by ballyboes

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

A lovely sunshine filled day greeted our keen competitors for the Cholmondeley Arms 8th Car Treasure Hunt. The pairs were sent off into the lovely Cheshire countryside 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 Tim and Rebecca set about marking the papers. It took a while as everything was very close indeed, so there was a need for a series of recounts!

There was a draw for second and to separate the teams, we chose the highest individual Treasure Hunt score of the two teams on the same score overall. So, in third place were ‘Mickey’s Maniacs’ winning a £20 gift card. In second place were treasure hunt veterans the ‘Smithy Smart Arses’ who collected a £40 gift card. The winners of the Cup and a ‘Porsche for the Day’ and so becoming the Cholmondeley Arms Treasure Hunt Champions of 2022 were Team ‘Dr Livingstone I presume’!

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 £100.00 for our two charities….Hospitality Action and Action Against Hunger. Thank you for competing and making it another great day at the Cholmondeley Arms.

1st
2nd
3rd
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 by ballyboes

Porsche Chester guests become treasure hunters at the Chum!

What a great day for a car treasure hunt! Sunny, dry and lovely blue skies greeted the ‘hunters’, for their ‘country roads drive’ around the lanes of Cholmondeley, set up by Porsche Chester, in association with the Cholmondeley Arms team.

Like the Chum’s own annual treasure hunt, the car team pairs were sent off individually to find clues around the estate and beyond. They also had to answer quiz questions, take photos of certain objects and do a little shopping too!

Everyone arrived back safely and presented their completed papers for the marking to commence. Kat, from Porsche Chester, was ‘head adjudicator’ with owner Tim and deputy Alex giving a hand!

While the teams enjoyed refreshments and nibbles, the marking was completed…..drum roll……In joint third place were the ‘Rich Tings’ and the ‘Super Sleuth’s. In second place was ‘Monty’s Best Friend’. Well done to all.

The Porsche Chester Cholmondeley Treasure Hunt Champions 2021 were the 9-9 TWO Team (pictured)! Congratulations to them and indeed all the cars that took part. Everyone made it round and had a great time.

We would like to thank our loyal, longstanding, car event sponsors Porsche Chester, for arranging the event with us and Team Chum for looking after everyone.

See you all again next year!

Kat from Porsche Chester announces the winners!
The Porsche's line up for the photo after the Porsche Chester Cholmondeley Treasure Hunt
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 by ballyboes

Great turnout for 7th Chum Treasure Hunt!

The Winners

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the 7th Cholmondeley Arms Car Treasure Hunt. Thank you too for all the kind donations. £135 was raised for the Air Ambulance, as each car team donated towards this great cause.

15 teams….yes 15….rocked up to the Chum on a bright, dry day, to take on the hunt, set up by owner Tim and the Chum team.

Everyone gave it a good go and got back safely to enjoy a nibble and a drink as Alex and Tim set about the serious task of marking the papers! It was like the Cholmondeley school all over again!
Finally the scores were in!

The third place team were the ‘Shady Ladies’ who picked up a £20 gift voucher! So shady were-they that they had disappeared before their photo could be taken! Ha!
In second place were the veteran team called the ‘Audacious Audi-licious’! Winning a £30 gift card.

Drum roll….in first place, taking the title of 2021 Cholmondeley Arms treasure hunt champions….were the ‘Explorers on the Edge’! Well done to them! Winning a Porsche for a day, kindly provided by our long-standing sponsors Porsche Chester.

Congratulations to the winning team and everyone who took part! A great day indeed!

See you all next Year!

Second placed

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 by ballyboes

Great Car Meet at the Cholmondeley Arms.

A great morning was had at the Cholmondeley Arms with many cars arriving for our first proper car meet of the season. Our final Car Meet of the season will be at the Three Greyhounds Inn, Holmes Chapel Road, Allostock, Cheshire WA16 9JY.

