December is around the corner (please can someone tell me where 2023 has gone?!) so it only feels right we get our Christmas guide out there, jam-packed with ideas of where to go, what to eat, and what to gift (self-gifting also totally acceptable, we’re not judging).
Dining out over the Christmas period?
The White Hart, Fyfield
We all deserve a treat this Christmas, so book your space at the award-winning White Hart at Fyfield for a foodie experience to remember. Their talented team have designed a special Festive Menu for you to enjoy throughout December, but spaces are filling fast, so book soon!
They have a number of private rooms available, including the Minstrel’s Gallery which overlooks their impressive great hall and their Chantry room for larger groups. If you’re looking for a Christmas Day lunch to remember, or somewhere for New Year’s Eve celenbrations, limited spaces are still available, so get in touch with the team now to secure your festive feast! Check out their Christmas Page for the full low down.
Support local this year with a White Hart Christmas gift. From personalised monetary gift vouchers to foodie gift experiences and signed cookbooks, you can order online, and they are posted to your door.
The Folly
The Folly Restaurant is open across the festive period, so if you don’t fancy cooking, why not book a table there! They’re open for Christmas Eve as usual but we highly recommend booking in advance if you are interested!
Christmas Day will be open for lunch only and they have a delicious 5 course menu at £120pp which needs to be booked in advance.
A celebratory 4 course menu, including a welcome drink on arrival is on offer for NYE at £85pp and can be booked now.
If you are looking for a Christmas party venue, try their exceptional 3 course festive menu which can be booked for groups of 6 and over.
Gift vouchers and dining experiences for The Folly make a great Christmas present for the foodie in your life! They’re available from their website.
Tap Social Movement (various locations around Oxford)
Want to eat somewhere fun, that won’t break the bank?
Winner of the “Purposeful Business Award” at the 2023 Oxfordshire Business Awards and a finalist for “Consumer-Facing Social Enterprise of the Year” at the nationwide Social Enterprise UK Awards, Tap Social Movement is an independent Oxford-based craft brewery and hospitality organisation with a social mission to provide training and employment for prisoners and prison leavers. One of the best and easiest ways to help further Tap Social’s cause this holiday season is by visiting any of its five fun, friendly, and inclusive Oxfordshire venues.
Its newest venue, The Market Tap, is located in the central courtyard of the historic Covered Market, which is home to more than 50 independent traders. Open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm – and until 11pm Thursday to Saturday – The Market Tap is a cosy café, bar, and bottle shop offering barista-made coffee, craft beer, curated wines and cocktails, and fresh bread and pastries from Tap Social’s commercial bakery Proof Social Bakehouse.
It’s also a great spot to shop for Tap Social cans and merch!
Tap Social’s community café and pub, The White House, is a gorgeous Grade II-listed pub located on Abingdon Road, just outside of central Oxford. Featuring a beautiful terrace outdoors and a warm, welcoming design indoors, The White House is offering a few specials across the holidays:
- Two- or three-course Xmas menu (£33 / £38) for parties of at least six (pre-booking only)
- Any burger, side, and either Tap Social pint or mulled wine for £20; add a pudding for £5
Finally, give the gift of Tap Social with a virtual gift card! Available in £10 – £100 denominations, these gift cards can be redeemed on the webshop, but you are able to purchase gift cards at the venues for use in person.
The Taproom (Botley)
The White House (Abingdon Rd)
The Market Tap (The Covered Market)
Proof Social Bakehouse (Kennington)
Lock29 (Banbury)
The Black Horse, Thame
Chef Manoj at The Black Horse has created the most delicious Christmas menus for this upcoming festive period. Chef has wrapped up all that makes indulging with friends during the winter months to give guests a feast for the eyes and tastebuds! From sustainably sourced Beef Wellington, succulent Springate Farm wild bronze turkey with all the trimmings plus mouth-watering desserts such as winter spiced poached pear as well as the much loved Christmas pudding to name but a few.
Whether you pop in with friends, famil, or colleagues to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, this place has the very best ingredients to make it the best Christmas y yet – cheers to that!
The Black horse also have drinks packages on offer so you can relax and paaart-ay! There’s also a private dining area and a range of cosy spaces that are all perfect for parties & celebrations… why not pop in and check out their spaces?
Fancy a drool? Check out their Christmas menu.
