On a seemingly tranquil August evening in the English countryside, a Cotswolds pub found itself at the center of an unlikely international incident involving the sitting Vice President of the United States. The Bull, a centuries-old gastropub in Charlbury recently crowned the UK’s best pub by Pub & Bar Magazine, became the focal point of a controversy that has rippled across both sides of the Atlantic.
According to The Mirror, staff at The Bull reportedly threatened to walk out if JD Vance, the American vice president and deputy to Donald Trump, was allowed to dine there with his family while holidaying in the Cotswolds. Vance, 41, was vacationing at Dean Manor near Chipping Norton with his wife, Usha Chilukuri, and their three children during August 2025. The family’s itinerary included visits to local spots such as Daylesford farm shop, a barbecue with friends including former Apprentice candidate Thomas Skinner, and a stop at RAF Fairford to visit US troops on August 13.
The situation came to a head on August 16, when Vance had a table booked at The Bull on Sheep Street, Charlbury. Multiple outlets including The Mirror, Gloucestershire Live, and Oxford Mail reported that staff at the pub objected to serving the Vice President, going so far as to threaten not to show up for work if his reservation was honored. The Bull, facing what Popbitch newsletter described as “mutinous staff” and a “barrage of negative press attention,” ultimately turned down Vance’s reservation.
The incident was first brought to light in the Popbitch weekly gossip newsletter and quickly gained traction in national and local media. Richard Fairhurst, who runs the local Charlbury community blog, told The Daily Mail, “It’s very widely believed locally that staff refused to serve Vance but The Bull are keeping schtum.” Despite the widespread reports, management at The Bull, operated by the Public House Group, has not publicly commented on the matter.
JD Vance’s camp, however, sought to downplay the controversy. A source close to the Vice President stated, “The Bull was included as a potential option for lunch, but the family ultimately decided not to go. There was never any indication from The Bull that he or his family were not welcome.” This statement appeared in several outlets, including The Mirror and Gloucestershire Live, suggesting a degree of miscommunication or, at the very least, a difference in perspective between the American visitors and the pub’s staff.
Adding further intrigue, The Bull had only recently hosted former US Vice President Kamala Harris in July 2025. Harris’s visit was part of a pre-wedding dinner for Steve Jobs’ daughter Eve, and reportedly included a security detail of around 20 Secret Service members. One resident described the scene to The Sun: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There were men in black and blue suits, a guy in a leather jacket and more security outside doing frequent checks of the area. I was stood at the bar having a pint and there was a bald bloke sat on a stall on his own just drinking water all night. He was clearly part of the operation and sat quietly watching everyone around him with intent.”
Unlike Vance, Harris’s visit passed without incident, and she was welcomed by staff at The Bull. The contrast between the two visits has not gone unnoticed by locals and commentators alike. Some have pointed to the political differences between the two American politicians as a possible factor, though no staff members have spoken publicly about their motives.
The Bull itself is a storied institution. The 16th-century inn underwent a complete restoration under the stewardship of Phil Winser and James Gummer, Cotswolds natives who also operate acclaimed London pubs such as The Pelican in Notting Hill and The Hero in Maida Vale. The pub boasts a 50-cover dining room and ten en-suite bedrooms, and its owner, florist Willow Crossley, is known for her floral designs at the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It’s a place where rustic English charm meets modern culinary ambition—a setting many would expect to be immune to political drama.
Yet, the refusal to serve Vance has sparked a wave of public reaction, especially on social media. As reported by Oxford Mail and Gloucestershire Live, American veteran Marcia Vinson commented, “As an American veteran, that’s pretty far away. Could you please give your entire staff a big hug, maybe some high fives or fist bumps for me? Each and every one of them gets a huge thank you from at least me. I think your place should get another award for that as well, maybe even the Nobel Peace Prize.” Another supporter, Liz Loxley, wrote, “You have now also won the hearts of decent people on both sides of the pond. Many congratulations.” Aaron Drown echoed these sentiments: “Congratulations on your recent mini-mutiny. Well done.” Richard Ward added, “It is heart-warming to see that The Bull accepts no bull.”
The staff’s reported willingness to walk out over Vance’s visit has been interpreted by some as an act of principle, while others see it as an unnecessary politicization of hospitality. The Bull’s silence on the matter has only fueled speculation. Meanwhile, the story has become a talking point far beyond the Cotswolds, with some suggesting—tongue firmly in cheek—that the pub “deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Locals have also expressed frustration at the disruption caused by Vance’s visit to the area, citing multiple police convoys and buzzing helicopters as making their lives “hell.” For a region known for its peaceful landscapes and slow pace of life, the sudden influx of security and press attention was, by all accounts, an unwelcome intrusion.
What remains clear is that The Bull’s refusal to serve the US Vice President has struck a chord, igniting debate about the responsibilities of public spaces, the intersection of politics and hospitality, and the right of staff to object on ethical or political grounds. As Public House Group, the operators behind The Bull, The Pelican, and The Hero, continue to remain silent, the story has taken on a life of its own—part local legend, part international curiosity.
For now, The Bull in Charlbury stands as a symbol of both local independence and the global reach of even the quietest corners of England. The episode may soon fade from headlines, but the questions it raises about choice, protest, and the unexpected collision of politics and everyday life are likely to linger long after the last pint is poured.
