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Fitzherbert Arms wins Gold again!

Left to Right . Deputy Manager Tim, Head Chef Nathan, Manager Rebecca, Sous Chef Andy and Deputy Manager Zee

We are delighted to announce that our Fitzherbert Arms in the village of Swynnerton has won the top Gold Award and retained our Pub of the Year title for 2026 at the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards.

General Manager Rebecca, Head Chef Nathan, Deputy Managers Tim and Zee and Sous Chef Andy were all at the amazing reception in Tamworth when their win was announced. The awards celebrate local businesses across the county. The Fitzherbert Arms is truly an award-winning pub, winning the ‘Best Pub in Staffordshire last year at the Pub and Bar Magazine Awards 2025.

This year the Fitz’ team were once again up against very strong opposition but came out smiling. The entry and judging process was as vigorous as ever and to come out on top for the second-year running is truly amazing! Rebecca added “we are thrilled, to win the award last year felt so special but to win it back-to-back in 2026 just shows how consistent we have been and it is a superb reflection on all the team’s efforts to make the Fitz’ such a special pub.

 

The Fitz was also recognised with a richly deserved Silver Award for the ‘Small Accommodation Operator’, recognising the ten Guest Bedrooms in the old Fitzherbert Farmhouse. A grade 2 listed building, it is a wonderful place to stay when enjoying the great attractions of Staffordshire.

 

Owners Mary McLaughlin and Tim Bird, who also have the Mainwaring Arms in Whitmore, as well as five award-winning pubs in Cheshire added, “we are over the moon for Rebecca and the team! The Fitz is a very special pub, but what makes it truly special are the team and of course our customers and guests. They along with our local suppliers can all be proud of these two awards. We share them with everybody. Thank you for your support of the Fitz.

Left to Right . Deputy Manager Tim, Head Chef Nathan, Manager Rebecca, Sous Chef Andy and Deputy Manager Zee
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Cheshire Cat is smiling again!

On Tuesday 10th March our owners Tim and Mary headed off into Manchester to the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show (NRB). Tim was a keynote panellist at the event, talking about the success of ‘No and Low’ alcoholic drinks within Cheshire Cat. Then later in the day our company was recognised for the 10th time in a row in the Kuits/NRB Top 50 Northern Hospitality businesses. But there was a surprise in store as our company was also awarded one of the prestigious ‘NRB High Achievement Awards’ for 2026 recognising our team’s efforts over the years. Three awards are presented on the day and Mark Birtshall the 3 Michelin star head chef of Moor Hall and the team behind Nell’s Pizzas in Manchester both sharing the stage with Tim and Mary.

Tim said “we are so delighted with this award. It is an honour to have been in the Top 50 Northern Hospitality businesses for 10 years in a row, but to be recognised with a ‘High Achievement Award’ is the icing on the cake and great testament to our wonderful team’s hard work and dedication. This is their award and recognises their tremendous efforts over the years. We are a big family really and together we will toast this award and ensure we remain consistent in everything we do for our guests and customers.

 

 

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Our Festive Tree stands proud in St.Wilfrid’s!

Our Mobberley Pub Teams joined forces, with the help of ‘Team Captain’ Jenny, to create a ‘Cheshire Cat Pubs’ themed Christmas Tree for St. Wilfrid’s Church in the village. Reverand Ian Blay set the charitable challenge to local businesses around Mobberley to bring a ‘themed’ tree to be displayed for two weeks within the Church for congregations to enjoy, create smiles and raise money for the Church. What a great idea with many trees on show. As you can see our tree was an amazing team effort. Big thanks to the Bulls Head, the Church Inn and the Roebuck Inn for bringing it altogether under the watchful eye of Jenny. The Tree is to be moved to our private dining room of the Church Inn after the charitable fortnight for our guests to enjoy too.

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Our Tim is a Beer Sommelier!

We are delighted to let everyone know that Tim our Deputy manager at our Fitzherbert Arms has successfully passed his Beer Sommelier assessment exam on Friday 28th November in Sheffield. Well done, Tim! You are now officially an accredited Beer Sommelier!

We are so proud of Tim, he has been through some tough training and exams over the last year but passed with flying colours.

Tim joins an elite group at the Guild of Beer Sommeliers which is operated in association with Cask Marque, who visit our pubs regularly to assess the quality of our Cask Ale, which is at the heart of our drinks act. Cask ale is the most sustainable pint on our bars because we work with local micro-brewers from within 35-mile radius of each pub….supporting local business and employment. It is the freshest pint on the bar and the most reasonably priced pint too with a mass of styles, colours and flavours. A pub is not a pub without cask ale…it is woven into our heritage!

Tim is a great ambassador and long may he pour pints with pride!

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Welcoming Tomorrow’s Talent: Work Experience at Cheshire Cat Pubs

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming some brilliant students from Knutsford Academy into our pubs as part of their work experience placements.

It’s no secret that only one in four employers believe young people are well-prepared for the workplace – and we think that needs to change. That’s why we’re proud to offer hands-on opportunities where local students can start building vital employability skills such as teamwork, communication, presenting ideas, and problem-solving. These aren’t just skills for the hospitality industry – they’re skills for life.

For us at Cheshire Cat Pubs, supporting young people into the world of work is about more than filling shifts. It’s about investing in our community, helping shape confident, capable individuals, and building relationships that could inspire future careers in our industry. It also reflects our wider commitment to sustainability – not just through the environment, but through people. Caring about our communities means creating opportunities, sharing knowledge, and championing local talent.

We’re proud of our close ties with local schools and even prouder to give young people a chance to experience the buzz of our pubs, the passion of our teams, and the values that set us apart.

A huge thank you to the teams who supported the students throughout their time with us – and to the students themselves, who brought curiosity, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective to our workplaces.

Here’s to investing in the future, one shift at a time.

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Wine Champions Take the Lead in ‘Pour & Explore’ Series

Our Wine Champions have just completed their latest training series, Pour & Explore, and what a journey it’s been!

Over the past few months, Champions from each of our pubs have deepened their knowledge of wine production, tasting, food pairing, and guest storytelling. Through workshops, supplier sessions, and creative projects, they’ve gained the skills to confidently train their teams and elevate the guest experience across the group.

The series culminated in The Grape Escape — an eight-day inter-pub challenge where teams competed to sell the most of our limited-edition wines, inspired by vineyard visits in Porto and Mallorca. Each pub created their own food and wine pairing menus, with Champions leading the way in training, marketing, and service.

The Roebuck Inn took home the win for top sales and the most diverse wine offering—proof of excellent team training and tailored guest engagement.

Will Matison, Wine Champion at The Roebuck, was crowned our overall winner, scoring top marks in every category.

We’re incredibly proud of the knowledge, creativity, and teamwork shown throughout this training programme. A big thank you to all the Champions and pubs who got stuck in and brought the project to life—we can’t wait to see how you use your skills in service going forward.

Next up for our Wine Champions – our Perfect Pours & Signature Sips series launches in May!

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