GBPA 2024: Best Country Pub – the Tollemache Arms, Harrington, Northamptonshire

A nice interior, smart bar and a friendly welcome are enough to make this a great site but recent work at the rear of the pub – and in the toilets – gives it an extra dimension.

Money has been raised and spent on creating a covered dining area outside that rivals the seating capacity on the inside and a new barn has recently been opened that can house private parties, work functions and more, including the recent Euros tournament with a big screen inside.

The outside also has a kitchen and bar, and Lebanese food gives a real point of difference for diners.

Local focus​

A children’s play area can barely disguise the huge tent farther down the garden that plays home to the heart of TollyFest – a live music and drinks event that takes place every summer.

And if you go past the tent, you will have access to some great views of Northamptonshire’s countryside.

The site is a Wells & Co pub with eight keg beer lines and three cask lines with the pub able to choose its own spirits and does so from Warners Gin that is made no more than 200 yards down the road.

Sustainable credentials​

Events are key to the business and have included players from the Northampton Saints rugby union team cooking one day, top chef Gary Usher creating dishes as well and a dining in the dark event that shone light during the dark days of Covid.

The Tollemache Arms was only operating for five days a week but owners Joe and Flo have pushed back up to seven with the community and tourists helping keep it that way.

The pub is big on sustainability has won awards to prove that along with installing a herb garden on the side of the new barn plus insect housing above that to help promote nature and help grow its fruit trees as well.