Pubs win special awards in Waitrose Good Food Guide
Freehold the Richmond Arms in West Ashling, West Sussex, has been named Best New Entry — Pub, while the Michelin-starred Red Lion in East Chisenbury, Wiltshire, scooped Pub of the Year in the guide’s Editors’ Awards.
"We don’t go out to look for anything, so this award was unexpected and unbelievable," said William Jack, chef-owner of the Richmond Arms. "We are a tiny business with 36 covers and a 50-cover barn, where we serve pizzas on Fridays and Saturdays. Our menu is influenced by our travelling — I am Australia-born with strong roots in England. People come to us because they love us for what we are. I don’t want to grow into a monster where people have preconceptions before they come. We are hard-working and do what we believe in."
Jack and his wife, Emma, have had the pub for two-and-a-half years and it is their first business.
Brittany Manning, co-owner of the Red Lion, said: "We are very pleased — it feels great to get this award. Even though the WGFG is food-based, we love being awarded something for the whole pub. I think we have got a really good balance, with simple food done really well, served in a pub with dogs and kids welcome."
