Kentish Express Ashford & District
Landlady ‘overwhelmed’ at scooping top award
A rural pub has been named the regional winner of the Good Food Guide Local Restaurant of the Year awards.
The Compasses I nn in Crundale was nominated by customers as their top local choice in the South East.
Run by husband and wife Robert and Donna Taylor, the Shepherd Neame pub is described by the Good Food Guide, publ i shed by Waitrose, as “a classic example of the best of small enterprise”.
Robert Taylor, the only chef in the kitchen, uses local produce including Godmersham game, herbs and vegetables from its garden and eggs from its backyard hens.
The annual reader-nominated awards saw 30,000 nominations this year.
Eli z abeth Carter, Waitrose Good Food Guide editor said: “We have always maintained that the best restaurants offer creative, memorable food based on quality, seasonal and local produce.
“A commitment to their community and a strong relationship with local suppliers is what makes a restaurant truly local.”
Speaking about The Compasses, Elizabeth Carter said: ”The food is delicious, as simple as that.
“Properly prepared, seasonal and locally sourced.
“Robert and Donna Taylor’s very ancient and very rural pub is a classic example of the best of small enterprise – welcoming, dependable and exceptionally well priced.”
Donna Taylor said: “Winning an award based on cus- tomer nominations and being recognised for the hard work and passion we put in is extremely rewarding.
“We are overwhelmed by our customers’ desire to vote for us and are extremely proud of our staff and ourselves for making The Compasses the pub it is today.
“Becoming Local Restaurant of the Year is close to our hearts, regular repeat customers show that we have the balance just right ... a combination of great local ingredients served to the best of our ability, in a relaxed friendly environment.”
The Compasses along with The Kings Head in Wye were also recently nominated in this year’s Great British Pub Awards and winners for this will be announced in October.