Breakfast is very important to my family, so there was a lot of pressure to find somewhere good when they came to stay for a weekend. Luckily, my partner remembered that he’d had a great brunch at the Milk Shed a few years ago. So, we made our merry way to the outskirts of Oxford with high hopes. 

The Milk Shed can be found just outside of Bicester. On arrival, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the wrong spot as the cafe is tucked away at the back of some very industrial-looking farm buildings.

Inside, though, the Milk Shed is a bustling, cosy and charming cafe and deli. The vibe is very relaxed and rustic, with lots of wooden tables, mismatched chairs and fairy lights (although these might have been a seasonal addition). There’s also plenty of outdoor seating and a couple of sheds which have been converted into little seating areas.

We settled down, and let me tell you – we were in for an absolute treat. 

I went for the chestnut mushrooms in garlic and herb butter on toast, with creme fraiche and a poached egg. The mushrooms were punch-you-in-the-face garlicky in the best possible way, and balanced beautifully by an indulgent dollop of creme fraiche. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the toast stayed nicely crisp. 

Others on my table went for the vanilla pancakes with banana, blueberry, yoghurt and blueberries, which got great reviews. The pancakes were nice and fluffy and once again they had a generous helping of toppings. 

The eggs benedict also went down very well, with smoked salmon replacing the usual ham. Again, the presentation was beautiful – these dishes were definitely ticking all of our boxes!

I also enjoyed checking out all of the treats available to buy in the cafe – including lots of very aesthetic jams, chutneys, savoury snacks and choccies. 

Our dishes were all very similar in price, with the priciest at £13.25. It was great value for some delicious food, and it was really nice to try somewhere just a little further afield than the usual Oxford options. From chatting to other people, it seems that the Milk Shed is on the radar of local cyclists – so make sure you get there quick before they nab all the tables! 

The Milk Shed
Manor Farm, Northampton Rd, Weston-on-the-Green, Bicester OX25 3QL