Foodie duo Sam & Jak have announced that they are leaving the hugely popular Upton Firehouse at the end of this month.

In a post on Instagram, they said:

"After 3 great years we will be saying farewell to The Upton Firehouse on January 30th 2022.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of our customers and staff who have supported us during our time here and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Breakfast and lunch will be served as usual this week, we are hosting our final pizza night on Wednesday and BBQ night on Friday with all of the Firehouse classics.

You can still find us in our Cirencester restaurant and catering for private parties, weddings and events."

The pair have just opened an awesome new restaurant in Cirencester, serving modern British and European food.

www.samandjak.co.uk

The Bathurst Arms in North Cerney, Nr Cirencester, has been awarded five prestigious stars for "Organic Served Here" by the Soil Association Certification.

It is the first pub in the UK to receive 5 stars and the award has been a target for Bathurst Arms director, Jordan Pelly and his head chef, Michal Wlodarcyk, since they reopened the doors to the famous pink pub in July this year.

Mark Machin, Development Manager for Soil Association Certification said, “We’re very proud to welcome The Bathurst Arms to the movement of hospitality businesses that have decided to grow back better by putting sustainability at the heart of their business.

“After a particularly challenging period for the industry, it’s really encouraging to see businesses like The Bathurst continue engaging with Organic Served Here. By sourcing organic food and drink, Organic Served Here award holders are helping reduce the carbon footprint of their menu and ensure higher levels of biodiversity on our farmland.”

Jordan said: “This is great news for us as a young team with my first business, the message behind what we offer here is a strong one and something we should all learn more about.  We are so lucky to have such fantastic farmers on our doorstep like Purton House Organics, Duchy Home Farm and Daylesford Organic and fishmongers New Wave and Flying Fish, all of these businesses help us source the finest ingredients for our menu with strong sustainable principals. As well as the ethical contribution sourcing organic & wild foods is such an obvious choice for us, as we strive for the best quality ingredients. From beef fed on a pasture diet to ingredients in season, flavor is paramount with these choices inevitably kinder to the environment and world we live in.
“We offer great small plates that showcase our approach using the best the seasons have to offer.  Right now we are serving dishes like “Salt baked celeriac with wild girolles and mushroom”; “Purton Farm organic pork belly with Jerusalem artichoke with pork & apple sauce”; and for the seafood lovers, line caught plaice, on the bone with a smoked lime butter and pickled sea lettuce.”
 
The pub has also recently been using surplus organic vegetables and fruit from the village as there are several allotments owned by the nearby Bathurst Estate looked after by hard working villagers.

“We plan to roll out a five star organic menu in a take away format as well, we understand that in the current climate not everyone is comfortable eating out so we want to be able to create our dishes for you to take home and enjoy. “Jordan added.

bathurstarms.co.uk

Celebrated chef Bob Parkinson is returning to the kitchen but in a different venue for a one off pop-up night on Friday 24 January.

Bob James Parkinson left his eponymous Michelin recognised restaurant, Made By Bob, in Cirencester, after 10 years at the stove in March 2019. He was followed by his kitchen team of chef’s Sam Edwards and Jak Doggett, who went onto successfully take over and re-establish The Firehouse in Upton, near Burford.

The evening is a six course set dinner with delights such as grilled belly of pork and langoustine with clam’s, Asian style peppers, bean sprouts and yam tawai or grilled fillet of lemon sole with baby gem, prosciutto and truffle.

Menu

Glass of Crémant de Bourgogne 

Cup oyster soup

Oxtail Cugliones with caramelised onion puree, salsify and thyme

Grilled fillet of lemon sole with baby gem, prosciutto and truffle

Grilled belly of pork and langoustine with clam’s

Asian style peppers bean sprouts and yam tawai

Panettone French toast, caramelised apple, sultanas and vanilla ice cream

Roquefort with chicory, walnuts and pickled pear, sourdough crisps

Book now - theuptonfirehouse.com/events

BAFTA award-winning comedy This Country returns to the Cotswolds for a one-off sneak preview screening of the new BBC Three series on Thursday 23 January.

Held in Daisy and Charlie Cooper’s home town of Cirencester you can be the first to see an exclusive preview of the first two episodes followed by a Q&A with the brother and sister stars, producer Simon Mayhew-Archer and director Tom George.

Apply by following the link below for your chance to see what Kerry and Kurtan have been up to before everyone else and get an exclusive insight into the making of the show! 

Tickets will be allocated by random draw with 70% of the tickets going to local postcodes* and 30% going to the rest of the UK.

You can register at any time until 10am on Friday 10 January.

You can apply for a maximum of two tickets.

