James Martin launches pub
The pub, named Tavern, opened in 600-year-old hotel the Lygon Arms last week, and is nestled on the village high street.
Now, the hotel is home to two restaurants run by the celebrity chef, after Martin launched restaurant Grill in February.
The Lygon Arms’ website described the pub as the perfect place to “relax in the cosy ambience with a local cider or ale and watch the world go by”.
Martin took to Instagram to announce the opening, stating he was “so excited” for the new venture.
Tavern will serve a menu of grazing dishes and nibbles, including a sausage roll with mustard, relish and pickles; Little Oak Middlewhite and scotch egg with piccalilli relish; hot pork pie, Cotswold ploughman’s, shepherd’s pie, and baked aubergine with tabbouleh.
Well-wishers celebrated the launch on social media. “You’ll have to stop opening new places especially within 45 mins of where we live,” said one user, “it’s ruining my waistline”.
Others wished the chef the best of luck and promised they would pay visits to the new pub.
Premium experience
Iconic Luxury Hotels executive director Andrew Stembridge said: “We are delighted to welcome James Martin to the Lygon Arms following the enormous positive impact James has made to the Kitchen at Chewton Glen – a restaurant which our valued guests delight in daily.
“Housed in an incredibly historic building with roots reaching back to the 13th century, the Lygon Arms is a piece of history and James’ additions will add another chapter to the storied hotel.
“Both our team and James have a shared outlook for what we see as the culinary future at the Lygon Arms; one which will incorporate fabulous, top-quality ingredients from the best suppliers.”
Martin worked with renowned butchers, fishmongers, game dealers, farmers, and cheese makers, added Stembridge, and he “looked forward” to bringing these ingredients to guests.
Drinks on offer include wines from around the world, cider, IPA and lager, and a range of spirits including some sourced from Cotswolds suppliers.
Guests can also enjoy cocktails including a Lychee Martini, Passion Fruit Martini, Cloudy Gin Spritzer and Wild Flower Spritzer. Tea, coffee and juice is also available.
What's in store
Grill is comprised of a large hall with a vaulted ceiling and serves a changing menu that features dishes such as Thai-spiced Cornish crab risotto, burnt aubergine, vegan ricotta, harissa, bulgur wheat and soft herbs; and Laverstoke ‘buffaloumi’ with confit roscoff onion, chilli jam and treviso.
Martin’s partnership with the hotel stems from the success of the Kitchen Restaurant & Cookery School, which he launched at the Lygon Arms’ Hampshire-based sister hotel, Chewton Glen, in 2017.
As well as paying regular visits to the Lygon Arms, Martin will host ‘Dinners with James Martin’, an tasting-menu series showcasing his best dishes.
He also has plans to join forces with celebrity chefs at the Lygon Arms.
