by ballyboes

We have won best in the West Midlands!

We are very proud to announce that our Fitzherbert Arms has won ‘Best Pub for the West Midlands’ at the Pub and Bar Awards at BAFTA in Piccadilly, London on Wednesday 23rd May. Our sister Pub the Church Inn has also won ‘Best Pub for the North West’ for the second time in three years!

So, we are doubly delighted with this great news!

Big congratulations go to our GM James and the entire Fitz team. James attended the awards presentation with Dan our Head Chef.

Hard work and passion has persevered…and for a pub that was closed down two years ago this is truly amazing recognition for the team….well done everybody!

Not only did we win we met Martin Keogh the Arsenal legend and BBC pundit!

in news / reviews 0 comments
 by ballyboes

Sunshine at the Fitz welcomes another great turnout!

Thank you to all the car club members and enthusiasts who joined us for the first Car meet of the Season at the Fitzherbert Arms on Sunday May 13th.

We saw club members of the Good-fellows Car Club travel down from the Bulls Head in Mobberley and from Tarporley we welcomed Cholmondeley Arms Car club members as well as the core of the Fitzherbert Arms Club.

The cars that featured on the day can now be seen on the ‘Past Events’ page on the Car Club pages on the Fitzherbert Arms website www.fitzherbertarms.co.uk

Tim the owner of the Fitzherbert Arms and James the landlord of the ‘Fitz’ were on hand to recruit 12 new members and to take photos of the cars on show as well as presenting car club mugs and car stickers.

Tim and James along with other members of the team chose his ‘Favourite Car of the Day’, ‘favourite Car in Class’ and ‘cherished car of the day.

Congratulations to Julie and Tony with their 1953 MGTD for the ‘Favourite Car In Class’ and Bob with his 1964 Mercedes SL230 ‘Pagoda’ for the ‘Favourite Car of the Day’ and finally Graham and his 1966 Wolseley for ‘Cherished Car of the Day’.

Julie and Tony with their 1953 MGTD for the 'Favourite Car In Class'
Bob with his 1964 Mercedes SL230 'Pagoda' for the 'Favourite Car of the Day'
Graham and his 1966 Wolseley for 'Cherished Car of the Day'

We will be in touch soon with the next Car Meet which will be held at our Three Greyhounds Inn pub in Allostock near Knutsford and Holmes Chapel.

 

in car events 0 comments
 by ballyboes

We’ve won best in the county for the second year running!

The 2018 Pub and Bar Magazine Awards are back and the judges have chosen the best Pubs and Bars in their respective counties. We are proud to announce the Fitzherbert Arms has been chosen as the best pub in the county of Staffordshire for the second year running! Our sister Pub the Church Inn has also won in Cheshire! So, we are doubly delighted with the news!

The awards presentation will once again take place at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, located in central London on Wednesday 23rd May. As well as coming top in the county, we are also in with a chance of winning best Regional Pub and Overall National Pub of the Year, both of which will be announced on the evening! It is an honour to have been awarded best in the county and we are excited for the Fitz team who all played a part in this!

We will keep you updated once the 23rd May is over….Wish us luck!

 

 

in news 0 comments
 by ballyboes

Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2018: Winners announced!

The top movers and shakers of the UK drinks industry gathered last night in London to hear the results of the Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2018.

The nominees were voted for by Imbibe magazine’s readers in record-breaking numbers and the shortlist included the highest calibre of UK on-trade professionals.

Tim Bird, co-founder of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars picked up the award for Pub Personality of the Year.

Imbibe editor, Chris Losh, commented: ‘Tim has worked in the industry for over 35 years, and since he’s saved many pubs from closure in that time, it’s safe to say the UK’s pub scene would not have been the same without him.

 

‘He’s proved himself amazing at running everything from big pub groups to small independents, and, for the last seven years, his own group of country pubs and Inns. This passion for the industry is exactly what Imbibe Magazine is all about’.

Judges for the competition included restaurateur George Bergier, the Connaught Bar’s Ago Perrone, Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt, Northcote’s Craig Bancroft, Gin Journey’s Leon Dalloway, Beer Belle Annabel Smith, Mixology Group’s Myles Cunliffe and the Imbibe editorial team.

Imbibe launched the Personality of the Year Awards in 2011 and previous winners have included Heston Blumenthal, Ronan Sayburn MS, Thinking Drinkers, Alex Kratena, Christine Parkinson, Xavier Rousset MS, Dee Davies, Lyndon Higginson, Stuart McCluskey, Salvatore Calabrese, Laura Rhys MS, Thomas Decan, the Galvin Brothers and Jake Burger, as well as many other on-trade professionals.

The 2018 awards were presented on Monday 12th February at Mahiki Kensington.

Launched in March 2007, Imbibe magazine has rapidly become the UK’s leading magazine for on-trade drinks professionals working in premium UK establishments. Imbibe is a quarterly magazine, with more than 20,000 drinks buyers and servers in the UK receiving a copy. Copies are available upon request.

in news 0 comments
 by ballyboes

Our Owner Tim is Pub Personality of the Year 2018!

Imbibe Magazine is the UK’s leading drinks magazine and tonight at their annual awards in London our owner Tim was chosen as ‘Pub Personality of the Year 2018’.

Tim was up against some of the pub industry’s top talent on the night, but the judges not only looked at Tim’s vast experience in the industry but particularly the success of Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars, Tim’s company that he operates with his wife and business partner Mary McLaughlin. They have taken pubs that were either closed or close to closure and through their restoration have created one of the best small pub companies in the UK!

