Meghan Markle joined Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi for lunch at a pub in the charming village
I visited a village 90 minutes from Wales so discreet stars like Meghan Markle and Ellen DeGeneres love it(Image: Jonathan Buckmasterr)
Meghan Markle quietly visited The Three Horseshoes pub for lunch with Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi — but if anyone apart from the photographer spotted them, they kept quiet about it.
Asthall, situated in the picturesque Windrush Valley near Burford, is home to approximately 250 residents and a pub. On a weekday afternoon, its golden Cotswold stone cottages and meandering rural lanes were virtually empty. A few patrons enjoyed the sunshine outside, while a small number of villagers strolled along the grassy paths and verges.
The Oxfordshire village, which is around 90 minutes from Wales, is surrounded by rolling countryside and historic houses and has a particularly strong appeal for those interested in village life, walking, architecture and literary history.
Asthall Manor remains a private residence today, although its historic rooms and gardens are occasionally opened to visitors for special events and selected tours. The house dates largely from the early 17th century, although the site is thought to have much earlier, medieval origins. The manor became especially well known when Lord and Lady Redesdale purchased it in 1919. Their children included the celebrated Mitford sisters – Nancy, Diana, Unity, Jessica, Deborah and Pamela – who spent their childhood years at Asthall before the family moved away in 1926.
Nowadays, Asthall provides a peaceful retreat for a couple whose homecoming to Britain has been far from low-key. Meghan and Prince Harry returned with their children just over a month ago, six years after departing the working Royal Family for America.
Within The Three Horseshoes, which combines contemporary spaciousness with traditional timber panelling and a conventional menu, staff remained steadfastly discreet. No one, including the manager, would reveal what Meghan selected, her demeanour, or whether she frequented the establishment. This discretion permeates the entire village.
“We do attract a lot of well-known people here,” Wendy Rainbow, aged 68, explained. “This is the kind of village where we respect their privacy. They can walk about freely knowing they won’t be bothered.”
The Sussexes aren’t the only celebrities to have made the Cotswolds their home, with Liam Gallagher, Kate Moss and David and Victoria Beckham also residing in the area. While the occasional visitor might attempt to approach famous residents, an unwritten rule prevents long-standing locals from behaving similarly, with staring, pointing and requesting photographs deemed inappropriate.
Karl Faller-Kerr, 53, who resides near The Three Horseshoes, explained that the region has been “blown up by big celebrity players” in recent times, attracted by its “peaceful, nice and pretty” atmosphere, particularly during weekdays.
Located merely five minutes’ drive from Jeremy Clarkson’s establishment, The Farmer’s Dog, it’s remarkable that Asthall maintains the privacy it does. During weekends, Mr Faller-Kerr noted, visitors arrive in droves and locals “can’t move for cars”, with thoroughfares “absolutely jammed”. Nevertheless, “there’s a bit of an expectation you’ll stay quiet about things”.
Joe Beales, 32, confirmed that Ellen and Portia visit regularly. “Famous faces are pretty common here,” he noted. “People aren’t that fussed. They’re just living their lives.”
Geoff Mines, 79, suggested that prominent individuals “can still come and go pretty quietly”.
“You can see the appeal for Meghan and Harry,” he observed. “We don’t discuss people in the village or in the pub,” said a local farmer who wished to remain anonymous. “If you’re looking for gossip, you won’t get much from the residents here.”
Things to do in Asthall
Asthall’s history stretches back well beyond its picturesque appearance today. The village’s St Nicholas Church dates from before 1160 and has been altered and extended over the centuries. The surrounding landscape reveals an even older past, with evidence of Bronze Age and Saxon occupation, including ancient burial mounds. The Roman road known as Akeman Street also passes close to the village.
Today, Asthall may appear to be a quintessentially peaceful Cotswold village, but beneath its tranquil character lies a remarkably rich and layered history, stretching back thousands of years.
One of the best ways to discover Asthall is on foot. The village is surrounded by a network of footpaths that lead through open farmland and along the River Windrush, with picturesque views across the valley towards Swinbrook, Widford and Minster Lovell.
There are also walks that bring the area’s fascinating history to life.
The Cotswolds National Landscape has a seven-mile circular route starting in Asthall and taking in Worsham, Widford and Swinbrook, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the countryside while discovering the places and stories associated with the Mitford family.
It is a chance to see a quieter side of the Cotswolds, away from the better-known tourist hotspots, while taking in some of the area’s literary and cultural heritage.
