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’.

Tuesday 24th May is a special day indeed, it’s the official anniversary of the Bulls Head re-opening in Mobberley 6 years ago, remarkably the very same date that the Roebuck re-opened yesterday after three and a half years of being closed and  now is the day Simon, our Church Inn landlord and co-owner Tim, headed to London to BAFTA in Piccadilly to see how the Church  Inn would do in the National Pub and Bar Magazine Awards.

The Church Inn had already being recognised as the best pub in Cheshire by the magazine a month or so ago.

Judges then had to visit the 94 county winners before the special evening at BAFTA hosted by journalist and Food Critic for the Observer, Jay Rayner.

The Regional Winners were firstly announced before the single National winner was declared.

The Church Inn scooped the Northwest and then as the Pubs Minister, Marcus Jones MP, joined Jay Rayner on stage, a hush fell around BAFTA as The Church Inn from the wonderful village of Mobberley was announced as the overall winner!!

Well done to the Church Inn team!!! Great recognition indeed. We don’t profess to being perfect all the time, but we try really hard and care so much about trying to be perfect every time.. That’s our constant goal, to please our guests!

Co-owner Mary couldn’t be in London because of the Roebuck Inn opening. She was updated via texts as the good news unfolded and rushed to the Church Inn later to let the team know and get them a little glass of bubbly to celebrate their win.

Tim treated Simon to a much deserved meal at the Wolseley after the win.

Now it’s back to Mobberley with the trophy and back to business as usual. Serving well and cooking well!

Simon celebrates after the event.

What a win!!

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

Tim is stunned and so proud of the team

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

The Team celebrate the huge win after the awards presentation

The Big screens reveal the nominations

The best Drinks Act win hits the big screen

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

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

Mary is delighted and proud indeed for all the teams

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

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

James from the Three Greyhounds Inn celebrates with a kiss

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

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

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

A MOBBERLEY pub is celebrating after receiving a trio of awards in one week.

The Church Inn, on Church Lane, found out it has been listed in the Michelin’s pub guide on the same day as winning the ‘most stylish dining experience’ at the Hilden Awards and being crowned the winner of the Mobberley Scarecrow competition. Read full article…

Michelin recognition and Village recognition!

What a weekend at the Church Inn….as fireworks went off around the pub for Guy Fawkes we were enjoying a few crackers ourselves! We received confirmation that after only two years the Church Inn has been included in the Michelin Pub Guide 2015/16 listing 590 of the best Dining pubs in the UK. This is credit to the efforts of all the Chefs who have worked at the Church Inn with us over the last two years since we re-opened after the restoration of our lovely little pub. The Church Inn joins our Cholmondeley Arms who was included in the guide for the fourth year running since being taken over by Tim and Mary.

Just as the certificate arrived to confirm the inclusion with Michelin so too did our certificate and trophy for the Hilden Style Awards to recognise our winning of the Stylish Dining….and overall awards categories.

Just when we thought we had better get back to work….in came Julie to confirm that the Church Inn had won the annual Mobberley Scarecrow competition with our ‘Bride and Groom’ scarecrows brilliantly put together by team member Sophie. In the realms of things this award meant the most as it ensured the Church Inn beat their ‘brother’ pub down the lane…the Bulls Head…who actually did manage third place for their Matador and little Bull scarecrow put together by Lucy and Brier.

So it felt like winning the treble!!. Big thanks to all the team for their hard work and our customers for supporting us.

Now it’s back to work…..

We are so proud to announce that our pub the Church Inn, in Mobberley, has won the Most Stylish Dining Experience at the Hilden Awards. The award judging took place on Monday at The Fable in London recognizing stylish independent hospitality establishments across the UK.

The Church Inn scooped this year’s Most Stylish Dining Experience after judges visited the pub and fell in love with the pub and particularly the private dining rooms. The larger room pays homage to George Mallory the famous mountaineer who died on Everest in 1924. Mallory was a local villager and son of the reverend of St. Wilfrid’s Church opposite the pub.

The room is truly elegant and can accommodate private dining for up to 24 (seated) and is used for sociable wine tasting evenings too. The room has a roaring fire and is candlelit, giving a comforting ambience ensuring guests can imagine how it would feel back in 1715. To add to the uniqueness of the room the owners, Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin, discovered the original horse hair and lime plaster half way through the restoration and decided to keep it for its historic value.

Mary McLaughlin, owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars, comments; “We’re delighted to have won this award. When we took over the pub two years ago we all put a lot of thought in to how it should feel. We’re very proud of the Church Inn and it’s really fantastic it has been recognized for its restoration and stylish character.”

Following the announcement, the award judges also commented: “The attention to detail is on another level, no corner is left uncovered and they have captured the essence of a historic venue perfectly. The sheer effort that has gone into creating a unique, country-dining experience is fantastic.”

Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin opened the pub in 2013 after acquiring it in a near derelict state. Now fully restored and refurbished the pub offers great food and wine in an old country tavern environment.

Paul and his cycling partner arrived in sunshine at the Roebuck Inn having completed the ‘Cheshire Cat Six’. The Cheshire Cat Six is a journey around the six pubs owned by us here at Cheshire Cat Pubs and Inns. Paul had already partnered Clare to achieve the Cheshire Cat Quad a few years ago when we had four pubs but with the addition of the Fitzherbert Arms and the Roebuck Inn, Paul was ready to conquer the new challenge! As you will see Paul started his journey from our Fitzherbert Pub on Lord Stafford’s estate in Swynnerton, Staffordshire. He headed then to another Lord’s estate and our Cholmondeley Arms pub before weaving his way, supported by his co-pilot Steve, to our Three Greyhounds Inn pub in Allostock. They then headed for Mobberley..the easy part! Up the hill to the Church Inn before circling down to the Bulls Head and the Roebuck Inn bot in Mill Lane. 76 miles was recorded and then Tim own owner made sure they we fed and watered and given their bottles of fizz to celebrate their achievement.

Then it was back on the saddle for the return trip to Swynnerton! Well done lads a great effort. Who else wants to take up the Cheshire Cat Challenge??

Light lunches

• Creamy smoked haddock and Winchester cheese tart served with petit pois à la Française £8.50
• Cheddar and sage scones with honey roast ham, hollandaise sauce and a summer salad £8.95
• Watercress and red pepper savoury “cheesecake” with heritage tomato salad £7.95
• Grilled halloumi and beetroot salad with pomegranate, radish and watercress salad and lemon dressing £7.95
• Hot smoked salmon with chargrilled baby gem, tomato and avocado salsa and lemon dressing £7.95
• Layered sweet potato with chestnut mushrooms, wilted spinach and a spiced pearl barley broth £7.95

Soup and a Sandwich

• The Church Inn Club: chicken, bacon, lettuce, and roast tomato sandwich £9.50
• Heirloom beetroot and black treacle burger topped with anglsey feta served on toasted flatbread with tomato and caramilised onion chutney £8.95
• Grilled tuna, fennel and granny smith apple sandwich with corriander and mayonnaise £9.50
• All of the above sandwiches are served with our soup of the day

Summer side salads

• Grilled aubergine, pine nut, mint and raisin salad with yoghurt and honey dressing £3.95
• Heritage tomato salad with herb and shallot vinagrette £3.50
• Fennel, fine bean, roasted garlic and mint salad £3.50

Served 12-midday until 5:30pm Monday to Friday