Jo Eames, our Creative Director and chief wine buyer, takes us on a personal tour of Peach Pubs as we celebrate 15 years of Making Life Peachy.
Favourite Peach building: It’s got to be the quirky old Duke of Wellington in East Horsley. I really love pubs with character and this one has got it oozing out from all over. From the wonderful brickwork to the black and white ‘liquorice allsorts’ columns at the front of the building. It feels like a great local pub and there is nothing like that anywhere else in the world.
Favourite Peach design: Tough one. But it has to be the High Field – a charmless ex-office building transformed into a great restaurant with a fab island bar and two outdoor terraces. Starting out as the new kid on the block on the Birmingham scene, it has become home from home for many and a key part of the new village centre in Edgbaston.
Favourite Peach dish: As we are in the throes of Autumn – and I devoured one only yesterday – I am going to choose Sam Collins’ Ham and Leek shortcrust pie with mash – the epitome of pub comfort food done brilliantly.
Favourite drink/wine on the Peach list: Easy peasy lemon squeezy – Château du Galoupet – on the list every year for the last 15 years, imported specially for us by Tanners and now of their best-sellers too. The most delicious Rosé to be enjoyed all year round. Be careful though – it evaporates FAST!
Favourite Peach bedroom: Room 5 in the High Field Town House – the perfect place to spend the night away from home.
Favourite Peach view: A toss-up between The Fleece’s view of the Church Green in Witney and the Bedford Riviera from the Embankment when the tulips are out in full bloom. Both best enjoyed with a delicious cup of flat white or a glass of wine.
Favourite Peach memory: Our 10 birthday lunch at the Rose and Crown in Warwick – our first pub full of friends, guests suppliers, team past and present and the best food and drink we could muster. Oh and some dancing on the tables.
Favourite Sunday lunch destination. The Thatch in Thame was recently named in the Observer food monthly awards yet again for Sunday lunch.
Favourite garden: The Fishes in Oxford whether relaxing in a deck chair drinking a jug of Pimm’s or celebrating something special in the tipi by festoon light and a roaring fire, it’s a garden to be enjoyed.
Jo Eames – Creative Director