The Boxing Hare Review

Recently, my fiance and I were invited to review The Boxing Hare in Chipping Norton, a cosy Cotswold gastropub that from just looking at the outside I knew I was going to love. Owned by successful London Restaurateur of 30 years Antony Griffith Harris and his partner Stacey C. Elder with head chef Nick Anderson who comes with extensive experience and a few Michelin stars under his belt. Their aim with The Boxing Hare is to champion the best seasonal produce locally sourced from British farmers which I think is one of the reasons it's a big hit.

The Interior

Arriving at The Boxing Hare you can't miss the rather large but very appropriate hare to greet you at the door, in fact it made me even more eager to get inside and discover more. Once inside we were greeted by owner Antony and manager Jo who were both lovely and gave us a little tour of the restaurant, conservatory and bar area. The bar separating one side of the more casual dining area to the more intimate dining area.

I found the decor charming and cosy but quirky in certain places with hints of green, burgundy and copper finishes with modern black and white photography on the walls. There were also wooden beams throughout, with wooden chairs and tables aplenty adding character to this already delightful restaurant in the Cotswolds.

 

 

The conservatory area really caught my eye with the beer hops on the ceiling and rustic furniture altogether creating an ideal room for private dining or even a small wedding / party, particularly as it looks out over the gardens.

The Food

For food we were spoilt for choice because the menu had a fab selection of over ten starters and mains to choose from plus they also cater to vegans, gluten-free and coeliac diners - as all the food is cooked to order which meant my fiance got to try some delicious gluten free bread (which he rarely gets at smaller restaurants). They also had a dry ager in the dining area to show off their excellent meat selection from the menu, which I think is a nice touch for meat lovers.

For our starters, Antony recommended the twice baked cave aged cheddar soufflé with spinach & parmesan (£8.50) and it didn't disappoint. Light and fluffy but with a slight crisp at the top and moist inside, and the spinach was a lovely final touch to a starter I could eat over and over again.

Blake chose the Cotswold Gin & beetroot cured sea trout with cucumber salad, sweet dill & mustard dressing. He let me try a little bit and I can highly recommend with its smoky yet fruity and fragrant aroma, plus they didn't skimp on the portions either for both starters. 

For my main meal at The Boxing Hare, I wanted to choose something I wouldn't usually have so I chose the pan roast local venison served with dauphinoise potatoes, salt roast beets and port jus. For me it was the best venison ever, with a smooth and tender texture and rich taste. The creamy potaoes also melted in the mouth.

Having seen the dry ager Blake opted for the 90 day aged 10oz steak served with Béarnaise sauce, triple cooked chips and broccoli. He said it was one of the best steaks he had ever eaten and was perfectly cooked just the way he liked it - rare.

Having seen the warm chocolate fondant with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream I couldn't resist having a dessert. Yes it was as good as it looks!

Blake is a big peanut butter fan so he went for the iced peanut butter parfait served with honeycomb which was also delicious!

Overall we had the most amazing experience at The Boxing Hare, our waiter Diogo was attentive and the food was divine. We can't wait to come back for another romantic meal. They were celebrating their 2nd birthday quite recently and I'm sure they will have many more to come.

Liz x

*All food and drinks were given to us for free in exchange for a review but all thoughts are my own.