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’.

A recent article by Marie-Elise Worswick in the national student paper, The Tab gives us the following accolade….

Best for monster portions: The Cholmondeley Arms, Cholmondeley

A rural location and modern deco makes this an ultra insta-friendly environment. Their fish and chips are to die for if you like massive portions, Cholmondeley is the place to be. Even their mushy peas are delicious.

To read the entire article click here

At the end of May teams from the Bulls Head and the Cholmondeley Arms went ‘Ted to Head’ in the grand final of Lord and Professors Ted’s great pub quiz.

Held at the The Three Greyhounds Inn, teams from the two pubs rubbed shoulders with regulars of the The Three Greyhounds Inn who also joined in.

The overall Champs on the night were the two year champs from the Bulls Head…..Ted’s Tarts! Well done ladies

They have already won a wine tasting at our Church Inn for the team as well our pub vouchers.

For winning the grand final there is a table for the team waiting for them to enjoy a supper on us. At a pub of their choice.

Thanks to Ted for all the great quizzes of the season and we look forward to welcoming him back at the end of September.

Tuesday 26th saw new champions pick up the Cholmondeley Arms Quiz Cup plus lots of Cholmondeley Arms vouchers and a free Gin Tasting!

Appropriately named Gin+42 (pictured) were true champs picking up a massive 66 pints overall. Well done and congratulations!

2nd place fell to Nelsons Pickle on 46 points, third were Kelsall Kwizzicals with 38 points and last years champs, Four Candles, were 4th with 16 points.

Tim was on hand to take the snaps and congratulate the winners as team captain of the Four Candles handed the trophy over to Team Gin+42!

Big thanks as always to Professor Ted our supreme quiz master! We couldn’t do it without you! The ‘Ted to Head’ final between the Cholmondeley Arms and Bulls Head happens at the Three Greyhounds Inn on Wednesday 25th May from 8pm.

Thanks to all the teams that took part in the quizzes over the last 6 months we will be back in September!

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.

Barry from the Bulls Head gives it the big thumbs up

Barry, Simon, Mary and James are delighted with the win

Brian of the Red Lion holds the trophy aloft our little 'Oscar'

Cheshire Cat win the UK's Best Drinks Act for 2016

James from the Three Greyhounds Inn celebrates with a kiss

Jess from the Cholmondeley Arms is very proud to hold the trophy

Leanne from our new pub the Fitzherbert Arms cannot believe our success at the first time of asking

Mary is delighted and proud indeed for all the teams

Mary with the trophy and comedian Michael Mcintyre, Tim and Simon from Coca Cola the sponsors of the award

Simon from the Church Inn seems very happy....

The best Drinks Act win hits the big screen

The Big screens reveal the nominations

The Team celebrate the huge win after the awards presentation

Tim and Mary ...wow what a win!!

Tim is stunned and so proud of the team

ANTOINETTE SANDBACH WITH TOM

Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach has nominated Tom Richards, the head chef from our award winning Cholmondeley Arms, for a prestigious Westminster Pub Chef of the Year Award after visiting us.

Antoinette Sandbach, commented “I have always enjoyed visiting the Cholmondeley Arms and sampling their seasonal menus. Tom has always delivered good locally sourced food that is bursting with flavour so when I found out about the competition I had to enter Tom. I wish him the best of luck.”

Tom Richards joined the Cholmondeley Arms two years ago and with his team of four chefs has consistently demonstrated a real passion for flavoursome cooking.

Mary Mclaughlin our owner added “Tom has been a key member of the team at the Cholmondeley Arms and we’re thrilled to see that his work and passion for local quality food has been recognized in this way.”

We are delighted to announce that we are now featured as a recommended place to stay on www.InnPlaces.co.uk, an innovative new website featuring Britain’s best inns and pubs with rooms.

Designed for travellers who really appreciate quality, InnPlaces.co.uk offers on-line accommodation booking as well as detailed and current information on each featured inn, unique Food Trails and extensive Out & About information – everything you need to know when searching for that special break away.

Follow this link to www.innplaces.co.uk  and by signing up to the Inn Places newsletter found on the Inn Places home page you could be the lucky winner of £150 of Inn Places Gift Vouchers.