What it means to be 'local' at The Priory Inn

The Priory Inn in Tetbury, Cotswolds, is launching a 30 Mile Food Zone next month to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to high quality local produce.

The launch of this initiative now means that around 90% of its menu offering will come from within 30 miles of the market town in Tetbury.

Owners Tanya and Dave Kelly have always been strong supporters of buying locally, but they feel that local produce has become a bit of a 'band-wagon', with some restaurants jumping on-board without really practicing what they preach.

Tanya Kelly explained: "Many places talk the 'local food' talk now and 'low food miles' has become a well-trodden path. This is definitely what consumers want, but how do you really know that you are getting locally produced food? We want our customers to know that we have substance behind our 'local' statement, and we are not just paying lip service for the sake of good press."

"We provide information about our local farmers and producers on our menus and customers will be told exactly where the beef they were eating was reared, and where the grapes were grown to produce the bubbly they are drinking."

Kelly goes on to give an example of a typical local lunchtime dish: "You can enjoy the 8-Mile Burger which is made from Willesley organic beef, with onion and beetroot from The Duchy Home Farm, Holy Smoked Cheese from Leonard Stanley and a fried Sherston free-range egg. Of course the burger bap is home-made using the best organic flour from Shipton Mill."

And to celebrate the launch of the 30 Mile Food Zone, the gastro-inn is offering 30% off hotel prices in November and December.

The offer will cost £133.30 per night for two people to stay in an ensuite double room on Fridays or Saturdays. This includes a three-course dinner from the 30 Mile Food Zone menu. Between Sundays and Thursdays, the same deal costs £113.30 per night.

Words: Maria Bracken

« Back to previous page