Situated in a listed nineteenth-century oxen house, Ox Barn is a stunning restaurant with wide, open, airy spaces that match the character of the building with more contemporary touches. As part of the offering of Thyme, an incredibly ambitious country retreat with rooms, a spa, gardens and much more, the whole setup took head chef Charlie Hibbert’s family fifteen years to put together, with Charlie taking the lead at Ox Barn when it opened in 2018.

The food falls into the always slightly vague category of ‘modern British’, but there’s certainly a nod to more classic, super-seasonal, time-honoured cooking here, with braises, pies, soups and roasts we all know and love made extra-special. There’s also a good dose of Italian influence, without the need for pasta – think burrata and cimi de rapa, porchetta and crostini. Ingredients and produce – a lot of which comes from Thyme’s own farm and the suppliers surrounding it – are of the utmost importance, and dishes are kept simple and natural to allow their flavours to shine.

At lunch, a meal at Ox Barn is all about sharing – dishes both big and small are brought to the table to be shared amongst everyone. Dinner service is more traditional, with a selection of starters, mains and desserts. There’s also a beautiful bar serving all manner of cocktails, beers and wines, and an open pass where guests can watch the chefs at work.