Brakspear’s Orwells lifts top food award

May 25, 2011

Orwells in Shiplake near Henley, part of the Brakspear estate, was this week named best restaurant in the south east in the Good Food Guide’s awards. As one of 10 regional winners, Orwells will now be considered for the top title of Good Food Restaurant of the Year, announced next month.

Orwells opened in May 2010 when Michelin-starred chef Ryan Simpson and partner Liam Trotman took on the Brakspear property and turned it into an establishment that suits all customers, offering both fine dining in The Room and a more relaxed gastropub feeling in the Pub area. Orwells also has a great reputation for alfresco dining with some fantastic views and the site has quickly earned a reputation for exceptional food and professional service.

Simpson, who was named Up and Coming Chef in the 2010 Good Food Guide,  said, “The Good Food Guide awards are based on customer feedback, so winning one shows that our customers are happy with what we offer at Orwells. It’s a fantastic accolade for us and I’m grateful to our great team of staff, and to all the customers who nominated us.”

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies commented, “Ryan is an exceptionally talented, creative chef and we are delighted that Orwells has been such a success. We are always keen to work with chefs wanting to run their own restaurant and our business model provides a relatively low-cost, low-risk route for them. Winning this award within a year of opening is a great achievement and we wish Ryan and Liam well in the national judging.”

Brakspear has attracted a number of chefs over the years, attracted by the quality of the pubs in the estate – many of them are attractive buildings in affluent areas – and by Brakspear’s approach: giving them the freedom to build a business based on their culinary talent, while offering them the support they need to run a successful pub.  In addition to Orwells, two Brakspear tenants are listed in the Good Food Guide: Paul Clerehugh of the Crooked Billet at Stoke Row, near Henley-on-Thames and Paul Bloxham of The Tilbury at Datchworth, near Knebworth

Caption to image: Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies (centre) with Liam Trotman (left) and Ryan Simpson (right) of Orwells at Shiplake