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The Pheasant at Keyston is one of three new Midlands restaurants to receive a Michelin Bib Gourmand
NEWS PAGES BY: TIM BURKE (TIM.BURKE@GREATFOODMAG.CO.UK)
Small JUST BEER WINS Quirky Newark micropub Just Beer is CAMRA’s East Midlands Pub of the Year 2012. The pub sells only ales – no lager, keg beer or spirits. There are always between four and seven real ales on offer, with at least one brewed within 20 miles of the pub. A cider or perry is also available. www.justbeermicropub.biz
CHEESE SHOP MATURES The Cheese Shop in Nottingham’s Flying Horse Walk has moved into neighbouring premises more than twice its former size. Proprietor Rob Freckingham said the new premises will allow for a greater range of artisan cheeses and deli items, better displayed, and also the addition of a café. www.cheeseshop-nottingham.co.uk
LEVI IN LEICESTER Food entrepreneur Levi Roots was at Leicester Market recently to inspire members of the city’s unique Food Enterprise Workshop. Based in Leicester Market, the Food Enterprise Workshop is a free two-day programme in which would-be food entrepreneurs are given the chance to learn the skills required to develop business plans and strategies. www.thefoodworkshop.co.uk
LOAF COOKERY SCHOOL Birmingham’s food-based social enterprise Loaf has launched its community bakery and cookery school at 1421 Pershore Road, Stirchley. Loaf started as a community bakery where local people commit to a regular investment to purchase bread. The new shop means bread is also now available to all. Signature loaves include rye, white and granary sourdough but there is also a range of European classics. www.loafonline.co.uk
4 Great Food Magazine
MICHELIN HANDS OUT NEW BIB GOURMANDS
Recognition for three new Midlands restaurants
T
hree new Bib Gourmand awards have been awarded to Midlands pubs and restaurants by the Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland 2013. Bib Gourmands are awarded for “good food at moderate prices” and the new recipients are The Pheasant at Keyston (which recently became a member of Great Food Club), Iberico World Tapas in Nottingham and The Chequers at Gedney Dyke, near Spalding. Elsewhere, Sat Bains retained his two Michelin stars for his eponymous Nottingham restaurant – making him the Midlands’ only double-star chef – while single stars were held by Hambleton Hall in Rutland and Fischer’s at Baslow Hall in Derbyshire (both Great Food Club restaurants). These venues also scored listings in the Good Food Guide’s list of the top 50 British restaurants, with Sat Bains coming in at number three, Fischer’s at 30 and Hambleton Hall at 31. The Birmingham trio of Purnell’s, Turner’s and Simpson’s also retained their Michelin stars, as did the Dining Room at Mallory Court in Leamington Spa, but the Olive Branch in Clipsham (also part of Great Food Club) lost its star after 10 years, having been one of the earliest pub-restaurants to gain a
Inside Nottingham’s Iberico World Tapas
star and being named Pub of the Year in 2008. Co-owner Ben Jones said: “Having a star for 10 years is a great achievement and we will continue to do what we love to the best of our ability.” The Olive Branch’s sister pub The Red Lion at Stathern retained its Bib Gourmand, along with the Red Lion at East Haddon (both Great Food Club members), plus the Berkeley Arms at Wymondham, Jim’s Yard in Stamford, and the Joiner’s Arms in Bruntingthorpe. There was better news for the Olive Branch in the 2013 Good Pub Guide (also see below), in which it was named Leics and Rutland Dining Pub of the Year for the tenth time in eleven years, and sixth best pub in the UK.
2013 Good Pub Guide names county winners The Good Pub Guide 2013 has named its Midlands Dining Pubs of the Year. Derbyshire: The Plough at Hathersage; Lincs: The George of Stamford; Leics & Rutland: The Olive Branch, Clipsham; Northants: The Falcon at Fotheringhay; Notts: The Martin’s Arms at Colston Bassett; Warwicks: The Malt Shovel at Barston.
The Martin’s Arms