The Woodstock Arms in Woodstock re-opens this week after being taken over by the Jacobs Inn/Field boys Damian and Jonny, now calling themselves House Of Jacob. Expect "simple, robust, British, country cooking with beautiful fresh produce from locally sourced suppliers" with breakfast being served from 7.30am-12 noon (it has rooms as well), lunch from noon to 5pm and dinner from 5pm-10pm so you'll never go hungry. Bookings now being taken. 6-8 Market St, Oxford, Woodstock OX20 1SX, www.thewoodstockarms.com

The Cogges Kitchen opens on Saturday March 19 at Cogges Manor Farm, Witney, Oxfordshire thanks to established Witney café owners, Sarah McLean and Rob Tudgey of Coffeesmith – a small, independent café in Witney town centre – who have just taken over the Cogges Farm café site. Specialising in artisan coffees from micro-roasteries and its own Columbian green beans, the Coffeesmith team will be bringing its superb, top quality coffee and an all-new and delicious menu offering the very best fresh, local, seasonal produce available for breakfast, brunch, lunch and special afternoon teas to The Cogges Kitchen.

Housed within a beautiful medieval barn with a stunning exposed roof of ancient white-washed, timber beams, open kitchen and wall of windows, the café seats 50 inside, and outside, a large gravelled courtyard, which also seats 50, and overlooks a fantastic children’s play area. www.coffeesmithwitney.com. www.cogges.org.uk

Portabello Restaurant in North Oxford’s Summertown, now reigning supreme after Cibo next door closed down, has introduced new spring menus and weekend brunch with fresh new dishes and an exciting new spin on relaxed weekend dining.

New menu highlights include Burrata Salad, the returning Smoked Chicken & Avocado Salad - a classic Omelette Arnold Bennett, an omelette topped with smoked haddock, hollandaise and parmesan. New drinks have been created to compliment the Brunch menu including Hale Mary - a blend of Craft Ale and Portabello's own recipe spiced tomato juice, and Venetian Spritz, which mixes orange juice, Aperol and Processco to create an indulgent citrus fizz.

Owner Jon Ellse said, "We've been working on our Weekend Brunch Menu for a while and we're really proud of what we've put together. Dining habits are changing and our customers want to be able to enjoy great food in more casual surroundings. Portabello is all about relaxed dining with family and friends and we think these new menus really do add to that."

Portabello Restaurant Bar & Grill

7 South Parade, Oxford, OX2 7JL • 01865 559653

portabellorestaurant.co.uk

Wild Thyme Restaurant with Rooms has teamed up with their Banbury wine supplier, SH Jones, for an Organic Wine Dinner on Thursday April 14. On arrival guests will be able to sample an organic English sparkling wine, that is new to the market, followed by three further organic wines, all of which will be matched to dishes chosen by Head Chef, Nick Pullen, from the Wild Thyme’s Spring menu. Three courses including four glasses of wine - £60 per person. www.wildthymerestaurant.co.uk or 01608 645060.

Award-winning beers from the 2015 Great British Beer Festival together with beers from Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, the USA and the Republic of Ireland will be available at three pubs in the area from Friday March 11 to Sunday March 27 inclusive.

The Four Candles in George Street and The Swan & Castle in Castle Street, both in Oxford, as well as The William Morris in Pound Way, Cowley will each be serving up to 50 beers. All beers will be priced from £2.09 to £2.55 a pint.

The award-winning beers are; Barnsley Bitter (Acorn), Best Bitter (Pheasantry), Boltmaker (Timothy Taylor), Black (Williams), Explorer (Adnams), Darwin's Origin (Salopian), Ruby Mild (Rudgate), Port Stout (Hanlons), Triple Chocoholic (Saltaire), Revelation (Dark Star) and Plum Porter (Titanic).

The overseas beers are; Bravo Four Point (Devils Backbone, USA), Pacific (Thunder Road, Australia), O'Hara's JDW Irish Red (Carlow, Republic of Ireland), Amsterdam Blonde (Brouwerij 't IJ, Netherlands) and Bibock (Birrifico Italiano, Italy).

Amongst the other beers are; Crafty Fox (Hook Norton), Punk is Dead (Vale), Lazy Dog (Elgoods) and Crimson Rambler (Wharfebank).

The festival will feature new, seasonal and speciality beers, including a chocolate beer, wheat beer, cask lager, fruit porter, rye beer and spiced beer as well as a beer brewed with peated malt.

In addition, many of the beers are available in the pubs for the first time, having been brewed exclusively for the festival.

Customers will be able to sample any three of the real ales in special third-of-a-pint glasses for the price of a pint.

Waddesdon Manor has won one of the prestigious 2015 Hudson’s Heritage Awards in the category of Best Eating Out. Established in 2011, the awards are an independently judged, annual, national scheme open to historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites and celebrate the very best visitor experiences.

Kim Hallett, Head Business Development and Tourism said “We are delighted to have won a 2015 Hudson’s Heritage Award. It demonstrates the high standards and commitment we offer our visitors to ensure their experience is the very best.”