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 19^th 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 11^th.

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.

After a major restoration, this charming village pub has re-opened – the frontage is fun with a stack of old beer barrels between two large glass windows and box topiary. It’s on Lord Stafford’s estate at the centre of Swynnerton and a circular walk (details on their website) guides you from the pub car park and back again – just in time for lunch; dogs will be greeted with a biscuit and a water bowl. As you enter through an impressive glass door the bar sits proudly at the centre of this atmospheric pub to the right is a raised fireplace styled like a furnace as homage is paid to the ‘old Smithy’ of the village with blacksmiths’ tools and relics.

Down a step to the left is the older part of the pub with button-back leather armchairs beside a two-way fireplace, rugs on flagstones, hops and some fine old brickwork with the bar where friendly staff serve Fitzherbert Best (from Weetwood) and Swynnerton Stout (from Titanic) with a couple of guests from breweries within a 35 mile radius, good wines by the glass, a fantastic and carefully chosen choice of 30 ports with helpful notes (they hold port tasting evenings – phone for details), and a farm cider on hand pull from the Apple County Cider Company; The beamed dining room has similar tables and chairs, window seats with scatter cushions, gilt-edged mirrors, black and white photographs, and chandeliers, Do look out for the glass-topped giant bellows or anvil tables, door handles made of old smithy’s irons and candles in sconces within old port bottles. Outside, an oak timbered, covered terrace has contemporary seats around rustic tables, heaters, fairy-lit shrubs in pots and country views; more seats in a small hedged garden, too. The pub is owned by Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin who also own the Three Greyhounds Inn in Allostock, Bulls Head and Church Inn in Mobberley and Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton (all Cheshire) and Red Lion in Weymouth (Dorset).

The Fitzherbert Arms sits in the pretty village of Swynnerton on Lord Stafford’s Estate. The pub bears the family name and though closed for some time has now been fully restored by pub entrepreneurs Mary Mclaughlin and Tim Bird who have pubs in Cheshire too in a joint venture with Lord Stafford.

The Pub pays homage to the old Sywnnerton Smithy with tables made from old anvils and a Blacksmith’s furnace with tools and water troughs.

The Pub has over 30 Ports sold by the bottle of which 12 are also served by the glass and half bottle decanter. The pub has close ties with the Symington family who have five generations of Port making history in the Douro Valley.

The menu is modern British with all the ‘Fitz’ favourite dishes you would expect and the wine list offers some worthy differentiation on the grape front.

The pub has its own pub walk and well behaved dogs are welcome in the bar and the snug.

Private Dining is available at the Fitz as well as Port tasting classes and the pub has its own car club too.

The pub has three fires making for a cosy winters night and a wooden terrace and small garden for long summer days.

Ales come from within a 35 mile radius of the pub and feature great favourites such as Fitzherbert Best and Synnerton Stout.

Children under 10 are welcome until 7pm and there are no highchairs so guests are asked to bring their own booster seats etc.