The Pony Trap

The pony trap is a Michelin Starland pig by josh and holly eggleton in chew magna, about 7 miles south of bristol. the pub places the focus on a field to eat ethos and source food as locally as possible by suppliers around the chew valley and the southwest. chef josh eggleton was recently on the great british menu and has an impressive pedigree that worked in the colors of the french laundry and chanterelle. during our visit last month we ordered the tasting menu to £60 per head along with the very competitive wine flight to £25. a selection of canaps have been delivered, among them boiled with apfelsauce, scallipops, pan-fried scallops...read more

That were some of the best appetizers I've eaten. hazelnuts, blue cheese and slightly plastered vegetables were perfectly balanced, a skalopp in speck was wrapped exactly cooked, while a spiced venison faggot with pumpkin pure was well seasoned and intense playfully oftenfaly.

The Pony Trap, located in Chew Magna, just outside Bristol, has a strong reputation and a Michelin Star, and when I booked myself a lunch there, I expected the usual': a nice country pub with some well cooked food using more or less local ingredients but not too much more. What I found was a super star in the kitchen and food that was stunning. In the kitchen is owner Josh Eggleton, a young, energetic and entrepreneurial chef who is sure to become an even bigger name in UK food going forward. What was really fantastic about Josh and his food is how connected it is to his local environment. In talking about his dishes, he would tell me who supplied what and then point and say his...read more

Avoid anywhere that this chef owns!!. He now owns chew valley lake salt and malt! Hes very rude and this is an email i received from him! I have to say it will not be a real shame to not have you and your family back, we here at Salt and Malt are very much looking forward to not seeing you again.I wish you the best of luck trying to find a vegetarian cafe that is not over priced, with only cheese and pickle in sandwiches, next to a lake with lovely views, ducks to feed, ample parking and very large children's play area Best Regards Josh Eggleton

The drive from the Jurassic coast back to Birmingham was always going to require a stopover. It’s not like the journey there, when the anticipation of the sea breeze takes over and five hours in rush hour traffic doesn’t seem too bad an idea. The trip back to reality is a gruel where work and bills and air pollution await. We needed somewhere that isn’t a Welcome Break to recharge our internal batteries. To take stock of reality. To bemoan that nauseating fool in the office who will ruin the holiday mood first thing Monday morning.