We thank all club members for their understanding, regarding the time it has taken getting the clubs back up and running again. In the time out, the Cheshire Cat Pub Car Club has been founded for all Club members to be a part of. Individual Pub Clubs remain intact and together form the new club for bigger events in the future. Car Club badges were given out to members and some new attendees joined the Cholmondeley Car club for the first time.

We presented our usual ‘Cherished Car of the Day’ to Peter and his Alvis 1260, 1932 Sportsman’s Saloon.

Another Peter was presented ‘Car of the Day’ for his Jaguar D Type 1958 replica that he built himself from scratch from 100% Jaguar parts throughout. A real ‘labour of love’. So excited was I to hear about the car, I forgot to take the photo of Peter by his car but I got the engine, the car and the new car sticker proudly placed on the window!

Finally the ‘Class’ chosen by the Club on the day was Porsche. So it was Andrew and Claire who took ‘Best in Class’ for an immaculate GT3 991/2. Well done to them all and to all the Car Meet attendees.

We look forward to seeing you hopefully at the Car Club Treasure Hunts and the next Car Meet.

Thank you for your support.

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 by ballyboes

Foodie Treble achieved as we get ready for opening (again!)

We are proud to announce we have achieved a ‘Foodie Treble’! In December just before ‘lockdown 3’ the Cholmondeley Arms was chosen by the Good Pub Guide as ‘County Dining Pub of the Year 2021’! This was a really fantastic achievement for the Cholmondeley Arms kitchen team led by Andy. It is the third time the ‘Chum’ has won this award 1996 and 2001 and now 20 years later we’ve achieved the honour again!

In January 2021 the Church Inn was chosen by Michelin for their Pub and Good Food Guides with a Michelin Plate for 2021. This is the sixth year in a row that the Church Inn has collected this distinction and remains the only pub in Cheshire with a Michelin Plate. Richard and his team, like the Cholmondeley Arms team, have worked through a difficult year with great commitment and culinary excellence. We are very proud of this consistent performance.

Now in March 2021 the Roebuck Inn has been chosen in the Estrella Damm Top 100 Gastro Pubs 2021. The Roebuck is the highest ranking Cheshire pub and this award underlines an amazing year, where the Roebuck Inn has remained open through every lock down and made a great name for itself as a ‘Pub Hub’, serving the community with ‘Just Heat’ Meals and great Fish and Chips every Thursday and Friday. Andy and his team have maintained a very high standard of cooking during lockdowns and of course when open too. This award comes on the back of Head Chef Andy’s nomination at this year’s Pub industry ‘Oscars’, for the ‘Outstanding Industry Contribution Award’ recognising Andy’s lockdown efforts at the Roebuck Inn Pub Hub. The Hub Team have already been presented in February 2021 with a ‘Covid Community Hero Award by our MP Esther McVey. Great recognition for a year of great effort keeping the hub open for our local community!

We are very proud of all the teams, for their amazing achievements over the last few months of very challenging times for us all.

Well done everyone! Good luck Andy!

 

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 by ballyboes

Large Double at The Cholmondeley Arms

We are delighted to announce that the Cholmondeley Arms has landed two prestigious awards; the ‘County Dining Pub of the Year 2021’ and ‘Gin Pub of the Year 2021’ by The Good Pub Guide. This is the third year in a row the ‘Chum’ has won the national title ‘Gin Pub of the Year’ and the second time it has won the title of ‘County Dining Pub of the Year’.

This double celebration comes as we launch our very own ‘Cholmondeley Arms Gin’ in time for Christmas. The new Gin marks our forthcoming tenth anniversary, under the ownership of Tim and Mary, who took on the Cholmondeley Arms way back in 2011. They invested in the pub, restoring and redeveloping it in to the institution it is today.

Our new Cholmondeley Arms Gin has arrived and is receiving excellent reviews with 100 bottles already sold! Having our own Gin has been a dream for some time, but during ‘Lock down 2’, it was finally distilled by award winning producers and good friends, the Big Hill Distillery in Mobberley. The highly acclaimed gin has a traditional juniper base with a nice finish of lemon rind, root ginger and Alderley Edge honey – supplied by our beekeeping customers Mike and Ruth. The gin is served with lemon zest, plenty of ice and Double Dutch Indian tonic water and is fondly regarded as a ‘contemporary dry gin’.

