Midsomer Murders is one of the most popular drama series in the world, even after an incredible 20 years. It airs in over 100 countries in 5 different languages and when a new episode is broadcast, 6m Brits make sure to watch it. These statistics are why Brakspear are proud to highlight our establishments that have been featured in the beloved TV series. Our starlets range from thatch cottage pubs to renovated hotels but each has found its own place in the Midsomer series. Here you can discover all of the Brakspear pubs that appear in Midsomer Murders and learn about when and where they are featured.

Can you recognise your local? Feel free to pop in, enjoy a drink and soak up the Midsomer atmosphere.

Angel on the Bridge, Henley-on-Thames

One of Henley’s most recognisable pubs, the Angel on the Bridge appears just in shot of the 2006 episode, ‘Last Year’s Model’. Rather than having a major part within the episode, the Angel is just in shot of a panning bridge shot as a lorry drives over as well as a portion of the terrace is shown as a body floats past. The Angel is situated just on the river and so profits from a packed terrace during the summertime and the Royal Regatta, with revellers enjoying both food and drink.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Last Year's Model (2006)

    When Tom Barnaby has his constable sit in on the murder trial of Annie Woodrow, the reports he gets back start him thinking that he may have made a mistake in assuming Annie's guilt. She is all-but-assured to be convicted of bludgeoning to death of an old school friend, as a reliable eye-witness puts her at the scene, and she was caught in a web of lies when questioned. But Tom feels that things don't really add up, so he and his constable keep investigating as the trial proceeds.

Chequers Inn, Fingest, Henley-on-Thames

Fingest is a small chocolate-box village that is home to the Chequers Inn, featured in ‘Country Matters’ (2006) and ‘The Silent Land’ (2010). The Chequers Inn’s appearance is anomalous however, in that it is the only Brakspear pub to not be featured as a pub. Rather it is repurposed as an antiques shop in the opening moments of the episode as a character walks across the road in front of it. The pub itself is a typical country pub that prides itself on its rustic feel and well-thought-out food menu.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Country Matters (2006)

    A stabbing in a nearby village brings Barnaby into contact with people fighting for and against the building of a supermarket on the site of an abandoned mill. The victim was known to many people in the village, but under at least four different names. Barnaby isn't sure the victim's death is directly related to the controversial development or to the reason behind the man's many different names, which isn't all that savory.

Blackwood Arms, Littleworth Common

Littleworth Common is home to the Blackwood Arms, the setting for two Midsomer Murders episodes. It made its debut appearance in 2015 in ‘Murder by Magic’ in which the opening scene sees DCI Barnaby having a drink with his wife Sarah in the Blackwood Arms’ garden. The pub also makes a brief appearance in ‘Breaking the Chain’ (2016) in which a national cycling competition runs through Midsomer. Recreate the garden scene yourself with a pint during the summertime or enjoy their cosy interior next to the fire.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Murder by Magic (2015)

    Pub landlady Hannah Altman is crushed to death whilst assisting illusionist Gideon Latimer at a charity magic show to raise funds for Midsomer Oaks church. The trick was sabotaged, suggesting that Gideon was the intended victim. He had received hate mail linking his act to Satanism and a particularly vocal critic is zealous curate Andrew Maplin. Certainly robed figures conduct midnight rituals in the grounds of Gideon's mansion, once owned by an eighteenth century paganist and one of them kills Andrew, leaving his corpse on a stone altar. Hannah was having an affair as is Gideon's wife, widening the list of suspects, whilst the vicar's wife Lorna Soane is revealed as a descendant of the eighteenth century Satanist. There is another slaying before Barnaby works out who committed murder by magic.

Bull & Butcher, Turville

The village of Turville in the Chilterns is a famous filming location, being the setting of the TV series The Vicar of Dibley and the films Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Good Night Mr Tom. The Bull & Butcher is featured in both ‘Murder on St Malley’s Day’ and ‘Schooled in Murder’ as the epicentre of scandalous school-related business. In the former, the Chalk & Gown as is it renamed, is the meeting point for the children of Devington School as the initiation space for a new club member. It is then used as the last sighting of Oliver Ordish, where he had one too many before his death.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Schooled in Murder (2013)

    After threatening to expose secrets of other parents at Midsomer Pastures school, single mum Debbie Moffett is lured by a phone call to her death in the dairy where she worked. She had been having an affair with Oliver Ordish, whose wife Beatrix was chair of the school's PTA, and when he too is killed, Beatrix is the prime suspect. Greg Brantner, whose wife Hayley inherited the dairy from her late father, had worked with Debbie to streamline it, antagonizing local farmer Helen Caxton and her brother-in-law, dairyman Jim Caxton. Further deaths suggest dairy politics are the motive until Barnaby discovers that several of the suspects and victims had been contemporaries as pupils at Midsomer Pastures.

