Our readers have nominated the top 10 takeaways in Cirencester, Tetbury, Malmesbury and the surrounding areas, and for the next week we’ll be profiling each of them so you can choose the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard Best Takeaway 2021.
The sixth venue we’re showcasing is the Bathurst Arms in North Cerney, which has been transformed by new owner Jordan Pelly since he took over in July last year.
Jordan and his team have been serving food which is more than 95 per cent organic, selling takeaways and building an allotment to grow their own ingredients.
“It’s been great fun, a big project. We’ve been taking the pub from very much a spit and sawdust pub that has sadly seen 10 years of not so much love to trying to give people a modern, British offer.”
Jordan said the Bathurst Arms, which was awarded five stars for ‘Organic Served Here’ by the Soil Association, champions seasonal ingredients and celebrates modern British street food.
One of their most popular dishes since they began doing takeaway in October 2020 is a lamb donor kebab with a difference.
The meal, developed by head chef Michal Wlodarcyzk over nine months, is organic, includes homemade bread and chili sauce made on site, giving people what Jordan called “probably the cleanest donor kebab they’ll ever get a chance to have.”
He plans to continue a full takeaway menu after hospitality restrictions begin to ease on April 12.
“Takeaways have been absolutely instrumental. Forget about the financial impact - just from the principle of keeping our brand alive and making sure people know that we hadn’t just stopped it was super important, absolutely.”
Asked how he felt about making the Standard's top 10 takeaways, Jordan said: “It’s brilliant, it’s fantastic, it’s great.
“To be shortlisted for anything in our infancy is a huge testament to the team and my chef and the offer of food that we’ve been doing.
“To win would be absolutely great, it would be nice to know that we have done something that’s been embraced in the locality more than anything else.”
He said it would be inspiring to know more and more people were coming to eat from an ethical source of food.
If you think the Bathurst Arms should be crowned the best takeaway in the Cotswolds and North Wiltshire, you can vote for them using the voting coupon in this week’s paper (Thursday, April 8) or next week's (Thursday, April 15).
Or you can check out the other venues we’ve profiled so far:
Once you've got your coupon, simply post it to: Wilts & Glos Standard Best Takeaway, Redhill House, 227 London Road, Worcester, WR5 2JG.
Or you can leave the coupon with the restaurant you voted for when you collect your takeaway.
Voting ends on April 18.
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