We are all very proud of our achievements and wanted to say a big thank you to all our customers for your support and kind words over the years. These are currently tough times for pubs, so it is particularly welcome for the Cholmondeley team to be recognised with these two significant awards. We look forward to seeing you all soon for a Cholmondeley G&T!

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 by ballyboes

Treasure Hunt winners enjoy their prize!

Treasure hunt winners enjoy their Porsche for the day..

The 2019 Cholmondeley Arms Car Treasure Hunt winners, the ‘Bickerton Babes’, Roger and Kate, are pictured enjoying their Porsche Cayman for the Day! Having won the Cholmondeley Treasure Hunt our great friends at Porsche Chester, generously supplied a Porsche Cayman 917 for the day as the winners prize! Looks like the ‘Bickerton Babes’ managed to get away for the day that’s for sure!

Look out for the 2020 Cholmondeley Car Treasure Hunt date and you too could be whizzing off in a Porsche for the day!

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 by ballyboes

‘Bickerton Babes’ take the 2019 title!

The annual Cholmondeley Arms Car Treasure Hunt 2019 was attended by 10 teams this year. The weather was ‘fair to middling’ as the dynamic duos took their places on the grid at 3pm before being sent off by Tim and Fliss with their clues under there arms….ready for a good hunt around the lanes of the Cholmondeley Estate and beyond.

Owner Tim had set the clues two days before but sadly could be there on the day because of a previous commitment. However Landlord Tim and Deputy Fliss were on hand to register the teams, hand out the clues and ensure every one left (and returned) safely.

After around a couple of hours the teams re-emerged unscathed, with no signs of falling out with each other….. which is always a positive!!

The papers were marked and Pub Plates were shared by the teams as they waited patiently for the results. Last year’s winner Phil was defending his title with a different partner in crime this year…his old friend Kit. But Phil just missed out as this years winners (Pictured) were the ‘Bickerton Babes’, Roger and Kate. They were presented with the Car Treasure Hunt trophy and their winning prize of a ‘Porsche for the Day’ kindly supplied by our kind sponsors Porsche Chester.
Well done to Roger and Kate and thank you to everyone who took part and donated too to our Air Ambulance Charity. See you all next season!

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 by ballyboes

Car Club Meet 19, a great sign off to a great year!

Car Meet 19 (like Car Meet 17) had to be moved because of the weather to Sunday 20th October, as we welcomed over 40 cars at least to another great meet here at the Cholmondeley Arms. The weather wasn’t as forecasted, as showers hampered proceedings somewhat, but the turnout was fantastic for the time of year! Thank you to everyone who ‘rocked up’. It was great to see familiar faces along with some new cars and owners too. The owners gathered inside the Chum, in the main and enjoyed warming coffees and teas and of course the bacon butties.

COLIN AND HIS VW BEETLE
MIKE AND HIS FORD GT 40
TERRY AND HIS AMPHICAR 770 FROM 1962

The Cars of the Day were Mike and his impressive Ford GT 40, pictured, then Colin and his unique VW Beetle who picked up ‘best in class’ and finally Terry in his amazing Amphicar 770 from 1962 which still doubles up as a boat at 7 miles an hour and a car at 70 miles an hour, hence the numbers after the name! This was ‘Cherished car of the day’.

Pictured as well, are all the cars (hope I didn’t miss anyone!) that kindly joined us for the morning. In the end the sun came out and all was well for the final meet of the season.

I just want to say how very grateful we are, for all the amazing support the car events have had this season. We have seen an array of wonderful cars in all aspects across the pubs, dating back to Veterans and Vintages and many Classics plus of course ‘performance’ and ‘cherished cars’ too. We look forward to some very special events next year. See you all next season. Events will kick of next April 2020.

Tim and the teams.

