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”

The Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton, Staffordshire, situated on Lord Stafford’s estate, has been appointed a ‘Graham’s Port Ambassador’ at a Port Tasting evening held at the pub on the 24th October 2019. The Fitzherbert Arms is the first pub in the UK to be presented with the award and joins a very special group of just eight establishments worldwide. The award recognises not only the exceptional Port list, with 30 different Ports available, (twelve of which are served by the glass) but also the dedication and professionalism of the Fitzherbert team who have delivered a consistent experience over the past 3 years with Graham’s and Port overall.

João Vasconcelos, Head of Sales for the Symington Family Estates, flew in from Porto to present the plaque to James Griffiths, Landlord of The Fitzherbert Arms and his deputy manager Charlotte Dawe in recognition of the work they have done. It has been an exciting time for James and Charlotte, as both spent three days in Porto and the Douro Valley on a company trip in September to improve their knowledge and experience even further.

Commenting on the evening, Tim Bird and Mary Mclaughlin, the owners of the Fitzherbert Arms, stated “It has been a wonderful evening celebrating the Ports from this historical region of Portugal, we are over the moon and very honoured to own the first pub in the UK to be appointed as a Graham’s Port Ambassador. We look forward to continuing to increase the awareness and enjoyment of these amazing Ports in the Fitzherbert Arms and across our other pubs within our Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars Group. It was lovely to share this special night with our loyal customers and Lord Stafford. They too are very proud of the pubs achievement.”

Award-winning country pub, The Cholmondeley Arms, near Malpas in Cheshire, has been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Gin Pub of the Year 2020’ by The Good Pub Guide. The award category, introduced for the very first time last year, was added to recognise the increasing number of pubs now stocking an impressive selection of gins. This is the second 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 and its Gin Tasting Classes, the Cholmondeley Arms showed the consistency and innovation to keep the award a second year! The award recognised the Cholmondeley’s 8-year focus on gin, before the renaissance really began too. The award also comes in the very month of the eighth anniversary of owners Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin’s re-opening of the pub after its restoration to what you see today.

Tim Moody, 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 2020’. Gin has always been our favourite tipple and being recognised with such a prestigious award for the second 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 all.”

MOBBERLEY Football Club are benefitting from Umbro’s ties to the village as they go from strength to strength.

They are looking ahead to a fresh season all kitted out in new gear – supported by the sportswear company and its birthplace, The Bulls Head, Mobberley. After a hiatus of nearly 40 years, MFC was re-established by a team of enthusiastic footballing parents in 2016.
Starting with just half a dozen children, MFC now boasts three full year groups of players from age five to 11 and have been playing matches in the Cheshire and Timperley District League since 2017.

This year we are honoured to have, not just one, but two pubs at Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park! The Cholmondeley Arms have joined the Church Inn this year and both teams will cook side by side. Not quite ‘when two tribes go to war’ but there will certainly be some friendly competition for sure.

hurch Inn Head chef Richard….Pub Chef of the Year, of course, is leading his team versus Andy, our Cholmondeley Arms Head chef… they are joined by other chefs from our pubs with landlords Simon and Tim of course. Jess will be trying to keep them all under control and Dan is back to help both camps keep up with prep and washing up!

The photo shows every one with Tom Kerridge just before the big opening at the Lambing Shed in Knutsford!

We look forward to a great weekend! See you all soon!

Step aside Manchester City! At the BAFTA theatre in London’s Piccadilly last night the Church Inn came and conquered once more. It was the Pub and Bar Magazine’s annual awards.

This time there was even more recognition, with our Head Chef Richard winning Pub Chef of the Year! On winning Richard said “this is for my entire kitchen team! They work tirelessly with me to bring both classic and seasonal dishes to our guests table. It’s a proud moment for all of us!”

Following the presentation of Richard’s award it was time to see if the Church Inn, having already won ‘Pub of the Year for Cheshire’, could reclaim it’s Northwest crown…up against the likes of the Oast House in Manchester, the Church Inn was announced as the winner of the Northwest region for the second year running!

So with great excitement Simon and Richard went on stage to accept the award from none other than Jay Raynor, the Observer food critic! No one could have dreamt of what happened next! After very close scoring between the top three pubs the Church Inn came out on top and took the UK crown…! Yippee! Big cheers went up as Simon and Richard returned to the stage to pick up the ‘treble’!! Simon was asked by Jay Raynor how it felt to win…Simon replied “this is for our all our team and our very loyal guests….we are delighted!”

So another great night at BAFTA! Well done we are all very proud.

Simon and Richard arrive at BAFTA

The Best in the Northwest is announced!

Pub Chef of the Year Richard our very proud Head Chef

Simon and Richard joyfully accept the Best in the Northwest Award for the second year running

Simon and Richard posing with the trophies with Pub and Bar Magazine Editor Tristan and Food Critic Jay Raynor.

The writing is on the trophy!

Best in the UK! What a great feeling

The Best of the Best 2019

Richard and Simon chat with Jay Raynor after winning the top prize

Tim, Mary Richard and Simon with a trophy or two on after the event at BAFTA

Simon and Richard enjoy the sweet taste of Champagne as Tim and Mary treat them to supper at the Wolseley on Piccadilly!

THE Church Inn at Mobberley is celebrating its third success in the National Pub & Bar Awards.

A total of 94 pubs and bars across the country were named the best venues in their respective counties, with The Church Inn being chosen as the top in Cheshire.

Church Inn owner Mary McLaughlin said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award for the third time.

“It’s a true reflection of all the hard work and dedication from our manager, Simon, head chef Richard and all the team – a great achievement for them all.”

From left, head chef Richard Williams, Deputy Manager Rebecca Winskill, Asst Manager Matt Ward, Junior Sous Chef Ged Bethell