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The Cholmondeley Arms
Wrenbury Road, Cholmondeley Estate, Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8HN
Summary
The award-winning Cholmondeley Arms sits at the heart of Lord Cholmondeley's estate in Cheshire. This iconic pub was completely restored by pub entrepreneurs, Tim Bird and Mary Mclaughlin, who operate several award-winning pubs in the county. The 'Chum' (as the pub is nicknamed) was an old Victorian schoolhouse and has six bedrooms in the adjacent 'Headmaster's House'.
What makes a stay at The Cholmondeley Arms unique?
The Cholmondeley Arms has achieved much recognition for its cooking, under the guidance of head chef, Tom Richards. The seasonal menu offers great favourites such as the 'hand crafted' steak and kidney pie or the Wagyu beef burger, as well as seasonal dishes featuring local game, fresh seafood and vegetables, farm cheeses and artisan breads. The pub is Cheshire Life Magazine's 'dining pub of the year' and is also hugely famous for its gin collection - there are over 400 different styles lining the shelves of the back bar. There is a 'Gin Festival' every July, as well as gin tasting classes every Saturday. Dogs are welcome too and the pub has been chosen by The Telegraph as a favourite place to stay with a dog.
What style cuisine is on offer at The Cholmondeley Arms?
The menu focuses on classic British dishes and celebrates local produce from Cheshire farms and artisan suppliers for meat, game, fresh seafood and vegetables, cheeses and breads. Gin is used within the cooking, too. The menu changes to suit the seasons, but isfamous for some classic favourites, such as the 'Pan Fried Devilled Lambs Kidneys on toast' or the impressive Cholmondeley 'Pub Plate'. Look out for the Chum's Food and Drink weeks throughout the year, from 'Pie and Ale' Week in September to 'Game Fortnight' in November and Vegetarian Week in May.
What is the signature dish at The Cholmondeley Arms?
There are a number of signature dishes, such as the Handcrafted Steak and Kidney Pie, the Beer Battered Fresh Haddock with Massey's Farm chips and 'not so mushy peas' and the Wagyu Beef Gourmet Burger. The key for the Chum is to make every dish a signature dish and let guests decide their favourite!
What are the rooms and facilities on offer at The Cholmondeley Arms?
The Cholmondeley Arms has six comfortable rooms in the old 'Headmaster's House' adjacent to the pub. Cheshire Breakfast is included in the room price and there are five doubles and one twin-bedded room available, all of which are en-suite. Three rooms are set aside for guests with dogs and there are baskets, blankets, dog beer and biscuits all available for those four-legged friends!
What can guests enjoy when staying in the Malpas area?
The Cholmondeley Arms is very rural and sits on the Cholmondeley Estate, so there are walks available within the castle gardens. The Sandstone trail is nearby, offering great views of the Cheshire countryside. There are castles, too, at Beeston and Peckfortan. Historic Chester is nearby and of course, there is the gin and the food to enjoy if one simply wants to stay put! The lanes around the 'Chum' are great for giving a classic car a run out, and the Cholmondeley Arms Car Club has a number of 'Car Meets' throughout the brighter months.
Other information
Children are welcome at the Cholmondeley Arms, but there are some things that guests need to know. Under 10s are welcome in the pub up until 7pm or in the garden in the summer months until 9pm, when the pub becomes a more adult environment. Children over 10 and under 18 are welcome in the pub until the end of food service times. There are no highchairs and guests are advised to bring their own booster seats. The Cholmondeley Arms takes table reservations for tables of 8 and over and operates on a first come, first served basis for smaller tables.
Inspirations
The Cholmondeley Arms is part of the following Inspirations:
10 Hotels to Live Like a Lord in 2019 by Adrian Mourby
"This nineteenth century homage to crenelated medieval castles was built in 1801 for George Cholmondeley, 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley, who designed most of it himself. Today it is owned by his descendant the 7th Marquess who lives on the other side of the country at Houghton Castle in Norfolk. You can’t stay but during the summer season the gardens and tea rooms at Cholmondeley are open to the public.
Where you can stay however is on the edge of the estate at the Cholmondeley Arms or The Chum, as it is known locally. The Chum sits on the A49 and does not look much like a pub or hotel. This is not surprising as it was built as the Cholmondeley estate school. Once you step inside this fact becomes apparent with those very high ceilings typical of Victorian classrooms. Today The Chum is a warm friendly pub with a great selection of gins and a loyal local clientele, many of whom went to school here. The guests stay on the other side of the old school yard (now a car park) in what was once the headmaster’s house. This was built in the exact same style as the school, as was the Victorian fashion.
Since the property was taken over by Cheshire Cat Pubs and Hotels, the six bedrooms in the headmaster’s house have been named after famous fictional teachers including Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Miss Eyre from Jane Eyre and Mr Keating (Dead Poets’ Society). The one named teacher that few people have heard of is Mr Bird, a real-life headmaster who died in 2016 who happens to have been the father of Cheshire Cat’s co-founder Tim Bird.
The Chum is a lovely warm, cosy place to stay and ideal if you do want to go and wander the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle next door."
Information on The Cholmondeley Arms , Wrenbury Road , Cholmondeley Estate , Malpas
| No. of bedrooms: |
Total: 6
Types of room: Five Doubles and one Twin |
|---|---|
| Room rates guide: |
Single: £75.00-£95.00 Double/Twin: £90.00-£110.00 Room with Breakfast |
| General info: |
Credit Cards Accepted: Amex, Delta, Mastercard, Maestro/Switch, Visa When Closed: Christmas Day Evening Child Friendly: No children Dog Friendly: Dogs Permitted (Dogs staying are charged at £10 each) Eco Friendly: All our Ales come from within a 30 mile radius. Smoking Permitted: No Wheelchair Access: Yes Wheelchair Access Details: But we do not have a disabled Toilet Accreditation/Awards: Please see our website for all our awards and accreditation. |
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Nearest major city: Nearest major airport: Nearest railway stn: |
Chester Liverpool , Manchester Crewe |
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