Our Award-winning country pub, The Cholmondeley Arms, near Malpas in Cheshire, has been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Gin Pub of the Year 2021’ by The Good Pub Guide. The award category, introduced for the very first time two years ago, was added to recognise the increasing number of pubs now stocking an impressive selection of gins. This is the third year running that the Cholmondeley Arms has been chosen for this award.

With its staggering collection of more than 400 gins, it’s amazing Gin and Music Festival, held annually in July, its Gin Tasting Classes and Botanical Breaks for hotel guests, it has continued to innovate. The ‘Chum’ has also introduced its own gin with distilling starting during ‘lockdown 2’. The new Gin marks the pubs forthcoming tenth anniversary, under the ownership of Tim and Mary, who took on the Cholmondeley Arms way back in 2011. They invested in the pub, restoring and redeveloping it in to the institution it is today.

The Cholmondeley Arms showed the consistency and innovation to keep the award a third year for sure! The award recognised the Cholmondeley’s 9-year focus on gin, before the renaissance really began too.

James Griffiths, General Manager of the Cholmondeley Arms, comments: “We’re proud and delighted to have been awarded the title of ‘Gin Pub of the Year for 2021’. Gin has always been our favourite tipple and being recognised with such a prestigious award for the third year running is a real boost for the whole team who have worked so hard to bring ‘Gin to the Inn’ here at the ‘Chum’. I’d like to say a big thank you to our excellent team and also to our loyal ‘gin loving’ customers – we couldn’t have done it without you!

We are delighted to announce that the Cholmondeley Arms has landed two prestigious awards; the ‘County Dining Pub of the Year 2021’ and ‘Gin Pub of the Year 2021’ by The Good Pub Guide. This is the third year in a row the ‘Chum’ has won the national title ‘Gin Pub of the Year’ and the second time it has won the title of ‘County Dining Pub of the Year’.

This double celebration comes as we launch our very own ‘Cholmondeley Arms Gin’ in time for Christmas. The new Gin marks our forthcoming tenth anniversary, under the ownership of Tim and Mary, who took on the Cholmondeley Arms way back in 2011. They invested in the pub, restoring and redeveloping it in to the institution it is today.

Our new Cholmondeley Arms Gin has arrived and is receiving excellent reviews with 100 bottles already sold! Having our own Gin has been a dream for some time, but during ‘Lock down 2’, it was finally distilled by award winning producers and good friends, the Big Hill Distillery in Mobberley. The highly acclaimed gin has a traditional juniper base with a nice finish of lemon rind, root ginger and Alderley Edge honey – supplied by our beekeeping customers Mike and Ruth. The gin is served with lemon zest, plenty of ice and Double Dutch Indian tonic water and is fondly regarded as a ‘contemporary dry gin’.

We are all very proud of our achievements and wanted to say a big thank you to all our customers for your support and kind words over the years. These are currently tough times for pubs, so it is particularly welcome for the Cholmondeley team to be recognised with these two significant awards. We look forward to seeing you all soon for a Cholmondeley G&T!

Despite the obvious challenges, one independent pub group is looking forward to a head start to the new year thanks to a new gift card platform. Read More

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Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars launched its pay-ahead membership scheme for customers of the group’s six pubs, launched when they reopened after lockdown on 4th July and redeemable after 2nd January next year. The success of it speaks volumes for the fierce customer loyalty inspired by each pub, especially during lockdown. Read More

Despite trading challenges facing the hospitality sector well into 2021, one independent pub group is looking forward to a ‘head start’ to the new year thanks to a popular new scheme created using gift card platform Toggle. Read more

Saturday 16th November 2019

The Fitzherbert Arms, Stone, Staffordshire

In the old village of Swynnerton on Lord Stafford’s estate is the dog-friendly Fitzherbert, perfect for a pint after a winter’s walk. Pups are welcome in the bar and snug, which entwine with an open-plan feel and are warmed by three delicious fires.

A vivacious team ferry platefuls of food to elegant tables: seafood platters, steak and stout pies, crumbles, brownies and local cheeses. Your four-legged friend won’t feel left out thanks to tasty treats on the bar.

sawdays.co.uk/pubs/thefitzherbertarms

The 30 best winter pubs in Britain, as selected by Sawday’s

Saturday 16th November 2019

The Bull’s Head, Mobberley, Cheshire

You feel the warmth as soon as you walk through the door of this pretty village pub. Candles glow on the tables, fires crackle, and the staff couldn’t be nicer. It holds a dog show every August and even has doggy beer behind the bar. Under a low-beamed ceiling, seven hand pumps dispense the finest local ales, including Bull’s Head Bitter and the inimitable Mobberley Wobbly.

sawdays.co.uk/pubs/thebullshead

The 30 best winter pubs in Britain, as selected by Sawday’s

After a marvellous year for the Church Inn team, from receiving National recognition to the success of ‘Pub in the Park’……we are delighted to announce that the Church Inn has been recognised in the Good Beer Guide 2020, for the first time since the pub was rescued from closure back in 2013 by Tim and Mary our owners!

To get in the Good Beer Guide is the ‘perfect match’ to the Church Inn also being confirmed in the Michelin Guide 2020 for our food, all in the same month! Good news for the Kitchen team and good news for the Bar team too.

Siobhan our general manager at the Church Inn said “We are naturally very proud indeed of this recognition from two very thorough publications…who have visited on numerous occasions to ensure we are to a high standard, consistently. The whole team play a part and work very hard indeed to deliver great food and drink. We are proud to use very local suppliers for all ale and our food too and they too must share in this recognition..Cheshire and Manchester Ales at their finest and great farms, bakers and butchers across the same region, local and proud togther”