Food & Drink Awards 2018

www.lux-review.com Page 65 LUX 2018 Food & Drink Awards One of England's oldest pubs, the Holly Bush Inn provides award-winning food and exceptional hospitality to a wide variety of guests. To offer an insight into this renowned hostilely we profile it and showcase how it has come to achieve incredible success over the years. The Holly Bush Inn Gastropub of the Year 2018 - Staffordshire Sourcing local produce themselves, the team at the inn seek to offer their diners the very freshest meals possible. A lunch and evening menu are offered, each featuring a range of homely dishes designed to suit every taste. Although the pub prides itself on its traditional roots, the team at the Holly Bush Inn are keen to adapt around changes in the hospitality industry to offer their guests the experience they deserve. As part of this, the pub now offers its own loyalty card, for those guests who choose to visit regularly, so that they can benefit from rewards. One of the more traditional aspects of the pub is its unique ‘no bookings’ policy. Although the team do not take bookings, they endeavour to seat every guest promptly. If the dining area is full, guests are seated at the bar and can enjoy a refreshing drink before they are shown to a table. This friendly, personal approach is well- loved by locals, regulars and visitors alike. Ultimately, this family-run, traditional venue is dedicated to serving scrumptious food and quaffable ales in a relaxed environment with a warm welcome from friendly team. This will remain the ongoing focus for the Holly Bush Inn as it looks towards a bright and prosperous future. Company: The Holly Bush Inn Contact: Geoff Holland Address: Salt, Nr Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 0BX, UK Phone: 01889 508234 Website: www.hollybushinn.co.uk The Holly Bush Inn has now been operated by Geoff Holland & family for over 20 years. This traditional, thatched country inn offers quintessentially English character. The entire team prides themselves on providing homemade, award winning food, great beers, good wines to match and all served by a friendly and professional team. The site itself is generally recognised as being the second licensed pub in the country. Licensing of public houses began in the reign of Charles II (1660 - 1685), and as such the Holly Bush Inn must have been well established at that time, but the origins are claimed to reach as far back as 1190. To the North of village, the road that is now the A51 was the main 18th Century stage coaching route from London to Liverpool. The nearby Trent and Mersey canal was constructed in the 1770s. Today, the Holly Bush Inn remains a staple of the village of Salt, and welcomes guests from far and wide to sample its exceptional quality dishes and warm hospitality.