About

Situated in the small hamlet of Ford in a beautiful rural location, The Dinton Hermit is a charming 17th century Grade II listed country inn. We’re dedicated to creating a friendly atmosphere that puts the customer at the heart of everything we do. We’ve got a terrific team on board, all passionate about warm hospitality and great service. We welcome families, food aficionados, dog walkers, local residents and those from surrounding towns and villages alike!

You’ll always find great craft ales and quality wines coupled with an extensive menu that has something for everyone. From a range of pub favourites to creative seasonal dishes that are updated weekly. There’s also a Little Tummies menu for smaller appetites and a host of bar snacks and sharing dishes. These are all prepared freshly using locally sourced and homegrown ingredients where possible. Our menu always has a selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes and our chefs are happy to make adjustments where possible to reflect any food likes and dislikes, dietary requirements and food allergies. Nothing is too much trouble!

We opened our bedroom accommodation in the middle of January, 2022. A total of eight beautifully refurbished, stylishly decorated and well equipped rooms are now available to book.

The pub was named after John Bigg who lived as a recluse in a cave in the nearby village of Dinton. He was a Parliamentarian sympathiser during the civil war and was involved in the execution of King Charles I on January 30th, 1649. In fact, he was reputed to be the actual executioner! Bigg survived for 40 years as a hermit thanks to the donations of local people who provided him with food, drink and scraps of leather. He nailed these scraps to his clothing and shoes. Indeed, a pair of his shoes remain on display at The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and clearly show the hundreds of pieces of leather nailed one on top of the other! It is also said that he kept three bottles around his waist. One containing milk and two containing beer. So, it is maybe apt that a public house should carry his name!