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.
The 2017 Pub and Bar Magazine Awards are back and the judges have chosen the best Pubs and Bars in their respective counties. We are delighted to announce the Fitzherbert Arms has been chosen as the best pub in the county of Staffordshire. We are naturally delighted! Our sister Pub the Cholmondeley Arms has also won in Cheshire! So we have a double to cheer about!
The awards are being presented at BAFTA in Piccadilly on 23rd May. At this event the best in the region will be decided…The Fitzherbert Arms is in the West Midlands final and the Cholmondeley Arms is in the Northwest final. Then one of the regional winners will win best pub in the U.K.!! Last year our sister Pub the Church Inn in Mobberley was voted best pub in the U.K. at the awards so it’s truly amazing to be amongst the best again! We are very excited for the entire team and our customers who have all played a part in us achieving such a great honour! We will keep you posted once the 23rd is over!
By The MA, 16-Mar-2017
Pioneering food couple Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin have used their vast experience in the foodservice sector to build their growing fleet of seven food-led pubs. Read More
Cheshire Cat Pub and Bars, has been named as ‘Pub Group of the Year 2016/17’ by the prestigious Good Pub Guide. The award follows a string of successes for the company over the year including being chosen as the Best Drinks Act in the UK at the Publican Awards in London.
The Good Pub Guide is the number one selling guide book for pubs in the UK. This award is given from the guide to pub groups that are first rate in every way and run by people who really care about both their pubs and their customers. The 2017 Good Pub Guide will feature over 5,000 pubs demonstrating just how stiff the competition is.
Owner Tim Bird comments: “This is a true accolade and we are very, very proud indeed. This award will mean the world to our entire team and our customers, as it recognises our teams huge efforts in helping us run wonderfully individual pubs well. It also recognises our collective efforts in rescuing pubs that were previously closed down or lost causes. Our pubs and Inns now shine brightly for our many loyal customers to enjoy for many years to come”.
The pub group was chosen by Fiona Stapeley, editor of the Good Pub Guide, and were marked on a range of criteria from the quality of service to product range, aesthetic design and the pub’s hospitality.
“The pubs have a great deal of individuality both in their décor, their choice of drinks, their food and their atmosphere,” says Fiona. “These pubs have consistently good feedback from all our readers. As I edit the book it becomes obvious which group of pubs really stand out head and shoulders above the others. Of course competition is stiff, but this year it was a straight-forward choice for me.”
Cheshire Cats Pubs & Bars is owned and operated by Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin, who have a collection of award winning pubs across Cheshire, Staffordshire and Dorset. Earlier this year the group were voted the Best Drinks Act in the UK at the prestigious Publican Awards ceremony in London. Their Church Inn won the coveted award of ‘UK’s Best Pub’ this summer, as well as their Fitzherbert Arms in Staffordshire scooping Sawday’s ‘Best Newcomer’.
The Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton has been voted as the ‘Best Newcomer’ in the prestigious Sawday’s Pubs & Inns Guide of England & Wales. The award comes after the Fitzherbert saw off competition from more than 800 pubs also featured in the guide.
The Fitzherbert Arms, located on Lord Stafford’s estate, re-opened in February this year after a period of significant restoration work that saw the famous 19th Century pub restored to its former glory as a lovely, quintessential village pub that oozes character and charm.
Tim Bird, owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars who operate the Fitzherbert Arms, comments; “With nearly 800 pubs featured in this year’s guide, winning an award so soon after opening is a fantastic achievement for the team. 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. The guide also praises the mix of customers from dog-walkers and ale-drinkers to those who have travelled from further afield to enjoy the quality food and impressive range of ports.
Other highlights featured include the beautiful open-plan feel, warmed 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 all served on old fashioned tables.
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 from within a 35 mile radius of the pub. There is a cosy snug, a private dining room and a charming outside summer terrace.
Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin operate seven country pubs, five in Cheshire, one in Dorset and now one in Staffordshire and have won numerous awards for restoring pubs of great heritage and character. Their estate includes the award winning and lovingly restored Cholmondeley Arms on Lord Cholmondeley’s estate, The Church Inn and Bull’s Head in Mobberley and The Red Lion in Weymouth. Their latest venture, the Roebuck Inn in Mobberley, has also now opened to offer a boutique Bistro with six eclectic rooms.
Cheshire Cats Pubs & Bars, who own and operate The Cholmondeley Arms on the Cholmondeley estate, The Bulls Head and Church Inn in Mobberley, the Three Greyhounds Inn in Allostock, the Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton and the Red Lion in Weymouth, Dorset, has been voted the company with the Best Drinks Act in the UK at the prestigious Publican Awards ceremony in London.
Cheshire Cats Pubs & Bars beat a number of national chains to the title, drawing high praise from the judges for supporting cask ales from local brewers. The company was also awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ title in the Best Food Offer category.
Each pub within the collection specializes in a particular drink with The Cholmondeley Arms boasting more than 300 gins, the Red Lion offering more than 80 rums and the Fitzherbert Arms offering over 30 Ports by the bottle. Whiel the Bulls Head, Three Greyhounds Inn and the Church have enviable collections of Whisky, Brandy and wine respectfully.
Tim Bird, owner of the unique collection of village pubs and country inns, comments: “These awards are equivalent to the drinks industry’s ‘Oscars’ and it is fantastic that our pubs and our teams has been recognized in this way. The award recognises the hard work that the team puts in and how we work with local breweries, suppliers and food producers to bring a memorable and unique experience to our customers everyday.”
Ed Bebbington, of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, comments: “This is a company that puts a lot of time and thought into getting its drink offer right, from its superb focus on local, great beers, through to an impressive offer of wines and spirits.”
Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin, owners of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars, have already won numerous awards for restoring pubs of great heritage and character and are now focused on the Roebuck Inn, also in Mobberley which after three years of closure is set to open in April.
For further information on Cheshire Cat Pubs and its collection of pubs, please visit www.cheshirecatpubsandbars.co.uk.
