The Crown Inn in Church Enstone—a 17th-century Cotswolds pub known for its ingredient-led cooking—has launched a new programme of Seasonal Foraging & Feast experiences. Designed to bring guests closer to the landscape that shapes its menus, each afternoon pairs a foraging walk with a wild-inspired dinner by Head Chef Jason Christie.
The foraging is hosted by expert wild-food educator Lizzy Mary‑Jane Farmer of Tellus Mater. With a background in nature-led education and an ethos centred on reconnecting with the land, Lizzy guides participants through nearby woodland, church yards and hedgerows in pursuit of foraged treasures—wild greens, mushrooms, herbs and other seasonal gifts of the countryside.
After the gentle walk, guests return to the pub where Head Chef Jason Christie takes over. With a pedigree that includes formative time at Daylesford Cookery School and Calcot Manor, Jason’s cuisine is anchored in provenance, biodiversity and slow-food values. At The Crown Inn, he has long championed hyper-local seasonal ingredients sourced from the Cotswolds and beyond.
The dining experience that follows the walk is wild-inspired: dishes shaped by produce collected in the afternoon, cooked with care and imagination. One evening might feature wild greens folded into delicate starters, or mushrooms collected earlier that day paired with handmade pasta. Another evening might see hedgerow fruits, herbs or seeds appearing in broths, sauces or desserts. Whatever form it takes, each feast is an extension of Jason’s belief in cooking that responds gently and creatively to the landscape.
This heralds the start of a fuller calendar of foraging walks and culinary events at The Crown Inn—inviting guests not just to dine, but to engage with the land, gather, walk, and then feast in an elevated village-pub setting, celebrating the region’s natural abundance.
Guests can also stay overnight at The Crown Inn, which offers five thoughtfully designed rooms upstairs. The property is easily accessible from London, with hourly trains running from Paddington to Charlbury. From there, the village of Church Enstone is a short 10-minute taxi ride away, making the experience ideal for a day trip or a countryside weekend.
A WIDER ETHOS SHARED ACROSS THE GROUP
The spirit of creative, ingredient-focused dining extends to The Crown Inn’s sister pub, The Kingham Plough, which recently hosted a series of chef collaborations. These one-night-only takeovers saw London’s Berber & Q and The Jugged Hare reinterpret The Kingham Plough’s seasonal ethos through their own lenses. The series brought smoky, fire-driven Middle Eastern dishes from Josh Katz of Berber & Q, and a bold, game-centric menu from Rafael Liuth of The Jugged Hare, highlighting how different culinary traditions can transform a country-pub setting.
Each event offered a unique four-course menu, drawing new audiences and showcasing the versatility of seasonal British produce—an approach that mirrors The Crown Inn’s philosophy. These special one-off evenings will continue in 2026.
With the introduction of their new foraging programmes and visiting chef dinners, these Cotswolds gems, spearheaded by owners Matt and Katie Beamish, build on the group’s foundation of collaboration, seasonality, and respect for the land, inviting guests to explore the beloved English countryside through flavour, landscape, and shared experience.
To find out more about The Crown Inn and book, visit the links below:
The Crown Inn
Mill Lane, Church Enstone
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
OX7 4NN, United Kingdom
Web: crowninnenstone.co.uk
Tel: 01608 677262
Email: book@crowninnenstone.co.uk
Instagram: @thecrowninnenstone