On winning this prestigious award, Tim thanked the team at Cheshire Cat…..”I have had many proud moments in my career but nothing has made me prouder than the achievement of our pubs. Starting our own business was the best thing we have ever done and tonight I share this award with Mary and the Cheshire Cat team! I would like to thank Imbibe Magazine for giving me one of the proudest moments in my career! I look forward to celebrating with the team!”

in news 0 comments
 by ballyboes

Record attendance for Fitz Treasure Hunt 2017!

Fifteen Cars and their Crews turned up to take part in the annual October Fitzherbert Arms Treasure Hunt. Last year there had been fourteen cars which at the time was a record. We hold three treasure hunts in the year one at our Bulls Head Pub in Mobberley where the 3p (Porsche Pint and pub) Club take on the Good Fellows Car club one at our Cholmondeley Arms Pub and of course one at the Fitz.

In third place this year were the Volvo Vampires (Halloween played a part in one or two team names). Second place went to last years champions the
Pit-Stops, who obviously have a good eye for clues!

But this years winners (pictured) are Tony, Rob, Lesley and Julia or by team name the ‘View Crew’. The top three got some Fitzherbert Arms vouchers to enjoy and the winners had the added bonus of a Porsche Driving Experience Day courtesy of our sponsors Porsche Chester. Of course their team name will go on to the cup!

Thank you to all the teams who took part. It was great fun and all the teams gave it a good shot with a lot of ingenuity on the collection of objects
round.

See you all next year….

in car events 0 comments
 by ballyboes

Private Dining at the Fitz

Should you have a special occasion our Staffordshire Room can seat up to 26 for an intimate private dinner. There is a separate outside space too for guests to enjoy pre-dinner drinks in the warmer months before sitting down to enjoy lunch or supper. Menus can be arranged to suit your event with an extensive wine list and of course the biggest choice of Ports in a pub anywhere in the UK. From Shoot Suppers to special anniversaries the Staffordshire Room is perfect. Please ring Leanne or Lucy to get the ball rolling on 01782 796782

in news 0 comments
 by ballyboes

Fitz celebrates with sister Pub the Cholmondeley Arms!

From left Leanne manager of the Fitzherbert Arms holding the ‘Best Pub in Staffordshire’ certificate with Tom Head chef of the Cholmondeley Arms who has the ‘Best Pub in the Northwest’ plaque next to Lucy, deputy manager of the Fitzherbert Arms and Tom’s partner helping hold the certificate for the Cholmondeley Arms and Cholmondeley Arms manager Tim with yet another certificate for ‘Best Pub in the Northwest!’

Leanne and Lucy from the Fitzherbert Arms headed for London on Tuesday May 23rd to the BAFTA theatre in Piccadilly to be exact. They were invited by ‘Pub and Bar Magazine’ for its awards night as the Fitz was chosen as Staffordshire’s best pub in 2017 by the publication.

Also at the event were team mates Tim and Tom from the Cholmondeley Arms (also owned by Tim Bird and Mary Mclaughlin) celebrating winning best pub in Cheshire!! So a double for Cheshire Cat, the company owned by Tim and Mary! The Cholmondeley Arms went on to be crowned ‘best in the Northwest’ at the awards….a tremendous achievement and emulating the Church Inn in Mobberley who won the same title last year….another pub owned by Cheshire Cat!

Well done to the Fitz..just over a year old but already award winning.

in news 0 comments
 by ballyboes

FITZHERBERT ARMS VOTED BEST PUB IN STAFFORDSHIRE

The Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton has been voted as the ‘Best Pub in Staffordshire’ in the prestigious Pub and Bar Awards in London.  The pub will now be entered into the running for ‘Best Pub in the UK’, battling against its sister pub the Cholmondeley Arms who won ‘Best Pub in Cheshire’.

This award completes a very successful 12 months for the pub who also received ‘Favourite Newcomer’ from the respected Alistair Sawday’s awards back in July, as well as a finalist of ‘Best New Pub’ from the Publican awards in March.

The Fitzherbert Arms, located on Lord Stafford’s estate, reopened in February last year after a period of significant restoration work that saw the famous 19th Century pub restored to its former glory as an enchanting, quintessential village pub that oozes character and features.

Tim Bird, owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns who operate the Fitzherbert Arms, comments; “We are so proud of this team and all that they have achieved!  The pub has only been in operation for just over 12 months and has already proved its merit with a stream of awards. What’s more important, however, is to see the positive response we’ve had from customers and to see such a famous old pub thriving again.”

The judges were impressed with the pub’s enticing décor, featuring creative interiors and pieces such as a blacksmith forge and unique anvil tables.  Other highlights included the warm atmosphere, created by three cosy fires, a ‘friendly vivacious team’ as well as the platefuls of flavoursome food ranging from seafood platters, steak and stout pies, crumbles, brownies and port-poached pears.

The Fitzherbert Arms was also praised for its range of drinks that include 30 different ports (more than any other pub in the country), 16 wines by the glass and a real cider as well as four cask ales produced within 35 miles radius of the pub.  The pub is also holding a gin tasting night on May 11th.

Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin operate seven country pubs, five in Cheshire, one in Dorset and now one in Staffordshire.  The group have had an extraordinarily successful year opening two new establishments and receiving a flurry of awards including: Best Food offer in the UK, Best Pub group in the UK, as well as being recognised in the Northern Bar and Restaurants Top 50 Companies.

in reviews 0 comments