Sadly not in a good way.

I was thinking about lunch at the Wolseley Cafe restaurant at Bicester Village where the service was great, super efficient the food OK and then remembered it closed in 2022 after a feud between Bicester owner Value Retail Group and TWHG owner of Wolseley Cafe. After a four year tenure and a change of ownership to Minor International from co founder Jeremy King Bicester village found a way through a technicality in the lease to get rid of the brand even though TWHG could offer strong trading results and a desire to stay. I thought it was all a bit fishy at the time. A big public feud in the papers not the best PR so hey we had to eat elsewhere.

If I showed you a picture of this restaurant, stunning, cool pale green decor, Italian gelato stand, olive trees, al fresco dining, friendly staff in neat uniforms serving Aerosol Spritz, like us you’d see super stylish Italian vibes. We didn’t have to wait, we were early for lunch although it didn’t take long after we were seated for quite a queue to form. Lots of people were enticed like us by the visual.

Bicester Village Tua Pasta are obviously positioned for an opportunistic sale and not relying on repeat business because in spite of everything from the service to the setting being perfect the food was absolutely abominable. Almost inedible. We ate it and didn’t complain because we were hungry but possibly the worst gnocchi I have ever eaten and certainly won’t be returning except for the gelato.

Sorry guys, could have been a bad day although when we asked if the food had been cooked to order they told us everything is pre prepared ahead and brought in and then reheated and plated up which could be the explanation.

This is the restaurant opposite Ralph Lauren next the the valet parking.

It’s the one thing that’s missing at Bicester Village, a very good restaurant. Actually I take it take back. They’ve got an Ottelenghi now. On reflection we should have gone there.