When we recently released our Bitten roast guide, The Boxing Hare essentially said “hold my beer” and invited us in to try their Sunday roast. A stone’s throw from Soho House and firmly within the Chipping Norton set, we arrived on a Sunday to an almost full car park. It is the ideal destination for a walk and roast combo, so we enjoyed a beautiful countryside stroll before heading inside.

The pub is incredibly dog-friendly. Our dog arrived soggy from his walk but was warmly welcomed by staff and guests alike, and even treated to a delightfully kitsch plate of colourful dog treats.

This is everything you want from a Sunday country pub. Think open fire, candlelit tables, rustic beams and a stone-built setting, paired with lovely, interesting furniture that adds charm, character and individuality.

We were seated next to what can only be described as a gold pineapple tree light, which somehow worked perfectly. The Boxing Hare’s menu revolves around seasonal, locally sourced produce from British farmers, and that focus on provenance and quality really sets the tone for what follows.

We started with padrón peppers (£7) and, on recommendation, the twice-baked cave-aged cheddar soufflé (£13). I do not usually order soufflé, but now I understand the appeal. It was almost like a very light cheese scone, delivering a big cheesy hit without any heaviness. Our only regret was not having bread to mop up the remaining cheese.

For mains, we opted for the trio of roasts (£26), which includes aged Longhorn beef, leg of Cotswolds lamb and Tamworth pork shoulder, complete with crackling and apple sauce.

All roasts are served with dripping roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables (leeks and carrots on the day), cauliflower cheese and a Yorkshire pudding.

The pork shoulder and beef were my highlights. Both were incredibly flavoursome, with the beef perfectly cooked, pink in the middle and beautifully tender. The crackling was sensational.

While I am usually a big fan of lamb, it did not quite shine in comparison to the other meats this time.

Portion sizes are extremely generous. You get a substantial slice of each meat, and in the case of the beef, more than one. Gravy is already on the plate, the roast potatoes were hot and crisp, something that is not always guaranteed with a roast. We did see the family next to us ask to take leftovers home, which says it all. Come hungry, and consider skipping or sharing starters. We were genuinely sad not to have enough room to fully indulge in the vegetables, which were only sampled but proved to be super buttery, with caramelised carrots and lightly coated cauliflower cheese.

For special occasions, there is also the option of their 70-day aged beef. The côte de boeuf looked absolutely incredible and would be perfect for a date night. There is also a tempting list of fish, vegetarian and vegan alternatives.

We shared a carafe of Merlot (£19), which was very welcome and delicious, and bonus points for offering wine by the carafe.

By this point we were full in a way reminiscent of Christmas-level indulgence, but when told that all desserts, including sorbets and ice creams, are made in-house, we could not resist. My friend chose three scoops of Kate’s sorbet (£9), raspberry and strawberry, while I went for the vanilla rice pudding with rhubarb compote (£8). It was wonderfully creamy, made with real vanilla pods and delivered a strong, satisfying vanilla flavour.

The team struck that perfect balance of being friendly, attentive and completely at ease, exactly what you want from a great Sunday pub.

It is no surprise that their Google reviews are overflowing with enthusiastic five-star ratings. We left feeling thoroughly spoilt. I did briefly wonder why a place this successful needs any promotional help at all, as it is clearly thriving already, but I am certainly not complaining. We got to sample its delights and will absolutely be returning.

Bitten were invited as guests, all views are our own

https://www.theboxinghare.co.uk

The Boxing Hare, Banbury Rd, Swerford, Chipping Norton OX7 4AP