Restaurant and Bar Awards 2025 | 9 Best Community Pub 2025 – Oxfordshire & LUXlife Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 The Montgomery Group is a family-run business best known for its remarkable restoration of The Lamb Inn in Little Milton. In early 2025, the pioneering pub group made waves in the hospitality industry with the launch of its second establishment, The Bat and Ball. Today we speak with Ben Moss, Founder of The Montgomery Group and key driving force behind its exceptional establishments, as The Bat and Ball is named in LUXlife magazine’s Restaurant and Bar Awards 2025. The Bat and Ball is a charming country pub located in Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire. The second opening for The Montgomery Group, its founding follows the successful restoration of The Lamb Inn, a delightful 15th-century establishment only down the road in Little Milton. The Bat and Ball expertly captures and elevates the charm of the pub experience, offering a menu full of traditional classics enhanced to consider seasonality, sustainability, and affordability. On a mission to provide a hub of camaraderie and entertainment that unites and delights its patrons, The Bat and Ball strives to ensure its offerings meet each guest’s unique needs. In addition to a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere that encapsulates guests from the moment they enter its doors, The Bat and Ball also features five beautifully appointed bedrooms. This includes three spacious king suites, a king room, and a smaller double, all perfectly designed for anyone seeking a tranquil getaway in the heart of rural Oxfordshire. Since first opening its doors in January, The Bat and Ball has been focused on making its stamp on the local community and its surrounding areas. “Our intrinsic mission is to provide a truly engaging pub experience that brings people together,” says Ben. “From a quick pint and great food to a lively game of darts, The Bat and Ball is built to fit everyone’s needs. I think The Bat and Ball has achieved excellence so far and will continue to achieve such excellence due to our core philosophy and ethos.” We learn that The Bat and Ball prides itself on being centred around community, inclusivity, and a deep passion for great food and drink. As with The Lamb Inn, the emerging pub is meticulous when selecting vendors; The Bat and Ball will only work with local and like-minded suppliers, such as The Calnan Brothers, Flying Fish Seafood, DBF Banbury, and Longman’s Cheese in Somerset. With this business model at its foundation, The Bat and Ball will see continued success in its mission of integration, establishing itself as a pillar of the local community. Another key element of achieving this mission is the outstanding team driving The Bat and Ball’s success, described by Ben to be the pub’s “bread and butter”. In fact, the team have been heavily involved in the establishment of The Bat and Ball, playing a significant part of the process of tasting seasonal dishes, drinks, and helping to shape the menus. The Montgomery Group focuses on wellbeing and works with a HR partner across its locations to incentivise its workforce, promoting a strong commitment to a good work-life balance. The Bat and Ball takes the same approach to expansion as The Lamb Inn, prioritising those who are keen and possess a good attitude. From there, each individual receives ongoing training, support, and guidance to ensure that their performance continually meets the pub group’s elevated standards. Alongside this, The Montgomery Group has furthered its commitment to staff development and community support through ongoing collaboration with The Springboard Charity, offering invaluable training opportunities to young adults aspiring to enter the hospitality industry. Following a successful launch, The Bat and Ball has soared to new heights in only a matter of months. The team has worked tirelessly to ensure its seamless integration into the local community, expertly laying the foundation of a stellar reputation that can be built upon in the upcoming years. A recipient of the LUXlife Customer Service Excellence Award, The Bat and Ball has already made significant progress in its development and has been hailed as the Best Community Pub 2025 – Oxfordshire. “We officially opened our doors to the public in January and I must say that I’ve been overjoyed with the reaction,” Ben tells us. “We want to keep delivering our exceptional standard of food and drink, of course, but also make a stamp both locally and in the UK. We have only been open a short few months, so to receive a recognition like this so early on is a real privilege. Thank you to everyone who has visited us so far and supported the journey. Here’s to the rest of 2025, and beyond!” Contact: Ben Moss Company: The Bat & Ball Web Address: www.batandballcuddesdon.co.uk
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