* Not only is Rectory Farm’s Country Cafe, pictured, up and running until September in Stanton St John, where you can enjoy terrific lunches and cakes, and your children play on the bouncy castle or adventure playground, but cafe owner Penny Corbett is also running kids pottery workshops on Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am-3pm. Just turn up, choose a pot or plate to paint and then return the following week to pick it up.

Rectory Farm PYO, is at Pound Lane, Oxford OX33 1H, 01865 351677.

* The Oxford Wine Festival has announced the exciting line-up for its August event with over 35 exhibitors confirming their attendance from all over the world, representing over 50 different wine producing regions. These include the UK’s oldest wine merchant, Berry Brothers & Rudd, award-winning Burgundy specialists Flint Wines and a wide range of more unusual and boutique exhibitors such as The Georgian Wine Society and Red Squirrel Wines.

“We’re delighted with the line-up,” says Chris Bowling, one of the organisers of the event. “We wanted to put together an ambitious programme. We’re really pleased that many of the wines we have on show are from small, boutique producers, and are a little bit different from what you might find on the High Street.”

The festival will take place at the Oxford Union buildings on the August Bank Holiday weekend (August 23-24), and is divided into different zones, including Old World, New World, Emerging Regions, and an English wine section presenting a number of award-winning English vineyards.

Festival organisers have also announced their tutored tasting program, which consists of a wide range of tastings for all abilities, from an Introduction to Blind Tasting and Grand Cru champagnes to Italian and Australian Masterclasses led by Masters of Wine Michael Palij and Justin Knock.

Book tickets at oxfordwinefestival.org. Tickets cost from £14.50 – includes six wine samples.

* The Oxfordshire Chilli Festival – pictured is organiser Dawn Massam – is coming to Abingdon on August 16, where an array of chilli artisans from all over the country will gather – including some of the most well known such as Hot Haedz, Grim Reaper and Twisted Seven sauces.

There will also be the Oxfordshire heat of the UK Chilli Cook Off Association's annual chilli cook off. The winner not only receives £200 and ultimate bragging rights, but the chance to cook their chilli at the finals in Upton Cheyney. If they win that, then it’s off to Las Vegas to cook their dish in the international finals!.

In addition, chilli expert, stuntman and chilli celebrity Darth Naga will be hosting the chilli eating competition. www.facebook.com/oxfordshirechillifestival

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.