Good luck!

www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/this-country-23jan20
​

​* Local postcodes: B50, BA1, BA11, BA13, BA14, BA15, BA2, BA3, BS12, BS15, BS16, BS17, BS18, BS30, BS31, BS32, BS34, BS35, BS36, BS37, BS5, BS7, BS80, CV36, CV37, GL1, GL10, GL11, GL12, GL13, GL14, GL15, GL16, GL17, GL18, GL19, GL2, GL20, GL3, GL4, GL5, GL50, GL51, GL52, GL53, GL54, GL55, GL56, GL6, GL7, GL8, GL9, HR8, HR9, NP16, NP5, NP6, OX1, OX11, OX12, OX13, OX14, OX15, OX18, OX2, OX20, OX25, OX28, OX29, OX3, OX33, OX5, OX6, OX7, OX8, RG15, RG16, RG17, RG18, RG20, SN1, SN10, SN11, SN12, SN13, SN14, SN15, SN16, SN17, SN2, SN25, SN26, SN3, SN38, SN4, SN5, SN6, SN7, SN8, SN9, SN99, WR10, WR11, WR12, WR13, WR14, WR5, WR8

The shortlist for the 2020 National Fish and Chip Awards has been announced – and a Cotswolds restaurant has made the cut. 

​Malt & Anchor in Cirencester will now compete for the chance to take home the coveted title of the ‘UK’s best fish and chip restaurant’ which will be announced in January 2020. 

Established in 2017, Malt and Anchor describes itself as having a 'traditional chippy menu with a twist', including their speciality fish and chips, panko coated calamari, locally sourced award-winning pies, butcher sausages and Malt & Anchor’s own fresh fish specials. The restaurant also offers a takeaway service as well as an array of fine wines, cocktails and boutique beers to compliment their menu.

www.maltandanchor.co.uk

After a sudden closure 3 months ago, The New Inn at Coln St Aldwyns has been reopened by experience chef Dominic Hewitt, formerly of The Wild Duck and The Bull Inn at Charlbury. 

With a weekly changing menu full fresh seasonal food and the 15 en-suite bedroomrooms all all enjoying a refresh to include more modern comforts, the new owners hope to create a relaxed environment for customers new and old.

​We wish them all the luck and will be visiting soon to take a proper look!

www.thenewinncoln.co.uk

Are you heading to the slopes this winter? Well you can leave your fluorescent ​salopettes and North Face jacket at home as Cirencester based Barrington Ayre have got your snow style sorted. 

Using fabric and a design of your choice, the bespoke tweed ski suits are waterproof and breathable with full working shoulder pleats to allow for full movement as well as special arm pit pleats to create even more movement whilst leaving room for air to circulate inside the jacket keeping you comfortable and dry all day.

The extended rear of the jacket also provides added security and comfort and with the lapels being able to button up around the neck you will keep dry and warm even in the wildest white outs!

The trousers have extended fishtail back to keep any air or snow out and the wider bottoms fit perfectly around the boots.

The tweed ski suit will set you back a tidy £1,250 but you will definitely look the most stylish on the piste and for après-ski.

barringtonayre.co.uk/products/tweed-ski-suit

Cirencester based tailors Barrington Ayre have launched a brand new website. 

Founded in 2009 by Tom Wharton, the website showcases all of bespoke offerings including suits, tweed jackets, blazers and shooting wear, and their new golf and equestrian ranges. 

Famous faces such as former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, Radio DJ Greg James, BBC's Dan Walker and cricket star Jos Butler can often be seen donning a bespoke piece, all of which are British made. 

barringtonayre.co.uk

The Cheltenham Festival is just weeks away bring the world's best jump jockeys and horses to the Cotswolds.

The Kings Head, Cirencester have announced their 2017 Cheltenham Festival Preview in aid of The Injured Jockey's Fund will be on Friday 10th March.

​You can hear the thoughts and opinions of 2015 Gold Cup Winning Jockey Nico de Boinville, Luke Tarr from Star Sports, Gold Cup winning jockey Sam Thomas, Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon. The evening will hosted by sports commentator Tom Clarkson and curated by Camilla Henderson with Ben Hastie, Deputy Head of Groundstaff at Cheltenham Racecourse giving an exclusive update on the ground conditions.

Tickets are £15 and include drinks and canapés at The Kings Head, and discussion and insight into all of the top races from Cheltenham week, including the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Chase, Ryanair Chase and of course, the Gold Cup. Guests will also be able to ask the panel questions in a Q&A session, and enjoy exclusive special betting offers from Star Sports‘ The Gentleman’s Bookmaker’ on the night, who are offering £50 free matching bet for all attendees.

​ To book your ticket contact the hotel on 01285 700900 or visit The Kings Head Cheltenham Preview for more information.