Surrounded by glorious Cotswolds countryside, this charming gem of a pub is the perfect place to come together, enjoy good local beers, excellent wines and monthly-changing menus championing seasonal, local produce. Upstairs, five luxurious and very comfortable bedrooms with views over the picture-perfect village of Church Enstone, and next door, a self-contained cottage and studio.
What makes a stay at The Crown Inn unique?
The Crown at Church Enstone, was taken over by experienced hospitality stars, Matt and Katie Beamish in September 2022. The couple also run acclaimed foodie pub with rooms, The Kingham Plough and dining hub, The Hare at Milton on the Oxfordshire / Gloucestershire borders.
Prior to its re-opening in November ‘22, The Crown underwent a sensitive refurbishment of its ground floor bar and adjoining dining rooms to enhance the pub's many original features, including exposed oak beams, rendered Cotswold stone walls and reclaimed timber floors. Furnished with locally sourced vintage and antique furnishings, original contemporary artworks and old photographs and prints add much to the charming country pub vibe. To one side of the pub, a beautiful, plant-filled garden room with French doors leading directly onto a sunny walled, cottage garden with mature plants and climbers in amongst the seating areas, including a sunken garden edged by dry stone walls and surrounded by cottage garden plants. There’s also a veg garden growing seasonal vegetables, summer herbs and chilis for the kitchen.
What style cuisine is on offer at The Crown Inn?
Renowned head chef, Jason Christie, is passionate about creating and serving stunning seasonal menus of modern British dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, whilst championing the very best fresh, local produce available. Expect innovative twists, re-imagined pub classics and daily changing specials alongside an all-day, seasonal Bar Snack Menu, a Sunday Roasts and Children’s Menu and for dogs; water bowls and biscuits. *Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options are always available.
What is the signature dish at The Crown Inn?
Due to the focus on seaonality and what's best on the day, there is no signature dish on the regularly changing a la carte menus, but the Crown's Sunday roasts are exceptional.
What are the rooms and facilities on offer at The Crown Inn?
Above the pub, five bedrooms finished to a very high spec and named after neighbouring villages and hamlets come with Kingsize double / twin beds with Ambassador mattresses and upholstered velvet, linen or natural leather headboards. Extra comforting touches include hypoallergenic duvets and pillows covered with crisp white linen and cotton quilts by Soak & Sleep, alongside velvet cushions, chic table lamps, cosy armchairs and lovely views over the village.
Luxurious and spacious en-suite bathrooms feature stand-alone tubs and powerful stand alone or above-bath showers tiled in bold, contemporary style.
The Crown’s double/twin cost from £150 a night for two people on a B&B basis. Dogs are permitted for overnight stays in the Lidstone room above pub and at the Cottage/Studio for an extra £10 a night - bed and bowl provided.
*The self-catering cottage and studio next door to The Crown offers two additional bedrooms, both en-suite, a fully equipped kitchen, sitting room and rear patio space. Doubles from £225.00 with a minimum two-night stay on a B&B basis.
Breakfast specialities include a delicious Crown Full English, home-made breads, locally made jams and marmalades and honey.
All rooms include:
Free Wifi
Flatscreen freeview TV
Roberts digital radio
Tea and coffee-making facilities, fresh milk, bottled water and treats
Hairdryer
Robes – Cotswold Linen
Bramley toiletries
What can guests enjoy when staying in the Chipping Norton area?
Surrounded by glorious Cotswolds’ countryside The Crown lies at the heart of the beautifully preserved Cotswolds village of Church Enstone. close to Chipping Norton, Blenheim Palace, Bicester Village and Soho Farmhouse. Church Enstone also boasts St Kenelms’, a gorgeous 12th century Saxon church with a Norman doorway and mentioned in the Canterbury Tales. The Crown was originally built to accommodate the workers who restored and developed the Church in the 16th Century. Rumour has it that Charles I once stayed at the inn (and why it is called The Crown) when he visited from Oxford.
Chipping Norton, is an attractive Georgian market town with a wide range of independent boutiques, galleries, gift shops, cafes, an independent theatre, cinema, an antiques centre, open-air Lido, leisure centre, monthly Farmer’s market and a small museum.
Other nearby towns: Oxford, Woodstock, Bicester, Moreton-in-Marsh, Banbury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Stratford-upon-Avon
Great walks from the front door. Ask for one of the pub’s circular walking maps, from an easy 30-minute stroll through the village to a 90-minute hike to Soho Farmhouse.
Alternatively, guests can opt for a sightseeing and shopping trip to nearby Oxford, 22 miles away, Stratford-upon-Avon, 25 miles away or Bicester Village, 14 miles away.
Historic houses and gardens nearby: Chastleton, Rousham House & Garden, Hidcote Manor, Upton House & Garden, Snowshill Manor
A wide range of local events include Oxfordshire Artweeks (May), Feastival, Cornbury and Wilderness Festivals, Gifford Circus and Blenheim Horse Trials.
Other Information
Welcomes everyone. Bookings of eight or more are asked to pre-order from the menu a few days in advance.
Local suppliers and artisan producers
The Crown is proud to source from and support local artisan suppliers and produce from local farms. These include:
Meat from Paddock Farm
Fresh, daily deliveries of seafood and responsibly sourced fish from the South Coast from New Wave Seafood
Fruit, vegetables & herbs from local suppliers and farmers
Eggs from Cacklebean Eggs
Cured meats from ‘Salt Pig’ Chipping Norton
