If Alice had spied The Abingdon Arms through the looking glass, she most likely would never have travelled on to meet Tweedledum and Tweedledee or the Red Queen, but instead settled down in the welcoming country pub for a plate of fine food.

With stunning views of the lush, chequered fields of Otmoor - which are believed to have inspired Lewis Carroll’s giant chessboard in ‘Alice Through the Looking-Glass’ - and a cosy but chic country pub feel, it is no wonder the residents of Beckley banded together to save the venue from closure to turn it into the community hub it is today.

After a lengthy campaign, the pub’s future was secured in 2017 when the Beckley and Area Community Benefit Society raised more than £400,000 to complete a takeover as a registered community asset.

Despite villagers reclaiming their favourite haunt, this rare success story can continue to flourish with visitors from far and wide.

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A Friday night was the perfect opportunity for my husband and I to spend an evening sampling the delicious dishes and fine wines the pub has to offer.

After perusing the menu and receiving advice from the attentive waiters, a starter of deep fried calamari served with garlic mayo and tomato salsa (£8.95) was top of my list.

Calamari is a favourite of mine when eating out and the bar was set high in my mind, but I need not have worried.

The golden calamari placed in front of me looked and tasted delicious. The batter covering the tender squid rings was light, crispy and full of flavour.

My husband Andrew chose the mushroom, spinach and garlic fricassee served on toasted bread and parmesan (£8.50).

Oxford Mail: Mushroom, spinach and garlic fricassee served on toasted bread and parmesan

The delicate mushrooms were coated in a silky sauce which had a hint of garlic, whilst the crisp toast was the perfect accompaniment. So far so good, and the best was yet to come.

Andrew decided on the beef brisket served with dauphinoise potatoes, seasonal vegetables and red wine jus (£18.75) for his main course. The beef melted in the mouth and was seasoned with precision, but his favourite part of the dish was the dauphinoise which had the perfect ratio of creamy sauce and crispy topping.

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There was little doubt about the star of the meal; my main course, slow-cooked Noke shoulder of lamb, served with creamy mashed potatoes, vegetable panache and red wine lamb jus (£22.95).

Oxford Mail: Slow-cooked Noke shoulder of lamb, served with creamy mashed potatoes, vegetable panache and red

The presentation of the dish was exquisite. Piped mash swirled across the plate alongside the succulent lamb shoulder and vivid seasonal greens, with a generous helping of the rich jus.

Not only was it a feast for the eyes, but a treat for the tastebuds.

We decided to end on something sweet, and as a coffee lover I could not resist the classic Italian tiramisu (£7.50).

It was creamy but light, sweet but not sickly and had the perfect amount of coffee liqueur.

Andrew went for the luxury chocolate gateau served with chocolate ice cream (£7.50). Double chocolate can be overpowering but not in this instance.

The cake was light and fluffy, and the sharp raspberry compote drizzled across the plate cut through any richness.

We chose to sit a while and admire the views across the valley, reflecting on the delicious meal we had enjoyed over the course of the evening, taking in the magical landscape beneath us.

This 17th century pub, filled with history and frequented by literary legends, is once again a local gem.

With fresh produce in each dish on the well-thought-out menu, it is a recipe for success in a Wonderland of its own.