The Pointer in Brill named Michelin Pub of the Year 2018

Michelin has named The Pointer in the village of Brill in Buckinghamshire as its 2018 Pub of the Year.

Chef Mini Patel headed up the kitchen at the 18th century inn until this spring, and James Graham, former chef owner at Allium in Fairford, has been executive chef since July.

Michelin praised the pub’s 'character' and ‘great value’ three–course weekday lunch menu (£22.50).

The Pointer’s owners David and Fiona Howden, who bought the property from Greene King in 2011, also have a 240-acre farm where they raise rare breed cattle and pigs.

The meats are used in the pub kitchen, alongside 70 other home-grown ingredients, and are sold in an adjoining butcher’s shop.

“Not only is [The Pointer] a delightful place, but it is exceedingly well run by a young, personable team,” says Rebecca Burr, editor of the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs guide.

“They really pay attention to detail and nothing is ever too much trouble for them.”

“The frequently changing à la carte menu offers a good range of modern dishes. Presentation is first rate, refinement and precision are there in equal measure, and much use is made of organic ingredients from their farm.”

The 2018 Michelin Eating features 470 pubs, 15 of which hold a Michelin star.

The Wild Honey Inn in Lisdoonvarna became the first pub in Ireland to win a star this year.

Tom Kerridge’s The Hand and Flowers in Marlow is still the only two Michelin-starred pub, but the chef’s sister pub The Coach was also awarded a star for the first time in the 2018 guide.