MasterChef finalist takes on first pub

MasterChef 2010 finalist and food writer Alex Rushmer has taken on his first pub.

He has bought the private lease of the Hole in the Wall at Little Wilbraham, Cambridge, from top chef Stephen Bull, who has operated the site since 2005. The venture is in partnership with his old university friend Ben Maude.

The pub opened on 12 July after a "hectic but successful" refurbishment. The menu is modern British and led by the produce available locally. The pub comprises a 45-cover restaurant, a 12-cover snug and a 20-cover bar, which is usually reserved for drinkers and snackers. Up to 80 diners are being served a day and Rushmer would like to see that increase over time.

Starters are priced from £5, mains from £14 and desserts from £6 with dishes such as a sharing steak for two with chips and salad (£38) and duck breast with a pickled cucumber salad and spiced tobacco sauce (£16), which was one of Rushmer's MasterChef dishes.

There are 60 wines on the wine list starting from £15 for a bottle.

"The pub is massively accessible to everyone," said Rushmer. "I have been pleasantly surprised by the lunch trade we have been getting. We seem to be getting known for our steak, which we butcher ourselves. Lunch and evening dishes have mostly the same ingredients but we up the ante for evening service.

"Ben and I love cooking because there is always something new — a technique, method or dish. We change aspects of the menu daily and everything changes weekly. For example, halibut has been on the menu for a fortnight and we have served it three different ways.

"We speak to Stephen regularly, which is great as he is one of the founding fathers of modern British cookery."