Michelin success for Anick pub

Posted by Richard Fletcher on Jan 27, 09 03:14 PM in News

A culinary duo are celebrating after achieving a coveted place in the Michelin guide for their pub in only their first year of trading.

Karen Errington and chef Phil Mason achieved the status at The Rat Inn, Anick, near Hexham, after an anonymous diner from the Michelin Red Guide paid the pub a visit.

The Rat Inn, Anick, near Hexham

And the accolade marks an impressive double for them, as they managed to achieve a Michelin entry in their first year of trading at their last business, too, which was the Green Room restaurant in Hexham where they worked for four years

Phil, who was previously head chef at Thistle Hotels, said: "This is the first time the Rat Inn has been included in the guide and we are pleased to have been given this recognition so soon.

"It's been an enjoyable first year for us and this news is a great way for us to start 2009."

Restaurants are not allowed to ask Michelin to come and have a look, so an anonymous inspector visited the Inn presumably after hearing other people talking about the quality.

The inspector had a cod dish and was impressed by the philosophy of cooking locally sourced produce.

The menu also changes regularly according to what is in season, although one dish, the roast Northumbrian beef for two served on a large chopping board, has stayed as a favourite.

Karen, who previously worked in hospitality and was commercial manager at Newcastle Falcons, said: "There's nothing in the freezer -- it's all fresh. We do a blackboard menu that changes every day. It's seasonal and when it runs out we just rub it out.

"We're really pleased. We just want to continue and maintain the quality of the cooking. We've had a very successful first year and we want to build on that."

The 2009 Michelin Red Guide was published last week.

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