Following the publication of the Sawday’s Dog Friendly places 2014 in which three of our pubs are featured the Sunday Telegraph picked up on the launch and together with Sawdays picked their national top ten!!
The Chum was first up because of its great dog welcome, dog biscuits on the bar, dog beer, dog beds in our two ‘dog friendly’ bedrooms and of course all the great walks you can partake in.
We have been known to cook for one or two famous dogs too and our Asst. Manager Monika jokingly insists that a dog can stay at Cholmondeley as long as it wears a hat!! One day a hound will turn up and surprise her.
We are delighted with the recognition and hope with our pub and grounds you will bring your well behaved dog for a visit.
To view the Sunday telegraph article click here
For the first time the Cholmondeley Arms has put a ‘Pop up’ Gin and Tonic bar in to the Pageant of Power (PoP) and on ‘World Gin day’ too. The
Cholmondeley celebrates world gin day by going through the 200 Gin barrier. Yes there are 200 Gins at the Chum!!
Jess the Cholmondeley Arms manager with Soph, Ben and Shane and many others set up the POP up and it features the ‘seven deadly gins’ namely…..
- Portobello Road Gin with lemons
- Ish Gin with limes
- Hunters Gin with cucumber
- Berkeley Square Gin with fresh basil
- Gin Mare with lemon rind and fresh Rosemary
- Opihr Spiced Gin with Red Chilli Pepper
- Bloom Gin with fresh strawberries
The theme of the bar is an English Country Garden with celebrating many Cheshire distilled gins as well as craft gins from further afield.
The Cholmondeley Arms Annual Gin Festival Monday 14th July – Saturday 19th July
Celebrating the 200 Gins of the Cholmondeley Arms now one of the biggest ‘Gin-stitutions’ in the world, with every Gin and tonic at only £5.00 during the festivities with different days featuring different Gins from some of the best Gin distillers in the world.
Our Country garden Gin Marquee will be opening on Friday evening and all day Saturday when the real ‘Gin fest’ 2014 begins with a little live music and a barbecue as we raise our Glasses to what will be an excellent event.
THANKS TO OUR LOCAL MP STEPHEN O’BRIEN FOR LENDING HIS SUPPORT.
Our motto has always been ‘local and proud’ when we talk about our pubs and our trip to London as the ‘Local Food’ Champions of the Northwest in the ‘Countryside Alliance Rural Oscars’ underlined this statement. Owners Tim and Mary accompanied by Cholmondeley Head Chef Christian and Sales and commercial manager Sophie travelled down to the House of Lords for the awards presentation. Weirdly the event was being held in, no other than, the Cholmondeley Room!!
It was a beautiful warm sunny day as we stood together outside the Cholmondeley Room looking at the fantastic view across the Thames and of the Houses of Parliament.
There were 40 regional champions (including us). 10 in our category. We were the only pub up for an award across the country which we are very proud of. The 2013 Countryside Alliance Awards (aka the Rural Oscars) were presented to top rural businesses by the Secretary of State for Defra, Owen Paterson MP. The Parliamentary reception was attended by Regional Champions who had travelled from as far afield as the Orkney Islands, the Isle of Anglesey, County Antrim and many points in between. The UK Champions were announced by Countryside Alliance Chairman Kate Hoey MP on what was an exceptional day for Yorkshire. Countryside Alliance President Baroness Mallalieu was on hand to present the inaugural Clarissa Dickson Wright Award to Cumbria’s Sillfield Farm on behalf of her late friend and Awards judge Clarissa, who passed away in March.
Our category was won by ‘Our Cow Molly’ from Dungworth, in South Yorkshire which is a family run business. With the dairy industry in freefall this farming family redoubled its efforts to go the distance for the next generation, diversifying into ice-cream production – a gutsy move that has paid off. Award winning ice-cream is just the tip of the iceberg here, and a commitment to other local producers through a farm shop, as well as the education of youngsters, is also strong. A new dairy building is currently in production on the farm and it will include a huge classroom which will overlook the dairy herd, enabling our Champion to enthuse the next generation about the industry and milk as a super-food.
