Young entrepreneurs win national pub award for food

Nigel Brown and 26-year-old Charles Harris, who own The Stag in Offchurch, near Leamington Spa, are the youngest winners ever to take the Publican’s national Best Pub Food of the Year award. 

The two Solihull entrepreneurs, who launched their venture at a time when 100 pubs a week were closing in the UK, were presented with their award at a celebration dinner hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre at the Grosvenor House in London.

Nigel Brown, the 34-year-old head chef, said he was “thrilled beyond belief” to have won the award so soon after launching.

“It’s like an amazing dream which has just come true,” he said. “We pride ourselves on providing fabulous food at seriously good value with fantastic service in a great environment, and we have exceeded all our expectations.”

In the citation, the judging panel praised the pair for their work: “These two entrepreneurial young operators had turned around this country pub of great to good value premium offer where the customer is King. Locally sourced produce is the order of the day with an outstanding overall offer.”

Mr Brown and Mr Harris acquired The Stag in November 2008 and carried out a major refurbishment, opening in March 2009.  It has two restaurants and features landscaped gardens and al fresco dining. 

Both Mr Brown and Mr Harris were heavily influenced by Raymond Blanc’s style of cookery. The head chef was part of the teams at Petit Blanc Brasseries in Birmingham and Manchester, while Mr Harris learned the industry at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons near Oxford.

It is the second award within the last six months that the pub has been associated with. Restaurant manager Lizzie King won the individual Best Customer Service of the Year Award in the Warwickshire and Coventry Food and Drink Awards and the pub was shortlisted for the Best Dining Pub/Restaurant category.

For further information about The Stag and its menus, telephone 01926 425801 or visit www.thestagatoffchurch.com