The Montgomery Group is set to launch The Bat and Ball, a country pub with rooms in Cuddesdon.

The project is the second opening from owner Ben Moss, who took over 15th-century pub The Lamb Inn in 2022, and marks the beginning of the Oxfordshire pub group, The Montgomery Group. The Bat and Ball transforms the previously empty site into a cosy village pub and accommodates over fifty guests, with 48 seated covers and additional standing space for ten.

The kitchen will be overseen by Michelin trained Executive Chef Nat Berney, previously of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and now Head Chef at The Lamb Inn. Diners can expect the usual ‘pub bangers’ on the menu, while Nat’s delicate touch elevates these familiar dishes to the next level.

Ingredients will be sourced from local suppliers, with meat from third-generation butcher The Calnan Brothers in Watlington, seafood from Flying Fish Seafood, organically grown vegetables from DBF Banbury; and Somerset’s famed Longman’s Cheese, all delivered daily.

Meanwhile, the wine list will focus on small growers, and they will serve local ales and a selection of Estrella beers. Sitting centrally in the Oxfordshire village of Cuddesdon, just around the corner from Little Milton where sister pub The Lamb Inn is based, the pub itself dates back to the 16th century. It is a charming building with cosy nooks, unique bedroom spaces and views of the surrounding area from the pub garden, which will have 48 covers.

The whole venue will host five guest rooms, including three king suites, one king, and one double. Interiors have been designed by Sally Price of Insider Dealings and the artwork has been curated by Indigo Art.

“It brings me so much joy to be bring this community pub back to life in the form of The Bat and Ball and continue our mission of creating inclusive spaces where everyone can come together and enjoy great food, drinks and hospitality,” says Moss. “The pub will preserve the essence of a classic British pub, where people can either pop down for a pint with their dog in tow or indulge in a proper dining experience with serious bottles of Bordeaux.”