I spent a few nights in Oxford last week and the city certainly was enjoying a healthy business in the its literary connections. There were Alice in Wonderland books, tea towels, chess sets, river cruises, sweets and tea cups among other items. And while stopping in at the Eagle and Child pub I raised a glass in honour of the Inklings, including CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein, who were regular patrons.

We rounded off a night out with a drink, this time an Ian Fleming/Bond-inspired Vesper martini (shaken not stirred of course) and I thought that my literary connections game was drawing to a close. I was ignorant at this stage that we were in fact drinking in the Randolph Hotel’s Morse Bar. But then Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox, better known to many as DI Lewis and DS Hathaway, walked in to enjoy a night cap and (unbeknownst to them) give me a perfect end to my blog.

Nice knowing you Oxford!

Lesley-Anne Crooks, Sales & Digital Manager