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
Ramblers met up at The Cholmondeley Arms to support Countryfile’s ramble for Children in Need. People from all over Cheshire took part in the event, bringing dogs and children on a two-hour walk through the Cholmondeley Estate. With special permission ramblers got to see the delights of the Cholmondeley estate including the Castle and private chapel whilst on their walk.
Local residents helped to put the event together, escorting visitors through their farm land to gain access to the park.
All in all a great day, the sun was shining throughout the day, and the walk was finished in the best possible way…the pub!
Over the entirety of the weekend, the British countryside filled with CountryFile viewers as thousands headed into the great outdoors to raise money for Children in Need. This is the second year the BBC programme has run the event and it has proven to be a great success. The programme will air on BBC’s CountryFile on November 6th highlighting all the rambles that took place over the weekend.
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 annual Cholmondeley Arms Car Treasure hunt had a record number of teams with the weather looking good! Quiz questions about the Cholmondeley Arms and the Car Club as well as a car picture quiz all had to be completed as well as the active treasure hunt itself! There were 85 points to get and by the end two teams couldn’t be separated!Teams called ‘No Idea’ and ‘Team Chumps’ seem to defy their team names by bagging 65 points each as the Cup and Cholmondeley Arms gift vouchers were shared for the first time!!
Well done to all who took part! See you next year!!
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.
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.
At a glittering dinner at Chester Racecourse in late November we are very proud to announce that the Cholmondeley Arms was chosen as the ‘Tourism Pub of the Year 2015/16’.
The judges reflected on our consistent food and drinks offer particularly the work done to attract more people to Cheshire via our work with Gin and of course the success of our annual ‘Gin Fest’, plus our Bonfire night, our Annual Gin Appreciation homemade gin competition, our Cholmondeley Car Club, the investment in the Headmaster’s House Bedrooms, our Dog Friendly coverage in the Telegraph, plus maintaining our presence in all the guides.
The Cholmondeley Arms is a unique pub with lots to make one happy and it is a great rural meeting place. This award was gratefully received by our manager Jess and owner Mary who were delighted that the ‘Chum’ has at last been recognised for the efforts made to promote its position on the Cholmondeley Estate and in Cheshire as a whole.
Local Chum regulars Kit and Phil did a cracking job with the 2015 Cholmondeley Charity shoot in April. The event attracted a great deal of support and with fair weather was a great success with the shoot raising a record £3600 split equally between the Air Ambulance and Hope House with £1800 each. The charity shoot is an annual event so do join us in 2016. A big well done to Kit and Phil and all the rest of the locals with Jess and the Chum team for all their hard work!
Tuesday Evening saw Professor Ted’s quiz final at the Cholmondeley Arms, with over 12 teams battling to win.
Every month the winning quiz teams are awarded points to join the leader board, the season runs from October to April. At the final quiz of the season double points are awarded to the top 5 teams. There were four teams that were all in contention to be crowned leader board champions.
After a very exciting quiz, the scores were announced… The winners of Tuesdays quiz were a new team, despite their best efforts they were unable to budge the ‘Four Candles’ from the top of the leader board. Each team member won a £20 voucher and the whole team won a gin tasting.
We look forward to seeing you at the ‘Ted to Head’ on May 27th at the Three Greyhounds in Allostock…