Landlord Mark Butcher talks, ABBA, Mamma Mia and parties

THE beautiful, quintessentially English village of Wytham may be rather peaceful most of the year but last summer, Hollywood came knocking.

A letter arrived asking for permission to use the White Hart for a ‘family-friendly film musical’ that turned out to be Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again. And it’s due for UK release on July 20.

For a tiny village (population 131) Wytham is actually not unused to being on screen.

The cameras rolled first for Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse: The Way through the Woods back in 1992.

Thereafter the magnificent Wytham Manor has provided the setting for several films most notably JoJo Moyes’ Me Before You, filmed here in 2015.

So when the camera crews rolled up last August to film the opening sequence, the villagers of Wytham were ready for action. Without wishing to spoil anything, Mamma Mia 2 is directed and written by Ol Parker.

It is the sequel to Mamma Mia and stars Meryl Streep, Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Dominic Cooper and Cher. Ol Parker described the opening sequence shot in Wytham as something akin to the first scene of La La Land, but with 80 just graduated Oxford students on their bikes in full academic dress.

Fast forward to Friday, July 13, and we’re having a Mamma Mia Mezze and Singalong charity evening in our beautiful courtyard.

If you’re an Abba or Mamma Mia fan a fun evening is The Name of the Game.

On offer is an all you can eat mezze barbecue with tzatziki, taramasalata, homemade pitta breads, Kalamata olives, grilled swordfish steaks, kleftiko kebabs, Greek salads etc.

Plus an Abba fancy dress competition and prizes, a complimentary glass of Ouzo or Retsina (optional!), a singalong to the Abba and Mamma Mia soundtrack and maybe there will be a few Dancing Queens

More importantly, there will be a silent charity auction of Mamma Mia Film Memorabilia – The Winner Takes It All.

The evening will support SSNAP – Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents, located in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, a charity dedicated to supporting the families of sick and premature babies.

Super Troupers are especially welcome.

Mamma Mia Mezze and Singalong charity evening

Friday, July 13

White Hart, Wytham

Tickets £30 per person.

whitehartwytham.com