Category: Buckinghamshire

Liz Nicholls

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Food & Recipes, Oxfordshire, Round and About

A beloved pub is due to open soon in the historic village of Waddesdon, on the doorstep of Waddesdon Manor, after being bought by The Rothschild Foundation

Known as The Bell in the 19th century, and after that The Long Dog, the pub has been renamed The Bow in tribute to its older sister establishment in the village, the Five Arrows Hotel, and will open to the public in October.

The Grade II listed building first opened as a public house in 1863. Before that, it housed the bell room for the adjacent 800-year-old St Michael’s and All Angels church.

In the heart of Waddesdon, The Bow has been reborn as a lively, welcoming pub, offering a fresh take on the classic village experience. The team at The Bow aim to offer a true celebration of community spirit, top-tier quality, and locally sourced produce.

Head chef Anthony Skeats, formerly of The Punter in Oxford has more than 25 years of culinary experience. He has crafted an inventive, seasonal menu to highlight fresh ingredients, where possible sourced within ten miles, with meat from nearby farms and vegetables from the surrounding Waddesdon Estate, Eythrope Walled Garden and local farms.

Expect signature smashed burgers, delicious modern pub classics and wonderful desserts, such as a brioche sticky toffee pudding. The kids’ menu features fun and nutritious options and favourites like homemade jellies and ice cream. Families are welcome, with a secure play area.

The welcome news of The Bow’s renaissance comes after TV star Jeremy Clarkson was lauded for his purchase of The Windmill pub overlooking the Windrush Valley in the Cotswolds. Although, when it opens the Bow won’t be serving its own beer – a la the former Top Gear presenter’s Hawkstone brewery – it will support local producers, such as the Boobytrap microbrewery based a couple of miles away in Westcott.

There is a bold wine list catering for all palettes – including a range of Rothschild wines – from the old to the new worlds. The Bow is also offering an exclusive membership programme with access to the pub’s upstairs rooms with quiet, comfortable, collaborative spaces with desks, free WiFi, and cosy seating. For social or business meetings, there is also a private dining room available for members’ parties of up to 12 guests. Director of hospitality Holly Saunders says: “Whether you’re meeting with friends or dialling into a work call, The Bow will be your go-to spot for both social and virtual connections. We’re so excited to be bringing this lovely pub back where it belongs to the heart of this vibrant community and are dedicated to offering delicious food, quality drinks, and a space where everyone feels at home – all at reasonable prices. Join us for our grand opening week and discover why The Bow is set to become the new local favourite. We can’t wait to welcome you!”

Some pub history:

The Grade II listed building is located on the northeastern side of the High Street opposite the Rothschild Estate Office, which has been owned by the Rothschild family since 1874. Parts of the building date back to the 17th and 18th centuries but it has undergone many alterations over the last 200 years.

Before it was bought by the Rothschild Foundation and renamed The Bow, the pub last traded as The Long Dog, before closing in 2022. Before then it was called The Bell, also known historically as the Bell Inn. In 1864, the village of Waddesdon boasted five public houses: the Bell Inn, the Ship Inn, the White Lion, the Baker’s Arms and the Marlborough Arms. The latter is now The Five Arrows Hotel and Restaurant, The Bow’s sister establishment, both of which are run by the team at Waddesdon.

These 19th-century establishments not only catered to locals in the village but also to those passing through, as they travelled along the main Aylesbury-to-Bicester road. It may also be why two nightwatchmen were appointed by the parish council to patrol the streets of Waddesdon in the first half of the 19th century.

The Bow (Bell) originally faced the Ship Inn which was acquired by Miss Alice de Rothschild around 1910 from The Aylesbury Brewery company. The pub and two adjoining cottages adjacent were then demolished and replaced by a new house called The Cedars. In contrast, while The Bow has undergone and witnessed much change in the past two centuries, it will remain very much at the heart of Waddesdon village life.

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