Katy & Jenny meet... George & Dragon

by Katy O’Regan & Jenny, Days Out & Meals Out

Martin has helmed The George for 15 years, taking great pride in managing one of the village’s cherished pubs. It’s a favourite spot for many, whether it’s basking in the sunshine in their expansive beer garden, joining in the annual Christmas carol festivities, or indulging in one of their famous hanging kebabs. Living above the pub, Martin is deeply rooted in village life, raising his family here where his children attend the local school. He cherishes the community spirit.

The George’s menu has always been a hit, offering fresh, diverse dishes catering to all dietary preferences. Recently, the culinary team welcomed a new head chef, Rob Howe, a chef with an impressive background having worked under renowned chefs like Bryan Webb at Tyddyn Llan in North Wales and Gary Usher at Elite Bistros. Rob is eager to put his mark on the menu.

Rob is introducing some exciting changes, and by the time Villages Magazine is delivered, many of these will be in place. These include a new spring summer menu, afternoon teas, and a monthly supper club tasting menu which is starting very soon.

The brunch menu, available Friday to Sunday until 1pm, includes decadent choices like the Croque Madame, Rump Steak and egg sandwich, banana French toast, American style waffles, and the full George breakfast. For lunch, served until 5pm, there’s an expanded selection of sandwiches made with in house focaccia or ciabatta, including a classic fish finger sandwich and a unique cucumber and mascarpone option.

Martin is particularly excited about the new salad offerings, including a chicory and blue cheese salad and a light, fruity option with strawberries and beetroot.

Under Rob’s influence, the starters have been revamped, featuring dishes like grilled oyster mushroom and a Korean Barbecue Pulled Pork Doughnut. On the mains while beloved staples such as the hanging kebab, burgers, and fish and chips remain, new additions include Pan Fried Cod with XO sauce, cauliflower, potato crisps, parsley oil, kale, and Moules Marinière. Meat lovers can savour a rib-eye steak or lamb rump, with options like roasted cauliflower steak or traditional Ratatouille for vegetarians and vegans.

Desserts haven’t been overlooked, with a fresh lemon tart, decadent chocolate cheesecake, and the ever popular brownie on the menu.

Martin and Rob have also refreshed the bar snacks and sides to cater to any appetite or time of day. They’ve kept their lunchtime set menus, a staple for regulars who enjoy the social aspect.

Soon, The George will introduce monthly supper club events featuring seven course taster menus that promise a seasonal culinary adventure.

One of the most exciting new features is the launch of afternoon teas, available with or without a glass of fizz. Perfect for any celebration, these can be booked 48 hours in advance and are available from noon until 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

Getting to know Martin and discovering the innovative changes at The George has been delightful. It’s clear that with these new additions, The George will continue to be an integral part of Holmes Chapel for many years to come.

Our very own Jenny from Days Out and Meals Out is an expert on afternoon teas, and she visited The George to indulge in their new offering.

The George & Dragon in Holmes Chapel held a soft launch for their brand new Afternoon Tea. It is the first time the Cheshire pub has had an afternoon tea on their menu so as an afternoon tea connoisseur I was excited to see what it was like. Their new chef, Rob Howe brings the idea to the George along with a fantastic new Summer menu. Both are being launched on Wednesday 15th May.

What was on their Afternoon Tea The sandwich layer had a lovely, varied selection. It had some classic finger sandwiches of beef and horseradish, but what I really liked was the more adventurous sandwich options. A fruity coronation chicken sat on a slice of rustic bruschetta and the tiniest soft brioche roll filled with creamy egg mayonnaise.

The cake layer was a picture of prettiness. The slice of Victoria sponge was so fresh, the sponge literally bounced. It was heavily laden with thick cream and jam which made it absolutely delicious. There was a slice of carrot cake, again you could so tell this was homemade and so fresh. It was satisfyingly light with the sweetest, creamiest frosting on top. Finally, a chocolate delight of a sticky chocolate brownie which was sinfully good. The layer was finished off with fresh berries and a couple of macaroons too.

The top layer was the classic scone. I loved how the double cream had been served as a quenelle which made it look so elegant. The scone had a slight crisp to the edge while lovely and soft in the middle. With the cream and little pot of jam it made the perfect finish to the afternoon tea.

My verdict It was heavenly, all homemade and a delight for the taste buds. The whole experience was lovely. Sat in their sunny conservatory, sipping a prosecco and chatting to a fellow afternoon tea lover is a great way to spend an afternoon. The staff are always so friendly at the George so it was no surprise they were attentively on hand to top up our endless cups of tea.

The varied selection of sandwiches and cakes were well put together, complimenting each other and made the whole experience wonderful.

All information accurate as of June 2024.