I was kindly invited to The Bat & Ball in Cuddesdon – the sister pub to The Lamb Inn at Little Milton – for dinner and an overnight stay. A Thursday evening in July, sunny skies, warm breeze, and a pub with good but chilled energy. It struck the right balance of relaxed yet polished, with interiors that feel thoughtfully curated but not overly styled. Think fresh, open, light-filled spaces, with quirky prints and vintage cricket nods dotted about – and if you’re a dog person, you’re in for a treat – plenty of dog art, and dog treats to go around.
We dropped our bags in our room – Hobbs – one of five, and one of the most gorgey pub rooms I’ve stayed in.
All the little touches were there: big comfy bed, lovely lighting, tea and biscuits, and a real sense of calm. I was so obsessed with the green and yellow frame, it looked SO chic, but still felt cosy. And because it’s dog friendly, our pup Moose was happily along for the ride.
Drinks were calling, so we headed out to the patio for a pre-dinner pint.
Dinner followed – and I had high hopes. We’ve been to The Lamb Inn before and still dream about the starters we had there, so we did the sensible thing and ordered a few to share.
The smoked trout with beetroot and fresh herbs was zingy and bright – proper summer food. The arancini with pea and asparagus came with a black garlic aioli that should be bottled and sold. Ridiculously creamy, soft in the middle, crisp outside – pretty much perfect. But the standout starter was the tempura aubergine with molasses and chickpea hummus. Honestly SO addictive, I wanted an entire platter of that to take up to our room and eat in bed like a piglet. It was so light, sticky, savoury, sweet – we kept scraping the plate long after the last bite.
Onto the mains… the pork belly was pure heaven. Crisp crackling, melting fat, mustardy mash, buttery cabbage – the kind of plate you don’t talk over. Charlie just about let me have a forkful, almost too good to share.
The ribeye steak was good – smoky, juicy, and brought to life by a punchy and refreshing chimichurri that was welcomed in this heat. We washed it all down with both very drinkable Malbec and Merlot – not fussy wine, just good, smooth, and well matched.
Desserts were solid – a rich but not too sweet chocolate torte, and a lemon tart which worked well with our very nearly full stomachs – the sharpness was perfect and refreshing.
We went for a post dinner walk to the local fields just before sunset – such a gorgeous way to end an evening (and to nurse the food comas). It’s a really gorgeous little village with lots of walk options if you wanted to make a day of it. Staying in a room where you’ve eaten always feels like such a treat – no taxis or designated drivers, just a few steps and we could crash out – HEAVEN! We’d actually planned to just pop up to get some treats for Moose and then come back down for one more drink and a game of darts, but the bed was so inviting, we were snoozing immediately.
Breakfast the next morning was as fresh and well put together as dinner.
We both went for the smashed avo on sourdough with eggs, and I added smoked salmon because balance, babes. The eggs were pure orange, and unbelievably soft and fluffy. I’ve heard the full English is one to try here – apparently the hash browns are something else – so what a shame! we’ll have to return to investigate properly.
The team were warm and welcoming throughout – not just polite, but genuinely friendly.
Ben, the owner, is clearly passionate about the place, and it shows. We bumped into him on our way out – he was off to meet a local beekeeper about getting involved in the community orchard. That pretty much sums up the vibe: rooted in the local area, thoughtful, and quietly ambitious.
The fact that this spot is only a 15-minute drive from East Oxford is frankly outrageous. One minute you’re dodging traffic on Cowley Road, the next you’re sipping on a fresh pint in your new fave pub. We’ll definitely be heading back – and we’re keen to see what they do next.
The Bat & Ball
28 High St, Cuddesdon, Oxford OX44 9HJ
Bitten were invited as guests, all views are our own
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