The next TVC Food Experience on Wednesday July 20 will be hosted by the fabulous guys from Etch (winners of Masterchef: The Professionals in 2013). The guest chefs will serve an interactive seasonal 6 course tasting menu inspired by fantastic Sussex produce. Tickets now available at etchfood.co.uk/the-varsity-club

BBC TWO’s Great British Menu is back and features Andrew Scott from Restaurant 56 in Faringdon. This year it makes history as the Palace of Westminster opens its doors for the first televised banquet to be held in the historic House of Commons Members’ Dining Room.

In a bid to cook at this ultimate banquet the competition reaches new highs in the kitchen as past record scores are equalled then smashed. The regional heats see one newcomer achieve the highest mark ever given in the competition’s history.

This year the chefs are competing to cook at the banquet in honour of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘Great Britons.’

The results will be aired in August

The Great British Menu judges will decide which chef will be the champion of their region and worthy of potentially becoming an ambassador for contemporary British cuisine. The eight regional winners will then compete in the National Finals for a chance to cook at the Great Britons Banquet at the Houses of Parliament.

The Fox Inn in Great Barrington has a New Head Chef Safi who has recently joined the team and completely revamped the bistro bar menu, using his extensive experience in the UK and knowledge of different styles and flavours to create classic dishes with a modern touch.

The inn offers a riverside conservatory, dining bar, two riverside alfresco dining and landscape gardens for eating and drinking options.

The locally sourced menu is overseen by their in-house butcher, Clive and the specials menu is an ever-evolving delight of seasonal fish, meat and vegetarian options. There is also a bar snack menu to cover all customers’ needs.

The Fox Inn, Great Barrington, Oxfordshire, OX18 4TB. www.foxinnbarrington.com. Review to follow

For the foodie dad, the head chef at the award-winning restaurant at Macdonald Bear Hotel, Woodstock has designed a menu to tickle their taste buds. On Sunday June 19 a special Father’s Day lunch will include every Dad’s favourite; a pork pie and picalilli as a starter, mains include a range of roast beef, pork belly or chicken all sourced from UK farmers. For those Dads with a sweet tooth there is an indulgent Bomb Alaska with roasted peanuts and caramel sauce. Two courses from £26.95, includes tea/coffee and petit fours.

The recently reopened and refurbed Dew Drop Inn in Oxford is becoming a juniper lover’s haven this month, with outdoor spaces transformed into pop-up Gin Gardens with lashings of Fever-Tree tonic in celebration of World Gin Day on June 11. Think an al fresco gin palace with plenty of iconic English charm, kitted out with bunting, parasols and deck chairs.

The Dew Drop Inn will be showcasing a special ‘gin menu’ and the best tonics that pair alongside, with Fever-Tree launching a spanking new ‘Aromatic Tonic’, currently exclusive to the pub and the first product from the sparkling mixer specialists for three years.

The Dew Drop Inn, 258 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DX

Two Oxford pubs are inviting residents to try limited edition burger and hot dog flavoured ice creams.

Prince of Wales on Station Road, Didcot and Royal Standard on London Rd, which are both owned by Greene King, revealed the savoury treats to launch their summer-long burger and hot dog festival.

The unusual flavours have been created by ice cream aficionados Beechdean Diaries.

The two pubs are also offering a free Prosecco and a buy-one-get-one free offer for the new Burger and Hot Dog Festival menu for anyone brave enough to try the savoury 99s.

The Greene King burger and hot dog festival menu is available from now until 31st August.

www.findaproperpub.co.uk/burger-and-hotdog-fest