Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub, Swerford

We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!

We were invited to try the Sunday Lunch menu at the Boxing Hare pub in Swerford last weekend. Many locals might know the Boxing Hare as the Mason Arms on the A361 which runs between Bloxham and Banbury. Due to its proximity to Great Tew, it’s now very popular with the Soho Farmhouse set and friends have reported spotting the Beckhams in there on their visits to the Cotswolds.  

However, despite being visited by the odd A-lister, the Boxing Hare is a very welcoming, family-oriented pub. A lot of thought has gone into a decor that feels comfortable and inviting; tables with enough space to move between – to get a pram down the aisle or a large dog. 

We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!
We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!

We were welcomed by Stacey and her husband, Antony, who took over the pub just under two years ago. The pair have many years’ experience running award-winning eateries in West London and Notting Hill and in 2017, the pair reunited with head chef, Nicholas Anderson.  

We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!

Nicholas first worked with Antony throughout the 1990s before running his own successful restaurants where he was awarded two Michelin stars. With this pedigree, it is no wonder that the Boxing Hare soon won a reputation for good, quality grub.

In fact, the team go to great lengths for their menu – the sous chef, Kate, makes the restaurant’s homemade bread, ice cream, sorbet and desserts.  There is a big focus on seasonal, locally produced food plus all the beef is aged for at least 50 days onsite, ensuring a tender bite at each mouthful.

We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!

Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub, Swerford

Ok, so here’s what Tom & I had: 

Starters:

  • Twice baked cave-aged cheddar soufflé with spinach and Parmesan (£6.50)
  • Classic Provençal fish soup, Gruyère croûtes and rouille (£7.50) 

Mains: 

  • Aged roast rump of Longhorn beef with dripping roast potatoes, seasonal veg, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding (£18)
  • 50-day dry-aged Rib-Eye steak with house butter, seasonal salad and fries (£28)
We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!
We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!

Dessert:

  • Chocolate fondant with salted caramel sauce, chocolate and almond crumb with vanilla ice cream (£7.50)
  • Iced peanut butter parfait with honeycomb, caramelised bananas (£7)
We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!
We tried the Sunday lunch at the Boxing Hare Pub in Swerford, Oxfordshire. Read our review to find out which bit we loved best!

It was hard to choose a favourite part, Tom’s iced peanut butter parfait really slipped down a treat and he reported that his Rib-Eye steak was in fact, one of the best, if not the best that he’s had.  Equally, my roast came with three gob-stopper sized roast potatoes, which I just couldn’t finish, despite all my best efforts and it was a crime to leave them on the plate. 
To find out more visit: https://www.theboxinghare.co.uk/

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4 Comments

  1. September 12, 2019 / 8:31 pm

    oh I do know this pub but I never ate there …yet! The food looks great ! must try too next visit.

  2. September 20, 2019 / 10:26 am

    We haven’t been since it was the Masons Arms – it was included on the village pub crawl we did when I was first introduced to my OH. We used to eat there for meals quite a lot for family, but since it went to first the really fishy menu pub, and now the Boxing Hare, it’s not really justifiable for the prices unfortunately, with all the other pub options around. That souffle and parfait afterwards looks amazing though.

  3. October 11, 2019 / 10:06 am

    I always go for the soufflé-a real test of expertise

  4. October 11, 2019 / 10:07 am

    I always go for the soufflé-a real test of expertise

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