Michelin Star-rated pubs see lift in trade
The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2012 awarded a Michelin star to the Black Swan at Oldstead, North Yorkshire, the Sir Charles Napier in Chinnor, Oxfordshire and the Butchers Arms in Eldersfield, Worcestershire.
The Black Swan had received a rising star award in the past two editions. Freehold owner Tom Banks said. “It has already made a difference. We received 18 accommodation bookings in an hour the other day and we have only four rooms.
“People are booking ahead to November and December asking us to ‘squeeze them in’. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. I think we will be much busier going through to next year because a Michelin star means something to people.”
He added: “Michelin only awards a rising star for two editions so it was make or break this year. We didn’t set out to have one and just tried to run the pub how we and our customers like it.”
The head chef is Adam Jackson. Banks bought the freehold with wife Anne and sons James and Tommy five years ago.
The Black Swan has just won Yorkshire Restaurant of the Year Award at the White Rose Awards.
Julie Griffiths, proprietor of freehold the Sir Charles Napier, was stunned to receive her star. “We had no idea at all,” she said. “It’s a bit frightening as now we have to keep it, but we always try to progress. We weren’t aiming to get a star, but food has always been the most important thing and we aim to put the best food on the table.”
The pub’s head chef is Chris Godfrey.
The Butchers Arms was also an unexpected recipient of a star.
Owner Elizabeth Winter said: “We weren’t expecting it in the slightest, but customers have said we are very deserving.”
Tom Kerridge’s the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, was awarded two Michelin stars. The pub has maintained one star since winning it in 2006.