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 by ballyboes

Our First ‘Tour De Cat’ is a great success

On Sunday 13th October at 8.30am sharp, 18 cyclists braved the weather and took to the country roads that link our six wonderful pubs. They left from the Church Inn in Mobberley after registration.

With all the rain we did think we would have a poor showing, but to get 18 cyclists was amazing! In front of them was a one hundred mile challenge, taking them in to Staffordshire, to our Fitzherbert Arms pub via our Cholmondeley Arms and Three Greyhounds Inn before returning to Mobberley to pick off the Roebck Inn and Bulls Head. With the rain falling it was a gruelling, yet rewarding trip. Every rider had to collect a tiddlywink at each pub until they had the six. A Burger and a pint or three were waiting!!

Everyone completed the Cheshire Cat 6 other than three who missed out the Fitzherbert Arms, but did do the ‘Cheshire 5’ instead. The photos tell the story of how delighted everyone was to have risen to the challenge.

The Cheshire Cat Safari gets underway!
ADAM FROM BOUTINOT (RIGHT) POSES WITH THE REST OF THE CYCLISTS
AND FITS HIS WINE IN POSITION
ADAM AND NICK ARRIVE BACK AT THE BULLS HEAD FIRST
GUY CELEBRATES
BETH MANAGED 5 OUT OF SIX
RORY AFTER THE 100 MILE SLOG
AS DID HAMISH
A GREAT PINT OF ALE
A DESERVED GLASS OF WINE FOR CLARE
THE CYCLING 'TIM-BOLA'
BIKES STILL OUTSIDE THE PUB AFTER DARK!

All the riders arrived back safely to the Bulls Head in Mobberley with the exception of three riders who had started at the Fitzherbert Arms and circled round to finish there rather than the Bulls Head.

All enjoyed a drink and a burger ‘on the house’ before they took part in (Cheshire Cat owner) Tim’s cycling ‘Tim-bola’ which raised a few more pounds for our company charity ‘Action Against Hunger’. On the day we raised £315.00 for the charity! Which is a really great result. Despite the weather, the cyclists loved it and most importantly loved our pubs!!

We would like to thank cycling enthusiast Sam, from our bank HSBC, for supporting the event and for supplying the British Cycling Jerseys and books as prizes in the ‘Tim-bola’.

Bigger thanks have to go to Adam from our wine merchants Boutinot. Adam is a very keen cyclist too and made all the arrangements for the event with the help of Tim and the pubs too. Adam also helped with the wines for the ‘Tim-bola’ and cycled the 100 miles for good measure!

This is the first time we have held the ‘Safari’ and it will now be an annual feature on the Cheshire Cat calendar! Thank you to all the cyclists who took part, including Rory who travelled from London to have a go!

See you all next year!

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 by ballyboes

Cholmondeley Arms wins ‘Best Gin Pub in the UK’ for the second year running!

Award-winning country pub, The Cholmondeley Arms, near Malpas in Cheshire, has been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Gin Pub of the Year 2020’ by The Good Pub Guide. The award category, introduced for the very first time last year, was added to recognise the increasing number of pubs now stocking an impressive selection of gins. This is the second year running that the Cholmondeley Arms has been chosen for this award.

With its staggering collection of more than 400 gins, it’s amazing Gin and Music Festival held annually in July and its Gin Tasting Classes, the Cholmondeley Arms showed the consistency and innovation to keep the award a second year! The award recognised the Cholmondeley’s 8-year focus on gin, before the renaissance really began too. The award also comes in the very month of the eighth anniversary of owners Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin’s re-opening of the pub after its restoration to what you see today.

Tim Moody, General Manager of the Cholmondeley Arms, comments: “We’re proud and delighted to have been awarded the title of ‘Gin Pub of the Year for 2020’. Gin has always been our favourite tipple and being recognised with such a prestigious award for the second year running is a real boost for the whole team who have worked so hard to bring ‘Gin to the Inn’ here at the ‘Chum’. I’d like to say a big thank you to our excellent team and also to our loyal ‘gin loving’ customers – we couldn’t have done it without you all.”

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