Fitzherbert Arms wins Gold.

Left to Right Asst. Managers Tim and Zee, Head Chef Connor, Manager Rebecca and Rooms Manager Kelly.

We are delighted to announce that our Fitzherbert Arms in the village of Swynnerton has won the top Gold Award and become Pub of the Year 2025 at the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards.

General Manager Rebecca, Head Chef Connor, Asst Managers Tim and Zee and Rooms Manager Kelly were all at the Hilton Hotel reception when their win was announced. Sponsored by the University of Staffordshire, the awards celebrate local businesses across the county. The Fitzherbert Arms is an award-winning pub in its own right, winning the ‘Best Taste Award’ at the Pub and Bar Magazine Awards last year. The Fitz’ were up against very strong opposition but came out smiling. The entry and judging process was vigorous to say the least and to come out on top is truly amazing! Rebecca added “we are truly over the moon, there were some great pubs in the line up, so to win Gold is a superb reflection on all the team’s efforts to make the Fitz’ such a special pub.

Only a year ago the Fitzherbert Arms opened its 10 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 so delighted 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 this award. We share it with everybody.

 

 

Car Treasure Hunt Season ends on a High!

What a great day we had at the Fitzherbert Arms on Saturday 19th October. Nine competitive teams rocked up on a wonderful sunny day and drove the country lanes of Staffordshire that surround our lovely pub. The competitors had to take photos, pick up 42 cryptic clues and answer some car and Fitzherbert Arms specific questions too. Everyone was back in good time and enjoyed a few complimentary nibbles while owner Tim marked the papers!

As pictured In third place were ‘Real Ale Madrid’.  They were knocked into third by veteran Treasure Hunters and winners in 2019 ‘Road To Nowhere’. In first place was Team Galley who did a very good round to pick up the cup and become Fitzherbert Arms Treasure Hunt Champions 2024. The winning team also picked up some unique Guinness glasses and some Guinness too from our sponsors Guinness 0.0%, as well as the main prize of £200 Gift Card to use in our pubs also generously supported by Guinness 0.0%.

Well done to the winners and indeed to all the teams that took part. Thank to Guinness for their sponsorship support at the Fitzherbert Arms. We raised a further £90 for the Air Ambulance, which means over the three Treasure Hunts held in October at our Cholmondeley Arms and Bulls Head, as well as the Fitz, we have raised £340.00 for the Air Ambulance in total!  A great effort by everyone. Thank you!

 

See you all in October 2025!

Cheshire Cat are smiling again!

From left to right Cholmondeley deputy manager Leigh, Cholmondeley manager Helen, Cheshire Cat owner Tim, Fitzherbert Arms head chef Connor, Cheshire Cat owner Mary and Fitzherbert Manager Rebecca!


Our pub company Cheshire Cat Pubs and Inns, owned by Tim and Mary, is celebrating again after two of their pubs achieved great accolades at the Pub and Bar Magazine Awards in London on Wednesday 26th June 2024. The Cholmondeley Arms and the Fitzherbert Arms made the journey to the awards having been chosen as County winners of Cheshire and Staffordshire respectively.

Cholmondeley Arms Manager Helen and Deputy manager Leigh arrived in London to see if the Cholmondeley Arms Team could go one further and win the Northwest region. Great news! The Chum won it! We now have the honour of ‘Best in the Northwest’ back within our Company Cheshire Cat. We held the honour previously with our sister pub the Church Inn back in 2021. Owners Tim and Mary were at the awards to help the teams celebrate!

The Fitzherbert Arms meanwhile had already won ‘Best Pub in Staffordshire’ for the third year running. The Fitz Manager Rebecca and Head Chef Connor headed to London to see if the Fitzherbert Arms Team could go one further and win the West Midlands region. To their complete surprise they went one better and won the honour of the National ‘Best Taste’ Award sponsored by Tyrells Crisps, which recognised most notably the great food performance under the stewardship of Head Chef Connor and his kitchen team and of course the effort of the entire team who make the Fitz the great pub it is today.

Please check out the photo of the entire team at the awards and you’ll notice the enormous bag of Tyrells crisps which has a photo of the Fitzherbert Arms across the front! It was fun carrying that around London after the awards! All in all, it was a great night in London, and we are all very proud of Rebecca, Connor and the entire Fitz team and Helen and Leigh and the entire Cholmondeley Arms team.

Fitzherbert Arms wins National Taste Award!

Rebecca and Connor pose by the Tyrells, (the award sponsors) stand after their win.

A great night at the Pub and Bar Magazine Awards in London! The Fitzherbert Arms had already won ‘Best Pub in Staffordshire’ in the Awards a month or so ago for the third year running. The Fitz Manager Rebecca and Head Chef Connor headed to London to see if the Fitzherbert Arms Team could go one further and win the West Midlands region. To their complete surprise they went one better and won the honour of the National ‘Good Taste’ Award sponsored by Tyrells Crisps, which recognised most notably the great food performance under the stewardship of Head Chef Connor and his kitchen team and of course the effort of the entire team who make the Fitz the great pub it is today.

Owners Tim and Mary were at the awards along with Helen and Leigh from our Cholmondeley Arms who won ‘Best in the Northwest’ on the night too, making it a double for Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars! Please check out the photos and you’ll notice the enormous bag of Tyrells crisps which has a photo of the Fitzherbert Arms across the front! It was fun carrying that around London after the awards! All in all, it was a great night in London, and we are all very proud of Rebecca, Connor and the entire Fitz team.

The Fitzherbert Arms’ 8th Treasure Hunt is a hit!

We certainly got lucky with the weather as 12 teams rocked up to compete in the 8th annual Fitzherbert Car Treasure Hunt 2023. The teams set off into the lovely Staffordshire countryside as usual picking up clues and answering challenging quiz questions along the route!

All arrived back safely after a couple of hours and enjoyed a much-needed drink and complimentary nibbles while Mary and Rebecca set about marking the papers. In third place was the Amigos in the Jaguar, in second place was the Non-Golfers in, what else, a VW Golf. Winning a £20 gift card and a £40 gift card respectively.

The winners of the Cup and a ‘Porsche for the Day’ …..the new Fitzherbert Arms Treasure Hunt Champions of 2023 were The Goonies, Victoria and Kate, pictured!

Well done to all the teams who took part, you all did very well indeed. We hope to see you all again soon. We raised £130.00 for the Air Ambulance. Thank you for competing and making it another great day at the Fitzherbert Arms.