Welcome to the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2025 and here is our first category Best Newcomer 2025. VOTE HERE: https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
The awards will be held on Monday May 12 at The Ashmolean, with a fabulous after party at Dishoom’s Permit Room in Oxford.
Sponsored by headliners Goldstar Recruitment and The Feathers, with Brandpay and Jolly Foods, as well as Oxford Fine Dining and Grape Minds on board, and Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir fame lined up to host, the voting kicks off today.
In alphabetical order, the nominations for Best Newcomer 2022/2023 are:
Alberto’s, Chipping Norton – a wonderful new addition, we fell in love with this charming, intimate Italian restaurant as soon as we arrived. Run by Claire Lenkowiec and her fiance Valerio Grimaldi-Plant, the pasta knocks your socks off, as do the pizzas and small plates, the atmosphere embraces you wholeheartedly, and its almost impossible to get a table for good reason! Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Bakery On The Hill, Burford – bursting with freshly baked bread, pastries and goodies, with an enticing selection of sandwiches in rolls, focaccia and bread form, alongside some delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch options, or just anyone who fancies a good natter over a tea or coffee, with a sweet little courtyard outside, and more seating upstairs. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Bat & Ball, Cuddesdon – New sister to the award-winning Lamb at Little Milton up the road, this is a more laid back affair, perfect for unwinding, meeting friends, taking the kids or even staying over. Beautifully renovated with some great food on offer, it is already hugely popular. The team there are off to a winning start! Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Dirty Bros, Witney – taking over from The Edge at Lil’s, its Americana street food vibe and cocktails looks set to be a big hit for those looking for something more than cafe or pub food. Think towering smash burgers lathered in BBQ short rib, house bbq, Swiss cheese and Monterey Jack cheese, Texan hot dogs, wings and halloumi fries. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Dishoom Permit Room, Oxford – such an exciting addition to Oxford, the traditional Dishoom offering here transposed into a more relaxed cocktail/street food and dining vibe, with DJs and a great atmosphere. The breakfasts are pretty damn good too. Pop in day or night. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Flight Club, Oxford – offering something completely new, this darts centric bar bridges hospitality and entertainment with great gusto. Perfect for gatherings, parties and family get-togethers, food and drinks embellishing the bustling hub on The Westgate roof with its all day, all-night ethos. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Grain Store, Middle Aston – another labour of love from first time cafe owner Helen Taylor whose passion for the project is visible. The food is a delight, the service endearing and its setting on the former farm perfect. The perfect escape from everyday life. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Highway, Burford – sister pub to The Bull up the road, has recently been reopened by PR guru Matthew Freud, with an informal and bijou Spanish style tapas restaurant Toro, private dining room and drinking bar. Uber stylish and refined. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Kibou, Oxford – has made a massive impact already since opening its doors on Little Clarendon Street with its Japanese style restaurant. Quirky, adventurous and enormously welcoming everyone loves it. So while you can dine it style, it’s fun, the food is top notch, the high tea divine and it ticks a lot of boxes. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Kingsley Cafe, Eynsham – with Sally and Patrick Moore at the helm, this car memorabilia focused cafe now has a stonking food offering. Think truckers cafe with a huge outdoor seating area, events and some mouth-watering breakfast, brunch and lunch menus. You can enjoy everything from a full English to a three course meal, all home-made. We love it there. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Mason’s Arms, Clanfield – repurposed by the Country Creatures team who run The Double Red Duke over the road, this is a more comfortable, gentler endeavour where the food still shines. Sit back with a glass of wine, enjoy the sharing plate menu or tuck into a glorious fish and chips. It’s all good. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Nest at The Feathers, Woodstock has brought a sophisticated edge to Woodstock’s multiple dining options with its suave and tasteful Nest brasserie where Luke Rawicki (head chef) and Shannon Mulholland head up the kitchens with astounding culinary prowess. A huge attribute. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
No.14, Wesley Walk, Witney – such a breath of fresh air, labour of love and lifetime dream. The queues say it all really, but Ryan Humphrey’s new cafe, with its busy in-house kitchen, covers all the bases whether you like a traditional cafe option or something more elaborate and exciting. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Oxford Wine Tavern, Summertown – the latest hot spot from Oxford Wine Company, situated in the former Bia premises, where you can sit back, chill over a glass of wine and enjoy their light bites menu. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
OXTWO, Summertown – much awaited and arguably the biggest opening of the year, with exec head chef Johnny Parke in the kitchens and the Brewmish team (Back Lane and The Duke) coming on board with Grape Minds, the two worlds now perfectly co-exist in this lavish wine bar/restaurant. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Six By Nico, Oxford – an instant hit when it opened at the top of the Westgate Centre, Oxford welcoming its themed taster menus and exotic interior. Yes it’s a chain, but it makes fine dining accessible to the masses and does it with great panache. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
Slow & Steady, Oxford – since Dodo Pubs has taken over the reins from Tap Social, with their renowned pizza and burger fare, a huge sports screen upstairs and a real community feel, its become more accessible without losing any of its quality or homely feel. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
The George at Upton, Didcot – New restaurant, new a la carte, new Sunday lunch menu, in fact new everything! Now fully re-opened after a £300,000 refurbishment, it blends the traditional and contemporary, and no expense has been spared in delivering a next-level pub, restaurant and garden experience for everyone to enjoy. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
The Store, Oxford – settled in nicely in the former Boswells department store, the hotel, restaurant and stunning roof bar, have not only transformed a derelict building but brought multiple new offerings to Oxford’s city centre with great verve. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
There are 10 categories and we will be announcing one every day for the next 10 days. These include BEST NEWCOMER, BEST PUB/BAR, BEST CAFE, BEST RESTAURANT, BEST VEGGIE/VEGAN OFFERING, BEST CHEF, BEST GASTROPUB, BEST INTERNATIONAL, BEST FOOD HERO and HOSPITALITY WOMAN OF THE YEAR
The top four nominations from each category will be invited to the glittering ceremony where the winners will be announced, so get voting and pick your favourite.
You can only vote once in each category, so keep voting every day in all 10 categories! Voting ends at the beginning of May. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/pxkkvr4f