We were very proud to be a part of such great champions of the countryside. Christian our Head Chef has worked very hard over the last couple of years to ensure the customers arriving at Cholmondeley enjoy locally sourced ingredients from game to lettuce leaves and this is true recognition of his efforts.
This award is dedicated to the Cholmondeley team….thank you for your hard work since we arrived back in 2011.
Our Local MP Stephen O’ Brien leant his support on the day and he too was very proud to see us at the House Of Lords for such a prestigious event.
After the awards London was enjoyed to the full before dashing (and I do mean dashing!!) for the train back to Cheshire.
The Cholmondeley Arms played host to an unexpected visitor on Good Friday!! This is Warren, he is walking from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to raise money for Macmillan cancer care. He was six weeks into the walk when he stumbled across the Chum and popped in to ask where he was and if he could have some water (he is walking without a map!) He also wanted to know where the nearest B&B was and if he could make it there before dusk.
When Ben our company support manager informed him that he might like to have a Guinness instead of a water, and that the nearest B&B was the other side of the car park he looked relieved to say the least.
Ben then told him that as it was Good Friday (a fact that he was unaware of) and in lieu of a financial contribution towards the sponsorship of his walk, he could have the room, and the beer, for free!
I think it is fair to say that this brought him to the verge of tears, and after a good long rest and a hot shower he continued his walk the following morning.
Next stop for Warren was Warrington, then onwards to Scotland and John O’Groats which he was hoping to reach within the next 2 months!
The only worry with Warren is that he hadn’t planned a way to get home when he finished the walk, and as home for him is Southampton, he could be still walking come Christmas!
We all wish him well and let us know if you do it!!
The 3rd Cholmondeley Clay Pigeon shoot went off with a bang literally as organisers and locals Kit and Phil (with the help of all the participants) raised a staggering £2k nearly for the Northwest Air Ambulance and the Arthritis Research charities. Chum Manager Jess and owner Mary decided to have a go at a few clays and it would appear Jess is a natural and Mary needs practice!!
The presentation to the charities takes place on Thursday May 8th at around 7pm ish here at the Cholmondeley Arms.
Big thanks and well done to all who took part and especially to Kit and Phil who made it happen.
Next year will be even bigger I am sure!!
It was a wonderful sunny day and ideal for a drive out in ones treasured car. The South Cheshire Raiders Car Club planned their visit to Cholmondeley perfectly. Such beautiful cars graced our car park whilst their proud owners met for fresh coffee and cured bacon sandwiches before embarking on a drive out to Erbistock. We have pictured the cars below….from Lagondas to Bentley to Jaguar and Riley such great examples of craftsmanship of yesteryear.
Many thanks to Tim and his fellow enthusiasts for giving us the opportunity to entertain the South Cheshire Raiders.
If you are interested in using the Cholmondeley Arms as a stop off for your car club then let us know by emailing us at info@cholmondeleyarms.co.uk
Ready for Refreshments at Cholmondeley!!
Regular customer Clare and cycling buddy Paul are the first customers to complete what is now called the Cheshire Cat Quad. They cycled between our four Cheshire Pubs and the total distance they cycled on Friday was 62.2 miles at an average speed of 17.1mph. The duration of the ride was just under 5 hours with a 30 minute refuel break of bananas, toast and tea at our Cholmondeley Arms pub near Malpas and a 20 minute puncture stop on the A49 at Bartington!!!
They were somewhat hampered from the start on the navigation front as they could not set the route on Paul’s new Garmin so had to wing it on memory!! This meant Clare and Paul probably did not go the most direct route!
