In the novel Murder is Easy, The Seven Stars is a public house down the river from Wychwood under Ashe. The landlord was Harry Carter. The inn is felt to be lower in standard compared to the Bells and Motley. Lord Whitfield described it as "that nasty little pub down by the river". Mrs Church said it was, "Not a good-class house, and the landlord, Harry Carter, a low-class fellow and half-seas over most of the time."
When Superintendent Battle came to the village towards the end of the story, he stayed at the Bells and Motley. However, one of his men Detective-sergeant Jackson stayed (probably undercover) at the Seven Stars.
In adaptations[]
In the 2009 ITV adaptation of the novel, this inn is the only one to be mentioned. Luke Fitzwilliam has lunch with Bridget Conway there. There is a brief scene of the exterior with signboard in view at the point where Bridget meets Honoria Waynflete. This is likely to have been filmed at the village of Blewbury but the exact spot is not identified.
In the 2023 adaptation the name of the village where the pub is located is named Ashe Bottom.