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CRPITC Winner The Gun - Pictured (l-r) are award judge Tom Kerridge, Landlady Natasha Chaussey and Alex Davis Calor’s Managing Director
Click on image to enlarge |
The Gun in Chiddingly has been announced the winner of the Calor Rural Pub in the Community award, a scheme which aims to celebrate pubs that have diversified their businesses to offer residents in their local area a wider range of services.
Since taking over The Gun in 2006, landlord and landlady Martial and Natasha Chaussey have transformed the 15th century farmhouse pub into an essential part of the local community.
Calor bulk marketing manager Laura Luty says the pub was chosen as the overall winner as it clearly demonstrated how it has found innovative ways in which to serve their local community whilst making the business a success.
Speaking at the awards ceremony (16 October) Laura said: ”The disappearance of significant facilities and services from UK villages is increasing, yet it is encouraging to see many pubs are taking on the role of the hub of the community by providing more than just a drinking venue. A good example is the local shop at The Gun, which was opened in the old coach house after the local village shop closed, restoring a vital service that many of the villagers rely on.
“Natasha and Martial have also found a way of giving something back to its local community by incorporating a small surcharge on certain dishes on the menu. Money raised from this scheme goes towards supporting the local primary school’s healthy eating education programme, something which benefits the younger residents of the village.”
The pub also offers wireless Internet connection for customer use and a specially created parking bay for horses, complete with fresh hay bales.
Landlady Natasha Chaussy said: “I was really pleased to find out the pub had been shortlisted as a finalist especially as this is a national competition, but to win it is an absolute honour.
“The shop has proved very successful and all of the fresh produce we sell in the shop is sourced from local suppliers wherever possible. We also use the same approach to the ingredients we use in the pub kitchen.”
Expert Advice
The pub will now receive expert advice from leading Michelin-starred pub chef Tom Kerridge as the prize for winning the award. Tom is owner of the Hand and Flowers in Marlow and has achieved huge success since taking over the pub in March 2005. Accolades include a rating of 6/10 in the Good Food Guide, along with the Guide’s title of best newcomer for Buckinghamshire, three AA rosettes, the title of 2006 Craft Guild of Chefs Pub Restaurant Chef of the Year and more recently, the 2007 Best Newcomer Catey Award.
Tom will visit The Gun and work alongside staff to deliver a charity event for the benefit of the local community. He will also host a return visit to the highly successful Hand and Flowers, where he will demonstrate the secret of his own success.
Highly Commended
The Mare & Foal in Yeoford, Devon and The Talbot in Knightwick, Worcester were also given highly commended awards as part of the competition. Since purchasing The Mare and Foal in Yeoford , Devon in 2005, the energetic owners have taken it upon themselves to maintain the village services by opening a local shop, operating a vegetable box collection, creating a takeaway menu and organising the fund raising Easter Eggstravaganza event and Spring beer festival.
The Talbot has been owned and managed by the Clift family for 23 years, with three generations still working there. Located on the River Teme, Knightwick in Worcester, the 15th century pub instigated the popular local market, coordinates the village recycling plant and proudly holds the role of flood wardens for the area – a role which has kept them very busy this summer having suffered from flooding in both June and July. |
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