  • Murder on St. Malley's Day (2002)

    The Devington school has a long history of educating the privileged members of society and many have gone on to illustrious careers, such as in the Diplomatic Service. The Talbot family in particular has a long association with the school with three generations having attended. When Daniel Talbot is killed during the St. Malley's Day race, the same day his elderly grandfather dies of natural causes, Barnaby and Troy investigate. They find ongoing feuds between the school and villagers, a conspiracy theorist who thinks the school is the center of criminal activity, students who are having drinking parties at the local pub and the ongoing affairs of the school's secretive Pudding Club. The discovery of a long-held school secret leads to the discovery of the murderer.

Chequers, Watlington

Watlington now it's very own Midsomer trail so it's well worth taking in the sights whilst you're there. The Chequers is a delightfully friendly village pub serving good, honest and all home-cooked food. There's also a very pleasant garden for the warmer months too. It took us a while to find the Chequers in Midsomer Murders, we knew it was there somewhere but with 20 series to trawl through, it took us a while. We eventually spotted it in sevries 7 but disguised as The Star!

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Bad Tidings (2004)

    After a quarrel with her husband at the Midsomer Mallow residents association's Spanish Evening, Fiona Thompson walks home, but never arrives. She is found the next morning in Chaney's Field, having been stabbed to death. Barnaby investigates with his new Detective Sergeant, Dan Scott, in tow. An early suspect is the village odd job man, Jacob Stoat. Cully Barnaby meanwhile organizes a get-together with some old school friends, one of whom is the dead woman's neighbor. She finds that her friends have changed and that they now have little in common. A second murder during the village's open garden day leads the police to a secret shared by Cully's friends and the identity of the murderer.

Crooked Billet, Stoke Row

The Crooked Billet is yet another anomalous pub in the Midsomer Pub portfolio. It features in the episode ‘Judgement Day’ (1999) as a pub in Midsomer Mallow during which the village is up for winning the Perfect Village in the midst of a triple murder. However, rather than being shown visually in the episode, the pub is featured audibly. At minute 34:30, Peter Drinkwater, the burglar and murder victim of the village, is said to have been “lounging outside the Crooked Billet” when last seen.

Even though the Crooked Billet is only heard, you can experience it in person especially for its food, for which it is famous. The Sunday Times recently listed the Crooked Billet as one of Britain’s Best Places to Eat, it’s also Waitrose’s Favourite Foodie Pub. The à la carte menu is always available as well as plenty of set course meals. The pub also regularly puts on events and special occassion dinners, perfect for celebrating.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Judgement Day (2000)

    The village of Midsomer Mallow is in competition for the title of the "perfect village". Joyce Barnaby has already won her own competition and is now one of the "perfect village" judges. Meanwhile, Barnaby and Troy are investigating a series of break-ins in the area. When the thief, Peter Drinkwater, is found murdered, there are no end of suspects: a jealous husband; a spurned girlfriend and her irate parents; one of the robbery victims who is not being entirely truthful with the police; and finally several members of the village committee whose only concern is how the death will affect their chances in the perfect village competition. In the end, Barnaby must establish the link between these most recent events and a murder some years earlier.

Golden Ball, Lower Assendon

A 10-minute drive from Henley is Lower Assendon and the home of the Golden Ball. It makes its only Midsomer appearance in the 2002 episode ‘A Worm in the Bud’ in which the Golden Ball stars as Midsomer Worthy’s local and is the setting of an informal questioning with a Mrs Bartlett in the investigation of her daughter’s murder. Known for its sprawling pub garden and small but cosy interior, the Golden Ball is a great option come rain or shine.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • A Worm in the Bud (2002)

    Lower Assendon is about a 10-minute drive from Henley-on-Thames and is home to the Golden Ball. Known for its huge pub garden backing onto sprawling fields, it provides a lovely environment to enjoy a pint in the summertime. The Golden Ball makes its only Midsomer appearance in the autumn, in the 2002 episode, ‘A Worm in the Bud’. This episode details the investigation of the murder of Susan Bartlett who was found in Setwale Woods, the same woods that James Harrington is seeking to turn into a housing development. The Golden Ball stars as the local in Midsomer Worthy and is the set for an informal questioning with Mrs Bartlett, Susan’s mother by DCI Barnaby and whether the murder is related to the ongoing controversy with the forest development.

