Truffle Hunting helps the Taylor family revive north Hampshire pub The Mutton

23-Sep-2022 - Last updated on 24-Sep-2022 at 16:44 GMT

High-profile consultants Nigel Sutcliffe and James McLean will help the north Hampshire-based Taylor family relaunch their local pub later this month.

Located in the village of Hartley Wintney, The Mutton will offer a menu of reimagined pub classics overseen by Rob Boer, who joins from Betony at The Kings Head in Wiltshire where he worked under Matt Tomkinson as head chef.

Sutcliffe and McLean run two successful high-end pubs of their own - The Crown in Bray and the more recently launched The Oarsman at Marlow - and have supported the Taylors and close family friend Ashley Hatton in ‘lovingly restoring’ the 19th century public house and former post office, which has been closed since before the pandemic.

Sutcliffe launched The Fat Duck with Heston Blumenthal in 1995 before leaving in 2003 to help other chefs launch their own places.

A chef by trade, McLean's past projects include the Princess Victoria in Shepherds Bush and Newman Street Tavern in Fitzrovia.

The interiors of the pub have been curated by Jojo Barr, founder of London-based interior design studio House Nine Design.

Design features include an original brick fireplace, wooden bar, low beamed ceilings, vintage furniture, burnt orange and yellow banquettes and eclectic art work.

Boer - whose CV includes time with Nathan Outlaw in Cornwall and The Montagu Arms in Hampshire - will focus on local produce to produce dishes including mutton fat crumpets; torched-mackerel-filled pakoras; salt-baked celeriac, rainbow chard, beetroot and pepper jus; and cote de boeuf with roasted onion, beef fat potato and beef tongue; and plum upside-down cake with ricotta ice cream.

“We are so excited to bring new life back to this beloved building, which has long been a favourite spot for locals,” the Taylor family says.

“For us, it was extremely important that we support local businesses, that’s why The Mutton’s menu offers revamped British classics with a conscience; we focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients which we hope will showcase the quality of UK produce.”

“The design also reflects the same fusion of old and new: while the pub has fun contemporary features, we have also been careful to maintain that countryside charm of this classic pub. The Mutton is a piece of North Hampshire history and we hope to do it proud through our ownership.”

A full interview with Nigel Sutcliffe and James McLean will be published next week.