The Chandlers Arms, Epwell.

Epwell has been here a very long time. The name comes from Eoppa's Well, after a Saxon called Eoppa who settled here over a thousand years ago, building his village in a ring around a clean, reliable spring. The water's still here. So is the village, built from the same honey-coloured Hornton stone dug out of these hills, quietly minding its own business on the edge of the Cotswolds.

The pub arrived in the late 1600s. Thick ironstone walls, stone mullioned windows, an inglenook you could sit inside. By the front you'll find the old mounting block, a slab of limestone carved with the date 1694, where riders stepped down off their horses before coming in for a drink. It's Grade II listed now. Back then it was just the step.

For three hundred odd years this was a stop on the old road between Banbury and Shipston-on-Stour, until the turnpike bypassed the village and left Epwell exactly as it was. Which, honestly, worked out rather well for everyone.

So why The Chandlers Arms?

Chandlers were candle makers, and this is where the story gets good.

In 1707, a footman in Queen Anne's palace called William Fortnum spotted an opportunity. The Queen insisted on fresh candles every single night, which left a small mountain of half-burnt wax going spare. Fortnum sold it on, did rather well, and persuaded his landlord to go into business with him. His landlord's name was Hugh Mason. Their little shop became Fortnum & Mason, the grandest grocer in the world, and it all started with candle ends.

The story goes that Mr Mason lived here in Epwell, and that Mason was one of the first licensees of this very pub. We can't prove it in a courtroom. It's the kind of tale that's been passed across this bar for generations, and we're not about to be the ones who stop telling it.

Location

We're only a short drive from Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Chipping Norton, Shipston-on-Stour and Leamington Spa, close enough for a spontaneous lunch, far enough away that it actually feels like you've escaped.

If you're making a day of it, you're spoilt for choice. Wander around Upton House & Gardens, pretend you know what you're looking at in the British Motor Museum, get gloriously lost on one of the countless walking routes, then reward yourself with a pint that's been waiting patiently for you.

Or skip all of that and just come straight here. We won't judge.

Whether you're dropping in for a quick bite, settling in for the afternoon or accidentally closing the bar with your mates, we've got the fire lit, the beer cold and a table waiting.

 

FAQ’s

  • We highly recommend booking as we do get busy, so it’s best to lock in your spot ahead of time.

    Smaller groups can still walk in and we’ll do our best to squeeze you in if we have space, but no promises if we’re stacked with bookings.

    For groups over 8, please email us directly at: hello@embertaproom.com and we’ll get you sorted.

  • Please see our kitchen times below:

    Wing Wednesday: 18:30-21:00
    Thursday: Dinner 18:30-21:00
    Friday: Lunch 12:00-14:30 | Dinner 18:30 – 21:00
    Saturday: Lunch 12:00 – 14:30 | Dinner 18:30 – 21:00
    Sunday: Lunch 12:00 – 14:30

    Don’t forget to book so you don’t miss out, if we’re stacked with bookings, we can’t always squeeze in walk-ins.

  • We'd rather be straight with you than let you down on the day. There'll always be proper vegetarian choices on the menu, but we can't cater for vegan diets.

    On allergens: we can cater for gluten-free diets with at least 72 hours' notice on certain dishes, which we will make you aware of after booking. Beyond that, we can't currently cater for other allergies as we are a small kitchen handling every major allergen daily. If you're unsure whether we can look after you, give us an email or call before booking and we'll be honest about it.

  • Inside, sadly not. We're a small pub and there just isn't room for tails and hot plates in the same space. But dogs are more than welcome in the garden, and we'll happily sort them a bowl of water while you sort yourself a pint.

  • Absolutely. We're family-friendly and love welcoming guests of all ages. The only thing we ask is that little ones stay with you at the table while you're with us. It helps us keep everyone safe, especially with hot food, busy service and plenty of people coming and going.

  • Absolutely. Everything in the fridge is available to take away. Just let us know what you fancy and we’ll sort you out.

  • We do, depending on the date and size. Birthdays, wedding receptions, charity events - we’ve done them all. Get in touch and we’ll see what we can make happen.

  • No TV here, we're afraid, the pub's too small. If there's a match you can't miss, our neighbours The Bell in Shenington and The Butchers Arms in Balscote will look after you properly. Come see us after for the post-match analysis.

  • We do, there's guest WiFi if you need it. Fair warning though: your phone signal disappears the moment you walk through the door. We like to think of it as a feature.

  • Please try not to park on the road through the village. There is a car park around the back of the pub, and when that fills up there's an overflow car park in the field, straight ahead of you as you come up the track to the car park. If you're using the overflow, please stick to the cleared area and keep off the track either side of it. And wherever you end up, please be kind to our neighbours and keep noise (and chaos) to a minimum!