They left our Three Greyhounds Inn in Allostock near Holmes Chapel at 8.30am heading towards the A556 through Northwich and Hartford(!) before hitting the A51 and then picking up the A49 at Oakmere. They then took a quiet route through Eaton village before climbing the Wrenbury road and arriving 29 miles later at our Cholmondeley Arms pub.
The return journey was repeated until they once again arrived at Oakmere but then they continued on the A49 past Weaverham up to Bartington and the puncture repair stop. Once on familiar turf they went on quieter roads through Comberbach , Great Budworth and on to Knutsford. The final leg was turning left onto the B5085 to our Church Inn pub in Mobberley for a quick photo before a downhill finish to The Bulls Head for 1.30pm to meet their family and have a much needed lunch and relax in the sunny beer garden.
On arrival at the Bulls Head Clare told us…..
“Paul and I both felt elated and relieved to have completed the ‘Cheshire Cat Quad’ especially as our navigation failed due to our inability to programme it correctly rather than technological failure! We had a brilliant cycle with favourable weather conditions and warm hospitality shown at all of Tim and Mary’s pubs. We will be by no means the fastest but at least we are the first to complete what will be a great cycle ride for many”
“Thank you for setting up a most enjoyable challenge”
Previously loyal customer and very keen cyclist Jonathon was the first of our cycling customers to complete the ‘Cheshire Cat Pub to Pub to Pub (Trio) Challenge’ last winter 2013 when we had just three pubs in Cheshire.
If you are a keen cyclist and want to be listed as a ‘Cheshire Cat Quad Cycling Challenge beater’ then let us know by emailing us at info@cholmondeleyarms.co.uk We can then help you plan your trip and ensure your photo is taken with your trusty bike at each pub. You will get your photo in our ‘hall of fame’ and we will welcome you at the final pub with a drink on the house!!
A big congratulations to our Cholmondeley Quiz Champions, after 6 tense quizzes ‘Keeping your End Up’ were crowned the Champions. Each month dedicated teams competed for points to win this title. Teams are invited for the Ted to Head against the Bulls Head Champions this will be held at The Three Greyhounds Inn, Allostock. (Date to be confirmed) Who will be overall champions The Bulls Head or The Cholmondeley Arms??
A letter arrived today confirming the Cholmondeley Arms is the winner of the 2013/14 Countryside Alliance Local Food Award for the Northwest of England!! This is a major win for the Chum and particularly head chef Christian (pictured right) and his team of chefs, Dean (pictured left with Christian), John, Eric and James. This award is the first presented to a rural pub in Cheshire!!
We are all very, very proud indeed and it is real recognition of all the work Christian and the team have put in to our menu with local farmers, butchers, cheese-makers and growers as well as local game suppliers. Bringing the best and the freshest local ingredients to the plates of our customers at Cholmondeley. I am sure Clarissa would have been very proud too.
This award means three in a row for our pubs with the Bulls Head in Mobberley winning Alistair Sawdays Authentic Pub Award for 2013/14 and then the Three Greyhounds Inn winning Best Food Pub 2013/14 at the Heineken Awards and now the Cholmondeley Arms with this recognition from the Countryside alliance.
Thank you to everyone involved with the Chum past and present who have helped us achieve this honour. We now go forth to the National finals with the national award presented at the House of Lords in the Cholmondeley Room no less, on Wednesday 30th April 2014.
Clarissa Dickson Wright sadly passed away on Saturday 15th March following illness. She will be greatly missed as one of the greatest chefs and advocates of British hearty cooking with the best of flavours.
While people are putting droplets and smears on plates and experimenting with horseradish ice cream Clarissa was firmly recommending an excellent Rabbit stew or a wholesome Oxtail casserole. She loved her game dishes and was a great supporter of the Countryside Alliance. Clarissa had graced the Cholmondeley Arms many times and her cook books will always remain here as a reminder (not that we need one) that she has left a lasting impression
on every plate we prepare not just at Cholmondeley but at all our pubs!
May her legacy live on in all we cook….
