A tourism chief says Glynn Purnell’s latest new pub is a ‘thrilling addition’ to the South Warwickshire foodie scene.
Helen Peters, the chief executive of Shakespeare’s England, was joined by members in expressing their delight that the Yummy Brummie has officially opened The Mount, in Henley-in-Arden.
She said: “Our members and I are immensely pleased Glynn has chosen to launch this impressive venture in an historic 200-year-old former cider mill, previously the Butcher’s Social, on the medieval high street of Henley and wish him all the very best.
“It has already generated a lot of excitement with more than 1,500 people trying to book a table!
“The Mount is a thrilling addition to the already excellent food scene in Warwickshire. I am literally blown away by the amazing culinary talent we have in our beautiful county available to visitors from the UK and overseas in our county. We have some really top chefs in South Warwickshire who put their hearts on a plate to showcase the best of Warwickshire, using locally sourced and foraged ingredients with a contemporary twist.”
Named The Mount Pub by Glynn Purnell after the town’s landmark hill, the pub is owned by local businessman Luke Fryer and his wife Tania, and will be run by Glynn, who holds a Michelin star at Purnell’s in Birmingham. Viewers will also be familiar with the popular Midlands chef on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen and The Great British Menu on BBC Two.
He will be joining a flourishing food scene. Warwickshire retained three one star Michelin restaurants in the recently announced 2022 Michelin guide - The Cross at Kenilworth, Salt, Stratford-upon-Avon and The Royal Oak, Whatcote.
The picturesque Warwickshire market town of Henley is also home to Cheal’s of Henley run by Great British Menu star Matt Cheal.
Another Michelin starred chef, Simon Haigh, recently returned as chef director at award-winning boutique hotel Mallory Court in Leamington Spa; while In Warwick Dan Cavell and Mark Fry’s much lauded restaurant, Tailors, has been voted twice for best restaurant in the Midlands by readers of The Observer in their UK OFM awards.
In an exclusive Q&A interview for the organisation Glynn said: “The food scene here is absolutely fantastic already, but if I can do my bit to bring more attention to how great the food in the area is, then even better.
“Henley-in-Arden is such a quintessentially English town. It’s like Midsomer Murders but without the crime and death rate. It’s a great little town, a stone’s throw away from one of the most famous towns in the world, Stratford-upon-Avon, and it’s beautiful. It’s so perfectly English. It’s got such a lovely local feel to it. When you walk down the street it just makes me feel happy to be there.”
Nick Hanson, General Manager at Mallory Court, part of the Eden Hotel Collection and a member of Shakespeare’s England, said: “Glynn Purnell’s new pub The Mount is yet another great addition to the Warwickshire food scene.
“It just further endorses our county as an out and out food destination and equally celebrates the quality of produce grown and reared in Warwickshire and our surrounding counties. We do feel very fortunate to have such quality and choice on our doorstep.
“We welcome Glynn to Warwickshire and feel sure it will cement our position as the county for Gastronomic getaways.”
Talented rising star Lee Cresswell, the new head chef at 2 AA Rosette restaurant No 44 Brasserie at The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, previously worked with Paul Foster at Salt, as well as Dormy House Hotel and Spa and sister hotel The Fish in the Cotswolds.
He said: “It’s fantastic to be welcoming another excellent new to the Warwickshire food scene, especially after the difficult two years we have faced in the hospitality industry.
“It’s amazing to see just how resilient we are as an industry and what a brilliant time to work and be part of the ever-growing food scene we have going on in Warwickshire right now.
“We are very fortunate to be surrounded by some great local suppliers, we really are spoilt for choice, from locally grown fruits and vegetables to locally reared meat and milled flours.
“With the spring/summer season approaching it enables us chefs to go out and enjoy some foraging time, it is one of my favourite things to do outside of the kitchen. “
“April time wild garlic is great ingredient to forage and use, in May chickweed and in June elderflower one of my favourite ingredients to forage as it is so versatile to use when you get it back into the kitchen.”
For bookings for The Mount Pub by Glynn Purnell visit www.themountpub.co.uk or call 01564 792135.