Orwells, a Brakspear pub in Shiplake, near Henley-on-Thames, has been awarded 3 AA Rosettes in the newly-published AA Restaurant Guide 2012-13. It is the only eating establishment in Oxfordshire to hold this accolade.
The award was made to tenants Ryan Simpson and Liam Trotman, who took on Orwells in May 2010. They have since turned the pub into a destination dining site with a reputation for its rural modern cooking, passion for local provenance and high standards of service.
Simpson said, “Only 10% of British restaurants achieve 3 AA Rosettes, so this award puts Orwells among the dining elite. The only restaurant in Oxfordshire to have a higher rating than us is Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, which has 5 Rosettes.
“The award is recognition of the hard work by all members of the team at Orwells and our passion for top quality food, produced from locally-sourced ingredients.” Orwells aims to use local products whenever possible, and is now 60% self-sufficient on fruit and vegetables which the team either grow themselves or forage from the local countryside.
Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, added, “Ryan, Liam and their team have developed Orwells into a popular and successful dining pub and they thoroughly deserve to be rewarded with 3 AA Rosettes. Brakspear is pleased to have played a part in their success by providing a low-cost route to opening their first pub in 2010 and since helping them to grow their business. We look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
Orwells has won a string of awards, including Readers’ Restaurant of the Year 2012 in the Good Food Guide and Reading Restaurant of the Year 2012, while Simpson gained a Michelin star at his previous restaurant in 2010.
Caption to attached image: (l-r) Ryan Simpson and Liam Trotman of Orwells with AA Hotel Services Manager Simon Numphud at the AA Awards dinner
-ends-
Issued on behalf of: Brakspear
By: ShielPorter Communications
Further information: Ros Shiel
07841 694137 / 01403 267971