Six Bells, Warborough

The Six Bells is the jewel in the crown of Brakspear’s Midsomer Murder appearances. The picturesque thatched pub is a Midsomer favourite, with the pub being featured 7 times throughout the series. First appearing in The Quill Inn in ‘Bad Tidings’ (2004), it has been a firm favourite in the show up to its most recent series 18. The Six Bells appears in ‘Sins of Commission’, ‘Left for Dead’, ‘The Night of the Stag’, and ‘Breaking the Chain’ and then as The Luck in the World in ‘Second Sight’, The Black Swan in ‘The Great and The Good’ and The Quill Inn in ‘Bad Tidings’. When it’s not being featured in TV shows, the pub is a cosy and beloved local that is dog and family friendly.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Breaking the Chain (2016)

    Cyclist Greg Eddon is killed after winning the local leg of a national race, beating team mate Mitch McCordell at the last minute. Mitch's father Des, who owns the DJM racing stable tells Barnaby the race is make or break for them but there are clearly factions as Mitch's brother Aiden had sent threatening texts to Greg after he was seen kissing Aiden's girlfriend Amber. Local environmentalist Gerry Bleacher opposes the races, claiming that people die because of them and organizer and pub landlady Mary Appleton receives messages accusing her of murder. Des admits that DJM's sponsorship depends on Mitch's continuing success as the company is cash strapped whilst Reece Dexter, who runs rival team Ravondale, accuses Des of corruption and persuades Aiden to cycle for his stable. Another murder follows before Barnaby is able to save a further victim and identify who, in the cycling world, was guilty of literally breaking the chain.

  • Bad Tidings (2004)

    After a quarrel with her husband at the Midsomer Mallow residents association's Spanish Evening, Fiona Thompson walks home, but never arrives. She is found the next morning in Chaney's Field, having been stabbed to death. Barnaby investigates with his new Detective Sergeant, Dan Scott, in tow. An early suspect is the village odd job man, Jacob Stoat. Cully Barnaby meanwhile organizes a get-together with some old school friends, one of whom is the dead woman's neighbor. She finds that her friends have changed and that they now have little in common. A second murder during the village's open garden day leads the police to a secret shared by Cully's friends and the identity of the murderer.

  • Sins of Commission (2004)

    During the 12th Annual Midsomer St. Michael Literary Festival, local author Richard Rackham is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in his house. The pathologist confirms that his neck was broken before he fell and it is apparent that his laptop computer is missing. When book editor Neville Williams is also killed, Barnaby and Scott learn that he and Rackham were lovers. As the body count keeps rising, the police find multiple motives and several possible killers. Several characters were involved in affairs and some were involved in lucrative financial scams. The solution to the crimes is found when Barnaby unearths an author who has been writing under a pseudonym but who was about to let their true identity be known.

White Hart Hotel, Nettlebed

The White Hart Hotel in Nettlebed is a rustic gastro-pub and the setting for the grisly murder in the 2004 episode ‘Maid in Splendour’. The pub stars as the murder scène of barman Jamie Cruikshank who works in the eponymous Maid in Splendour, the screen-name of The White Hart. The episode begins with a panning shot of the busy restaurant interior and then as the setting for a questioning between Audrey, the manager, her daughter Bella, and Sgt Dan Scott. Midsomer fans can still dine and even stay at the White Hart but not in the same interior; the restaurant recently underwent a renovation, but the charming 14th century inn still exudes charm.

Find out more

Episode(s)

  • Maid in Splendour (2014)

    DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Dan Scott investigate the shotgun murder of Jamie Cruikshank, a barman at the Maid in Splendour, a pub in the village of Midsomer Worthy. The pub is now owned by Stephen Bannerman, a much disliked local property developer who has his own plans for the pub. Bannerman's father Michael, the original owner, didn't agree with his son's plans to turn the pub into a high end restaurant nor of his affair with Bella Monday, the daughter of his lifelong friend Audrey. When Stephen is subsequently killed, also by shotgun, Barnaby begins to wonder if Cruikshank's murder may have resulted from a case of mistaken identity.

Henley on Thames - a Midsomer hotspot

The picturesque Oxfordshire town of Henley-on-Thames has been featured several times in the series, as the capital of Midsomer county, Causton. Many buildings and areas of town have been used as sets for Midsomer characters carrying out their daily lives and investigations. Among some of the sets in town, Henley Town Hall in the heart of the town and acts as Causton’s court house as well as other local shops and businesses.