
Written by David Ashby for Alastair Sawdays "Special Places 2012"
A stone's throw from the big smoke yet wonderfully rural: you are on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, Red Kites wheel above beech woods and the Ridgeway runs through historic Watlington. The 17th-century building has been part pub, butchers, bakery and shop in its day but is now an inn to the core. The bronze Buddha on the bar gazes serenely over pumps with Brakspear Bitter and Oxford Gold, the carpeted bar is cosy and simple, there's a wood-burner, sofas and a piano in the lobby and an elegant separate dining room with oriental rugs, panelling, calm terracotta walls and a medley of tables and chairs.
The cassoulet of pork shoulder, goose and smoked Red Lion farm shop sausage would have a Frenchman singing 'la Marseillaise': follow it with apple clafoutis, chocolate pot and chantilly cream - quite simply divine and a tribute to chef Leon Bugler. Staff and owner are delightful and the whole place hums along on this team's super friendly and engaging manner. Set well behind the bustle in an old barns are a variety of rooms - some with Frank Hudson sleigh beds and trappings - antiques, beams and tidy en-suite bathrooms.
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