The Cotswolds, known for its stunning landscapes and tranquil villages, is home to an array of noteworthy pubs and restaurants. Among them, one historic venue stands out, winning accolades not only from locals but also from beloved celebrities.
The Bull in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, has earned high praise from Dame Prue Leith, the former Great British Bake Off judge. Speaking with the Daily Mail, Prue highlighted the pub as one of her favourites in the region. She remarked, “We’re spoiled for great pubs in the Cotswolds and my current favourite is The Bull in Charlbury, Oxfordshire. It still looks like a proper pub, not some decorator’s fantasy, and the food is just great – unpretentious, hearty, and cooked with imagination and talent.”
Amanda Holden, star of television and Heart FM presenter, echoes Prue’s sentiments. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Amanda revealed her affection for The Bull, explaining how she often photographs her meals — much to the amusement of her husband, Chris Hughes. “I’ve always gone to the Bull! I’ll take pictures of my food and my husband goes, ‘I hate people who do that!’” she said.
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The Bull’s reputation extends beyond celebrity endorsements. This 15th-century pub was crowned National Pub of the Year at the 2025 National Pub and Bar Awards. The judges praised the venue for combining “quintessential qualities with the finesse and flawless service of a contemporary operation.”
Murray Ward, a team member at The Bull, shared his joy with the BBC, emphasizing the community spirit and tireless dedication of the young team. “We’re very lucky for what is a relatively small pub in a rural area that we’re pretty busy and have a really good and consistent local following. What we do is pretty honest and pretty simple, and we have a really amazing and really young team that push every single day to make sure that everything is better than it was the day before.”
Prue Leith’s glowing review comes as she prepares to leave The Great British Bake Off after nearly a decade on the show. She will be succeeded by renowned chef Nigella Lawson. Reflecting on her departure, Prue said, “Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison and Noel and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4. But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden. Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it.”