Christmas isn’t all about the presents…
But if you’d like to gift some good ones this year, look no further..
Little Ox Brewery
Have you heard of Little Ox Brewery, where passion and innovation come together to create exceptional craft beer experiences?
Not just a brewery; Little Ox Brewery is a small, dedicated team with a big vision. Their mission is to bring people together through the love of beer and challenge the boundaries of traditional brewing. The beers are carefully crafted to blend classic styles with unique twists, challenging your palate and encouraging you to explore new flavours with each sip. Over the years they have developed a house style of beer, with bold flavours way out of the bland spectrum, but stopping short of whacky. They don’t want anyone to miss out, which is why all their beers are vegan and gluten-free.
Little Ox stock a variety of merchandise including Little Ox branded t-shirts, hoodies, and pint glasses that’ll complement a Christmas beer gift box to create the perfect gift for any beer enthusiast.
You can order online for brewery collection or get free local delivery on orders over £30, or go and see the team at the brewery shop in Freeland Monday – Friday 9-5.30pm and on Saturday 12-2pm.
Wilding Wine
I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a bottle of good vino, can you? I’ve certainly never resented receiving wine as a gift. It’s a lovely feeling knowing someone has seen that bottle and thought ‘I know who would like this!’ with you springing to mind.
Especially if that gifted bottle is from Wilding. A full wall of wine is in shot as soon as you walk in which may seem overwhelming to some, but the warm and knowledgeable staff remove any overwhelm immediately. Tell them your budget and what sort of wine you’re after and you’ll be in the best hands for it! There’s a wide range of wine and prices, so you don’t have to break the bank to get a good bottle. Wilding also have a selection of organic and biodynamic wine if you’re looking for something a little different.
Also – no judgement from us if you pop in to buy some wine and accidentally on purpose trip and fall into the restaurant for a bite or ten – in fact, we implore you to do so. Divine food and service alike.
Afternoon Tea at the Randolph Hotel, by Graduate
The perfect gift for mum, or to be honest, anyone. The decor alone makes this a worthy gift but luckily, the tea and cake is pretty damn good too. There’s a live pianist, British sparkling wine flowing and deliciously fresh finger sandwiches, scones and sweet treats – what’s not to love?!
Champagne Afternoon Tea is £49 PP or £39 PP without the champers, which is pretty reasonable considering some are costing over £100 nowadays.
Drool over the menu here.
Wanna know what’s going on Bitten’s Christmas list this year?
James – Taste Tibet, Cowley
For anyone who loves a bit of spice, look no further than a trip to Taste Tibet for Yeshi’s sepen chilli oil (£…) that’s based on a recipe from his dad, and made with yerma peppercorns from his home in Tibet. This amazing dip goes with anything and everything that you’d like to add some heat to! The cookbook and the Mooli are also great gifts, so get in touch or pop down to see them.
Chiara – Steamhouse Bakery, Jericho
Chiara works a stone’s throw from Steamhouse Bakery on Little Clarendon Street and seeing their pastries and doughnuts has her on a frequent drool. She’s hoping for some vouchers in her stocking this year so she can treat herself in January when things get cold and bleak. I mean, can you really have a bad day if you’ve had a hot chocolate with a Lotus S’mores attached to it?! I think not.
Liz – Jericho Cheese Company, Jericho and central Oxford
Cheesemas is a real thing in Liz’s household, and Christmas always involves a visit to the Jericho Cheese Company. Their range of British and Irish farmhouse cheeses is mouth-watering. Liz always goes for Stichelton: the delicious raw milk blue cheese that she prefers over Stilton.
Liz’s other favourites: a sheep’s milk Spenwood or Gorwydd Caerphilly, or perhaps a little Brightwell Ash. Paired with a huge loaf of sourdough revolution bread to finish and you’re all good to go!
Rob – Marks Cotswold Bakery, Stow
Rob will be getting his favourite breads from Mark’s Cotswolds Bakery in Stow – his multi award winning Cotswolds Crunch Sourdough is his favourite bread within 50 miles. Malted wholegrain, slightly nutty and wonderfully light, he enjoys this style of loaf with a good glass of Barbera d’Asti or Grüner Veltliner and a quality cheese like a quartzy Davidstow Crackler Cheddar or runny gorgonzola and a plate of bresaola and jamon.
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