Pure Joy at the Purefoy

Pure Joy at the Purefoy

Congratulations to Gordon Stott Chef/Patron of The Purefoy Arms, Preston Candover, Candover Valley, who was named Best Pub Chef of the Year in The Great British Pub Awards 2021 - presented by DJ Scott Mills.

Simon King, Sales Director of sponsor Booker Wholesale/Makro explained the judges decision: “The winner caught the attention of the judges with the way he used his extensive knowledge of ingredients to create mouthwatering and outstanding dishes.”

Gordon Stott ran a pub in a nearby village for seven and a half years before venturing out on his own when the lease became available on The Purefoy Arms three years ago. Since then he has built up the pub's reputation as a welcoming gastropub.

When interviewed for the Awards, Gordon explained: "Obviously as we are a pub we do the pub classics, such as burgers, ribs, fish and chips and dishes like that, but with a slight modern twist. But we also have a la carte and more elevated six-course taster menus.”

In addition, The Purefoy Arms offers vegetarian and vegan menus and caters for gluten free, dairy free and other allergies.

Gordon has a playful approach: “I try to make dishes that may not necessarily sound right – like an ox cheek doughnut that we have on the menu at present or a dessert called ‘dough cry over spilt milk’ which was a cookie-based dish with a faux milk sorbet; that fun aspect inspires me."

The Awards highlighted Gordon's commitment to local produce of the highest quality. “It’s all from Hampshire: our butchers, our fish, our vegetable suppliers, and we try and stock as many local drinks as we can. Hattingley Valley is up down the road and our [Moonroast] coffee is roasted just a mile from here. We stay as local as possible. We use small local suppliers of potatoes and pigs and other produce, and we go and pick it up ourselves. It all helps the environment.

“I think we do good food here. We’re a team, from front of house to the chefs and the kitchen porter. The win [is] an incredible achievement given the last 18 months with closing and opening due to Covid, food shortages and staff shortages. It’s been a tough, tough time."

The Purefoy Arms is in the running to be overall Pub of the Year,announced 19th October.