Welcome to OxRated

Oxford and the Cotswolds are full of brilliant independent food — and an awful lot of noise about it. Listicles recycled year after year, reviews that read like press releases, and scores that seem to track follower counts more than what arrives on the plate.

OxRated is our answer: a minimalist guide to the region's food scene, written by people who actually go.

How it works

We visit unannounced and pay our own bills. Every place gets the same treatment — an honest look at the food, the room, and whether it's worth your money. Then we publish a clean, direct rating with no hedging and no hype.

We focus on independents: the cafés, pubs, restaurants, market stalls, and producers that make this region worth eating in. Chains can look after themselves.

What's coming

Our first ratings are on the way — starting with the spots we keep getting asked about. Alongside them you'll find curated guides for the area and occasional features on the people behind the food.

If you want each new rating as it lands, the newsletter is the way — one email when something's worth knowing about, no spam, ever.

See you at the table.